A young sailor grappling with the loneliness of military life finds quiet comfort with a rescue cat.

From sea to shining sea

Nik never imagined his Navy journey would bring him to the quiet rhythms of dry dock life on the West Coast.

“First time on the West coast,” he says.

After overseas deployment in places like Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea, and Guam, the shift was more than just location. It was a change in pace from being part of a team ensuring free and open trade throughout the Pacific.

Nik serves as an information systems technician in the Navy.

These professionals are the high-tech backbone of naval operations. They are replied upon for continuity of a range of networked systems, including information from global satellites and sensitive military communications.

Deployment came with its struggles, but Nik found support along the way.

“Deployment is not fun, but you have to make it fun, even through rough patches in life because the world doesn’t stop no matter what is going on,” he says.

“The chaplain on board was there for me when I was struggling and I will always remember him for what he has helped me with.”

But the stillness of shore duty presents different challenges; it left space for something else to take root: loneliness.

Less stress

Now stationed on shore, Nik considered adopting a companion pet.

“I’ve always had a cat growing up,” Nik explains. “And I don’t have any family or friends except the people I work with, so I wanted to have someone to come home to and keep my mind off things.”

Back in November 2024, Nik Googled pet adoptions for military personnel. That is when he found Pets for Patriots and our companion pet adoption program for veterans.

And the sailor discovered that Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County is a partner.

Since 2012 the shelter offers our members reduced adoption fees of only $16. As of this writing we have more than 135 adoptions through our partnership.

“I adopted through here because it covered the large portion of the cost of adoption,” he says.

Nick adds that our ‘welcome home’ gift card helped him get all of the initial supplies Nessa needed, including food, toys, and even a litter box.

“It basically took all of the stress out of everything, making it extremely helpful and useful.”

Although Nik’s application to our program was approved in August, he did not meet his match til three months later. So in late November, Nessa—a three year-old tortoiseshell cat, or tortie—left the shelter and never looked back.

Lonely no longer

It took no time at all for Nessa to make herself at home—and to help make homecoming more meaningful for Nik as well.

“She acclimated to me within 30 minutes of being home,” Nik recalls. “She loves to lay on me and just follow me around the house.”

Now Nik’s once-quiet home is full of soft footsteps and gentle company.

“It’s nice to come home to someone. Even if it is just a pet,” he says. “She meets me at the door after work, waits for me on the toilet when I’m in the shower. Sleeps between my legs or under my arm in bed.”

Nessa has become more than a companion—she is an antidote to the loneliness that military life sometimes brings.

“She fills the silence of the home and always wants to see what you are doing,” he shares. “Keeps you occupied and happy.”

Even the simple moments feel different now.

“She’s a lap cat,” he says.

“Anytime I sit down on the couch, she’ll come over and climb all over and lay on me any which way.”

There is a quiet strength in the bond they share, the kind that does not need many words.

You are not alone

Nik has no hesitation in encouraging others to find that same comfort.

“I have already highly recommended the program to people I work with that ask,” he says. “It just made everything easy.”

Now, even on the hardest days, Nik knows he is not alone. The long silences do not feel so heavy. The shadows do not linger quite as long.

Nessa is there—waiting at the door, curled at his side, a soft heartbeat in the quiet. She does not only keep Nik company. She reminds him that he matters.

In a world that often demands so much, what Nessa gives in return is simple and powerful—love, presence, and peace.