U.S. Airman Battles Time to Save Her Dogs While Facing Urgent Medical Evacuation

Photo courtesy of Paws of War

Paws of War is helping a U.S. Airman to get her pets relocated as she flies home for urgent medical treatment at Walter Reed!

 NESCONSET, N.Y. – (October 2025) – When a member of the U.S. Air Force is told they need to fly to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for urgent care, it can be a stressful time. It’s even more stressful when that means leaving your two rescued dogs behind in another country. This is what Master Sgt. Codi Carter is going through a difficult time and is desperate for assistance, so the dogs she rescued and has spent years with are not left behind. The costs of moving the dogs to America are quickly adding up, making it crucial for her to get financial support to ensure the mission’s success.

Now, Paws of War,

the national nonprofit known for reuniting deployed service members with their rescued animals, is stepping in to ensure Indi and Peaches make it safely to the United States. The organization has launched an urgent relocation effort to bring the dogs home while Carter undergoes critical medical treatment.

“It’s bad enough that Master Sgt. Carter has to worry about needing urgent medical care, but having to have the stress of getting her dogs moved makes it even more worrisome,” said Derek Cartwright, U.S. Army Veteran and International Logistics Coordinator for Paws of War. “We will not let her down. She’s a true hero and this is the least we can do.”

Carter, who has been working tirelessly to make this happen and refuses to leave her dogs behind under any circumstance, reached out to Paws of War for help as soon as she learned she would be medically evacuated to the U.S. for urgent treatment. She couldn’t bear the thought of abandoning Indi and Peaches — the two dogs she rescued years ago who have been her constant companions and source of comfort throughout her overseas deployments.

She rescued Indi from the streets of New Delhi in 2020 while stationed there at the U.S. Embassy Office.

He was starving, injured, and roaming the streets when she found him. When his eyes met hers, he had hope and began to wag his tail. Over the next few days, she watched him and decided to bring him home. From that point on, Indi became her shadow and loving companion. They have hiked together, stayed in cabins, lived in several countries together, and through all these changes, he remained happily by her side.

Peaches was rescued from the streets of Islamabad, Pakistan. She was a puppy among a pack of stray dogs that ran the streets. Carter and her colleagues would feed the dogs and participate in spay and neuter efforts. When she spotted Peaches, she was a frail, infected puppy barely surviving. She scooped her up and took her to the veterinarian, and stayed by her side as she fought to survive. When Peaches was strong enough to leave the vet’s office, she went home with Carter, and the two bonded, never looking back. Carter, Peaches, and Indi have been a close-knit family, making their way from Pakistan to Malaysia, constantly adapting and staying close to one another.

The medical evacuation for Carter came with little warning, leaving her with almost no time to arrange care for Indi and Peaches. Due to complex international regulations, any number of complications could arise that might prevent the dogs from flying, adding even more uncertainty to an already stressful situation. Immediate plans are in motion, but Carter shouldn’t have to worry about logistics as her focus needs to be on getting the urgent medical treatment she requires before her flight.

The financial burden of relocating her dogs to the U.S. has been overwhelming,

covering costs for boarding and veterinary care, international cargo transport fees, health certifications and documentation, microchipping, export permits, and final travel expenses to Washington, D.C. Paws of War is now seeking donations to help complete this urgent relocation mission and reunite Carter with her beloved dogs.

“If you’ve ever loved an animal, you know they’re more than pets — they’re family. Indi and Peaches have been my family through deployments, relocations, and the hardest moments of my career,” said Master Sgt. Cody Carter. “Your kindness will not only keep them safe, but also help a veteran begin medical treatment with peace of mind — knowing her best friends are on their way home.”

To get more information and make a donation to help get Indi and Peaches to the U.S., visit the site at: https://pawsofwar.org/?form=Carter

Paws of War focuses on helping active duty soldiers and veterans in a variety of ways. They have helped relocate the rescued pets of overseas military members. They have helped veterans with numerous issues, including suicide prevention, service and support dogs, companion cats and dogs, food insecurity, veterinary care, etc. Paws of War has a large, loyal following of supporters and looks forward to working with new corporate sponsors to support these life-saving programs. To donate to help their missions, visit their site at http://pawsofwar.org. 

About Paws of War

Paws of War is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists military members and their pets, rescues and trains dogs to be service dogs, and provides companion animals to veterans and first responders. To learn more about Paws of War and the programs provided or donate, visit its site at http://pawsofwar.org.