Retired disabled Army dog needs help to walk again

Koady and Santo

Santo is a disabled, retired bomb-sniffing dog recently discharged from the Army and barely able to use his hind legs. His handler and now owner is a three-tour combat veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who, in spite of being recently discharged and currently unemployed, adopted the military working dog (MWD) when he learned that he was going to be killed. Koady, his then-handler and now owner, knows that Santo's keen nose saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers - including his own. Santo's problems starting during his tour in Afghanistan. He was eventually returned to Continue reading …

PCS and your pet

Man hugging dog

A lot happens when a service member receives PCS (Permanent Change of Station) orders, including what to do with the family pet. PCSers need to know the steps to bring their dog or cat along, as well as what alternatives exist to responsibly rehome their loving four-legged family member. Married or single: it matters If you’re married, your dependents are included in PCS orders and everyone moves together. Pets can be included, provided the family notifies the proper military offices and makes arrangements for travel plans, especially flight reservations. The service member is Continue reading …

Two years connecting veterans and last-chance pets

Pets for Patriots website

At Pets for Patriots, we're offering new ways to connect veterans with last-chance pets as part of a major relaunch in celebration of our two-year anniversary.  Since receiving our not-for-profit status, Pets for Patriots has transformed more than 100 lives of pet and person through our honorable adoption program. Veterans who have benefited from our charity range from a young Air Force couple who saved a three-legged Great Dane to a 90 year-old WWII veteran whose adoption of a little dog named Gizmo was a one-in-a-million event. Since its launch, Pets for Patriots has started its program Continue reading …

National Adopt a Senior Pet month helps older pets find new homes

Woman and old dog

November is National Adopt a Senior Pet month, during which time the benefits of senior pet adoption are promoted by shelters, rescues and humane societies around the country. At Pets for Patriots, we focus on adult and other “at risk” shelter pets year-round because we know that while many people think they’re less adoptable, they often make the best companions. So what makes a pet a senior? While there’s no absolute standard, many animal welfare organizations and veterinary specialists consider a dog or cat to be a senior citizen after five years of age; for others it’s seven and Continue reading …

Road home: shelter dog celebrates new lease on life

Kip & Céilidh

This is the story of Kip, a member of the Indiana Air National Guard, who honorably adopted his shelter dog Céilidh (pronounced Kay-lee) through Pets for Patriots.     Kip and his wife knew they wanted another dog to help ease the blow when their beloved Tess would be gone.  It was during one of Tess’ last veterinary appointments that Kip learned about Pets for Patriots. “Tess was not active anymore because she was so old,” says Kip, “we knew Tess was close to the end. Our vet mentioned that if the time came when we were interested in having another dog, that Pets for Patriots Continue reading …

WWII veteran Charles uplifted by card campaign

Charles

Charles is a WWII veteran recently hospitalized with a minor stroke; he's also a member of our family and a Pets for Patriots volunteer. He's recovering in large part due to the outpouring of love and prayers he's received from wonderful people all over the country who have been sending him cards and letters. The first cards started to roll in after we made appeals on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Charles was just home from the hospital and the cards provided a welcome respite from the hard work of recovery. As he got stronger and his spirits brightened, so too did his reaction to each Continue reading …

A veteran, a dog and one amazing tale

Gizmo and his new family

If you spend much time with a war veteran discussing his experience, he will invariably mention how the worst part of it was losing so many of his best friends. And, if you listen to a pet owner discuss losing a pet, you will hear a similar refrain: “I feel like I’ve lost my best friend.” It’s a sentiment tinged with sadness and loneliness – a sense of loss and being lost. Tim Peterman knows both all too well. As a veteran of WWII who recently lost his beloved Shih-Tzu, Gizmo, he didn’t know what to do with himself without his buddy. He lost his bearings. His daughter, Sandra, Continue reading …

One dollar instant art benefits military charities

One dollar instant art

One dollar is all it takes to change a life. Support a military family. Benefit a military charity. Make a house a home. Just one dollar.  Recently we received a proposal from an innovative young woman who features an interview with a military wife each week on her blog. Through this experience, she learned that most of these women and their families survive on one income from the military. Their husbands' salaries don't come with a budget for "art" - or anything remotely close. They struggle to afford the basics and are left with little or nothing left over for extras. Beauty simply isn't Continue reading …

Marine veteran saves four-legged life at home

Fernando and Ellie

 After three tours of duty, a Marine Corps veteran saves a four-legged life when he adds a last-chance dog to his military family. Our thanks to Fernando for sharing their story with us. My name is Fernando and my family and I live in Southern California on Camp Pendleton. I am active duty in the Marine Corps. My wife and I have two little girls ages two and four who love animals. I figured it was the perfect time to add a member to our family since I am not deploying and will be home for the next two to three years. So what a better time then now. I joined the Marine Corps in 2006 and Continue reading …

Three’s family with three-legged dog

Astrid's adoption

Astrid is a three-legged special needs dog honorably adopted by two Air Force service members, Kristina and Johnathon. Her story illustrates why Pets for Patriots is so committed to the adoption of last-chance pets by military families. Our thanks to Kristina for sharing their story with us. I met my husband through the Air Force. We are both enlisted currently stationed at Langley. We fell in love instantly and just work well together. I recently lost my grandmother who was like a mother to me. I was heartbroken. Not long after I had to have surgery on my ankle, resulting in three screws Continue reading …

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