Pet ownership for all. A life strategy,
a boon to health and longevity.
Last year, in an issue of Woman's
World, a story of great human
interest, caught my eye. It's world changing view was most compelling
and now a reality, serving the needs of the pet owning military
family. Pet ownership, in the military, was becoming problematic.
Where does puppy go when orders for deployment have arrived?
A pet owning
military couple was leaving home for a long period of time. They were
frantic. Their precious rescue needed long term care, for at least
six months, but this couple could not find anyone to help. The
dilemma of pet care became an almost untenable problem.
The cost of kennel
care was out of the question as would renting an apartment with a pet
sitter near the military base. Leaving their pet in a shelter for
months on end might result in accidental euthanasia, with the
possible staff changes, missing paper work confusing those employees
of their unique long term puppy arrangement with the shelter. When
extended out-of-state family came to their rescue, the couple
realized their plight had been solved. But what about others in their
situation, they wondered? Soon after, a unique philanthropic
enterprise was born out of their desperate circumstance. Dogs on
Deployment (DoD) was created.
Foster pet care for
military families can now be awash in drippy sloppy doggie kisses and
wagging tails. Love and companionship are there for the asking. ...
DoD is now the wonderful result for military families in need of
temporary pet care during their military careers.
Love expands our
world not diminishes it. DoD has opened the doors for pet ownership
for all, in many unique ways. It's a loving bridge like no other with
family pets being the winners, having two families to love and care
for sweet boy or girl. Society stands to gain in immeasurable ways,
in each and every match. As of 2018, DoD
has matched over 1200 pets with 25,000+ registered family
volunteers/pet sitters. It is a testament to the incredible depths of
love, kindness and fortitude of the human spirit that exists
everywhere. And Woman's World told the story.
There was the
story of a man who found a hungry, homeless dog hiding, one day. A 'furrever' love story was born. Man and beast became one heart. ... Finally, there was the heartrending story
of an emaciated little pup who ran into a house, one very cold night. The front door had been left ajar. A caring neighbour closed it, soon after, a kindly gesture by
any standard. Hungry and scared the pup waited. The next morning the homeowners, upon discovering 'Suzie' downstairs in their living room, wondered if a crime was being
committed. Was the criminal still inside? A quick look at the
security video showed the little creature running into their house. Everything now made sense. The home invader had been a member of the abused, abandoned and starving club. 'Suzie' now
has a family to call her own. She bonded with her twin, immediately, along with mom and dad and baby sister, a love story like no other. I shed more happy tears.
Dogs and cats are
the magical creatures of the earth, there to love and be loved. When
they are lost, neglected and abused, hopefully, loving humans come to their rescue, time and time again. Dogs are the greatest
therapists in the world. They heal and make us human! And Woman's
World is always there to share these beautiful animal 'love' stories with us!
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