Life is beautiful. This a lesson learned by a retired Navy veteran who welcomed a portly cat into his world.

Growing up Navy

Owen calls Odenton, Maryland home. It is where the single Navy veteran enjoys a quiet life, playing guitar and—more recently—enjoying the companionship of a rescue cat. This tranquility was earned through more than 20 years of military service that took Owen around the world.

In 1987 at just 19 years old, Owen enlisted in the Navy. He would ultimately earn the rank of petty officer first class.

“[I] served in Pensacola, Turkey, Japan, San Diego, Australia, United Kingdom, Fort Meade,” he says. “While on the ship, I visited Hawaii, Philippines, Oman, Singapore, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Portland, and Puerto Vallarta.”

But there was some rough sailing as well. The retired veteran served in support of the Gulf War and in the wake of the September 11th attacks.

“Most meaningful was supporting [Operation] Desert Shield in 1990, as our ship was one of the first battle groups in the area,” Owen recalls. “Also, during the early operations in Operation Enduring Freedom, [we] supported the rescue of a downed helicopter that crashed in Afghanistan in November 2001.”

In 2007 Owen separated from service and set sail to begin life as a civilian. He was just 39 years old and had spent the entirety of his adulthood in service to our nation.

Karma is a cat

It would be several more years til the young Navy veteran adopted a companion cat.

“No idea why, just out of the blue,” he says. “What was weird was within five months I worked at a new job, [and] almost doubled my salary. [I] honestly believe karma helped me out.”

Owen credits adopting Waddles for his good fortune. But in 2024, ten years later, Waddles passed away. It would be months til the Navy veteran took a friend’s advice and applied to our companion pet adoption program.

“I’m glad I did as I have saved quite a bit,” he says. “I have joined their Facebook group and learned how much they have helped other military veterans with this valuable program.”

Owen was understandably devastated at Waddles’ passing. He took the time he needed to grieve, and nearly a year later visited Anne Arundel County Animal Services. The shelter waives adoption fees for our members, leading to almost 100 adoptions through our partnership.

A very overweight adult cat caught Owen’s eye. The very next day after he was approved into our program he rescued Lasagna.

“In October 2025 I went through Pets for Patriots and adopted Lasagna,” he says, “from which I carried my lessons and adoration from Waddles to this new cat.”

Lasagna was aptly named. The then six year-old cat weighed in at nearly 20 pounds. Nurturing him to good health topped the list of Owen’s new priorities. And showing the Navy veteran the true beauty in life proved to be this portly cat’s purpose.

“…the definition of pureness”

During his military career Owen always wished for a companion pet. But as a single sailor constantly on the move he knew that it would be unfair to any pet he adopted. Still, even after separating from service, he waited til he was in his middle forties to rescue Waddles—his first pet as an adult.

While mourning Waddles Owen realized that he had no one depending upon him. He longed for that sense of purpose, to be a caregiver once again. Lasagna has filled that aching void.

“Since the adoption I have learned pets are the definition of pureness. Everything they do is truth, no fake-ness at all,” he shares.

The authenticity of companion pets highlights a simple truth: while there will always be hardship, there is beauty in life. Cats and dogs live in the moment. They neither dwell on yesterday nor fret about tomorrow.

Caring for Lasagna even prompted the Navy veteran to ease up on his pursestrings, as well.

“As a self confessed cheapskate I try not to spend that much, but with a pet I’ve gone out of my shell and willingly spent so my pets can have a comfortable life.”

“…such a beautiful creature”

Owen enjoys his experience being part of our Pets for Patriots pack. In addition to benefits that help lower the overall costs of pet guardianship, we follow up with every adopter for a full year.

“I was surprised at the initial active interaction with the Pets for Patriots personnel,” he says. “To be honest, the $200 gift card was a big motivation. As I mentioned before, I’m a self confessed cheapskate, but since learned through Facebook how Pets for Patriots was very beneficial to aid in my veteran brothers and sisters on the joys of having a pet.”

Among our many benefits is quality, reduced cost veterinary care for members who live near one of our brick-and-mortar veterinarian partners. Owen took Lasagna to Bay Country Veterinary Hospital for his first checkup. Both of their practice locations extend a 10 percent discount to pets adopted through our program.

The visit yielded some unsurprising news.

“Other than being obese, which I kinda knew considering he was listed at 19 pounds, everything looks great per the veterinarian.”

Now Owen’s mission is helping his corpulent cat slim down to about a dozen pounds. He used part of his ‘welcome home’ gift card to purchase toys for Lasagna to chase. The Navy veteran started to see results in the first month.

“I’m enjoying him becoming a lot more active chasing his toys, compared to when I initially adopted him,” Owen says. “He wasn’t able to jump on the kitchen counters. Now he has no problem.”

No one knows how in mid-life Lasagna found himself homeless and dangerously obese. He was yet one more unwanted animal facing a grim fate were he not adopted. And yet somehow he reveals to his rescuer the beauty in life—in all living things—and conversely the tragedy of other pets who never get to fulfill their purpose.

For Owen, Lasagna is a reminder of the wonders of our world.

“I look at Lasagna and sometimes thank G-d how he created such a beautiful creature.”