“Repugnant.”

Summing up the feelings of those in the corner of U.S. Air Force
Tech. Sgt. and Hazel Hurst native Jamie Himes Dana, U.S. Rep. John
Peterson’s, R-Pa., Communications Director Chris Tucker said Monday
that an Internet petition drive targeting Dana and the federal law
allowing her to adopt her military bomb-sniffing dog Rex is off the
mark.

President Bush signed the legislation – which was part of the
larger Defense Appropriations Bill – into law on Dec. 30. The bill
was backed by Peterson, U.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., U.S. Rep.
John Murtha, D-Pa., and top brass of the Air Force.

“The petition borders on disgusting,” Tucker said. “Regrettably,
it was created in the first place. Just looking at the site,
however, it doesn’t appear there is a groundswell of support
against her.”

The petition “Soldiers Against Airmen from adopting MWD” was
created by Chris Duhon of Georgia and is visible on
thepetitionsite.com. The petition – which has a goal of obtaining
500,000 signatures – contains mostly scathing remarks by people
across the country who disagree with the legislation – including
some who essentially blame Dana for the deaths occurring in
Iraq.

Another petition, sponsored by the American Humane Association
and located on the same Web site, backs Dana’s efforts and contains
29,469 signatures in approval of the effort.

Dana was severely injured when a roadside bomb ripped through
the vehicle she was riding in near Kirkuk, Iraq, last summer. At
first, Dana believed the dog had died in the explosion, but later
found out he had survived with only a burn to his nose.

As a result of the bombing, Dana suffered injuries to her lungs,
spleen and other internal organs, as well as a fractured pelvis and
spine. During her recuperation, she received visits from Vice
President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and was
awarded with the Purple Heart.

Dana’s request to adopt Rex – unprecedented in military history
– reached the highest political profile and was featured in the
national media.

“We had to get this done,” Tucker said. “If the Air Force
believed for one minute the departure of Rex put them in an
untenable position, they wouldn’t have done it. Everybody was
acting in Jamie’s best interest.”

Medical personnel who cared for Dana credit the affection she
has for Rex with enhancing her will for survival.

Meanwhile, Tucker said there has been an “outpouring of support”
for Dana, adding Peterson’s Washington office has received scores
of letters backing her, along with hundreds of dollars in
checks.

“We have received things from folks across the country that want
to support her,” Tucker said. “In fact, one person said if the Air
Force was short on dogs, they would supply one to them to replace
Rex. I can honestly say, not one has been negative.”

Dana said she still hasn’t received official word from anyone
about Bush signing the legislation into law.

“I keep hearing that it has been signed through,” Dana said.
“I’m just happy because it gives the dogs a chance to be rewarded
for their sacrifices. These animals save lives and go to war just
like the rest of the veterans, but they don’t get any of the
thanks. Maybe this will remind people that the dogs are veterans,
too.”

Messages and e-mails seeking comment and left with the offices
of Warner and Murtha were not immediately returned as of late
Monday night.

(Era City Editor Sandra Rhodes contributed to this report.)