Veterans give last chance pets new lease on life

Pat and Shirley family photo

Since the start of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, many charitable organizations have launched to help returning veterans adjust to their post-deployment lives. We salute any group that’s dedicated to our men and women in service, and agree that veterans coming home from these conflicts warrant our full support. In fact, every one of our nearly 23 million veterans is equally deserving of our nation’s gratitude, yet some find themselves forgotten. No parades, no special programs, no new treatments for old wounds. We hear this most from Vietnam era veterans, many of whom continue to feel Continue reading …

Shelter dog gets fresh start with disabled veteran

Red-On-Red

We received this letter from Red, a shelter dog in Florida recently adopted through our program by a disabled Army veteran. Hi! My name is Red. I'm a mixed breed Golden Retriever/Labrador and everyone says I am a big boy. I am really just a puppy at 11 months old. I have a very loving personality and have plenty of kisses (slurps!) for everyone. While I am growing up, I want to go to obedience school and become certified as a companion dog so that I can watch out for Ms. Bobby, a hearing impaired veteran. She lost about half her hearing while working around cargo jets. Also, with proper Continue reading …

Veteran’s dying wish fulfilled: a home for Gizmo

blog dog high res

  By now you probably know the twists and turns of Gizmo, the little Shih Tzu dog pictured above, left homeless when his only family - an elderly, dying Korean War veteran -  asked us to fulfill his dying wish. In spite of a tremendous and frantic effort to find the dog a new home while his current caretaker was still alive, the veteran died without knowing where his beloved companion would end up. Many people contacted us and applied to our shelter partner, Rancho Coastal Humane Society, to give Gizmo a new leash on life. Each had their own stories, and reasons why they would be the Continue reading …

Dying veteran seeks home for beloved dog

Gizmo

It's with a heavy heart that I write this post. An elderly veteran in hospice care near San Diego, California wants to ensure his beloved dog Gizmo has a new home. The gentleman has about a month to live and make arrangements for Gizmo, his only remaining family. I was contacted by the veteran's hospice social worker to help find that special individual or family who will honor this hero's wishes and give Gizmo a wonderful life. Gizmo is a seven year-old male Shih Tzu with an incredibly sweet and gentle temperament. While he now lives harmoniously with a cat, it's unknown if he likes all Continue reading …

Boston radio personality interviews Quincy Animal Shelter

callie crossley

We couldn't be more thrilled to have Quincy Animal Shelter and Quarry Hills Animal Hospital as our first shelter and veterinary partners, respectively, in the great state of Massachusetts. A big 'thank you' to Dorothy Pickrell; she's a 26-year veteran of the Massachusetts Army National Guard who was inspired to bring our program to the Quincy Animal Shelter, where she has works as a volunteer. Equally deserving of our thanks is Lynda Southerland, the shelter's volunteer fundraising coordinator, who worked with her board to get the program approved and launched. In this interview with Continue reading …

Open letter to the people of Japan from a U.S. veteran

bobby and red

This letter is written and shared by Bobby, an Army veteran who honorably adopted her dog Red through Pets for Patriots. When I see the absolute devastation and destruction in Japan, my emotions go to a level that is difficult for me to approach. Seeing the horrors that the people encountered first in the earthquake, and then the tsunami, would put fear in one's mind beyond conceivable reality. For anyone to know or not know that they might have lost a mother, father, wife, child, relative or a friend - and then be confronted with the possibility of a nuclear meltdown - would clearly push a Continue reading …

Love at first cuddle

adele

Four-paw salute to Adele and her honorably adopted (and quite adorable!) pooch Crown Royal! This curly-haired bundle is an adult mixed breed that Adele and her family rescued from one of our newest shelter partners, the Arizona Animal Welfare League in Phoenix. It's pictures like this that express what Pets for Patriots is all about: uniting at-risk shelter pets with veterans, to the benefit of both pet and person. Wishing Adele and Crown Royal many happy tails! Continue reading …

Pets for Patriots takes it message on the road!

nice wheels

My ho-hum SUV is no longer; it's been officially transformed into the Pets for Patriots mobile! Endless thanks to everyone who helped make it happen: Our amazing pro bono team at Karsh\Hagan designed the graphics to eye-catching effect; give these Mile High city folks a big hand (or paw)! Annin Flagmakers and American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), our awesome co-sponsors and long-term supporters Our friends at Dynamic Wraps, whose high-tech, high-touch artistry brought our vision to life (okay, larger than life)! So without further ado, here's our "new" wheels...   Continue reading …

The first time I saw Red

red

This is the first in a series of guest posts from one of our member Patriots, Bobby, a disabled veteran in Florida who brought a big, goofy dog named Red into her life. ***** The first time I saw Red I was still very upset about Pooh. Remember I said I had cried at the shelter. Red was in his pen and I was petting him through the wire. He kept licking my hand and I felt no fear. Red is a big boy, and to some I would  think a little intimidating. The next time I went back to the shelter, while I was petting Red they came to take him for his photo. For some reason Red was terrified. He laid Continue reading …

Letter to our friends

It's been a great first year at Pets for Patriots! Read my year-end letter to our friends, supporters and partners... Continue reading …

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