Marine's dog needs ticket here

Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Alex Carrillo found a friend while in Afghanistan, but his friend had a problem.

Kilo Deuce is a puppy, whose family was killed, and Alex would like to bring the dog home with him when he returns in June.

But the cost of transporting a dog back to the U.S., not to mention at least two quarantines, is prohibitive, according to Topaz Ranch Estates resident Amber Carrillo.

"Hearing my husband talk about Kilo, it brings him some sense of normalcy," she said. "When the kids talk to their dad, they ask 'how's the dog?'"

Amber said it will cost the family $3,500 to transport the dog from Afghanistan to the U.S.

"It's $2,500 just for the plane travel," she said. "There's at least $450 in veterinarian work."

Amber said Alex has 19 years in the Marines. He's stationed at Pickel Meadows Mountain Warfare Training Center.

Anyone interested in helping out can donate by visiting http://bringkilohome.blogspot.com/2010/01/help-bring-kilo-home.html and clicking on the button.

Dan Kaffer called me Thursday afternoon asking that anyone who'd seen any great horned owls give him a buzz today.

It turns out that all the places that he'd spotted the owls a month ago have apparently been vacated by the big hooters.

"They like fir trees," he said. "I had them on Muller Lane and on Jacks Valley Road, and all of these other different places and now they're not there."

Call Dan at 721-2387 if you have any suggestions.

Kurt Hildebrand is editor of The Record-Courier. Reach him at khildebrand@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 215.