A senior dog with poor hearing and bad skin was facing grim prospects for adoption until an Army veteran with a big heart gave him a chance.

Winning

Like many veterans before her, Dodie enlisted in the military as a path to a better future.

“I joined to get help with college expenses,” she says, “and it was a win for me.”

Dodie served with the Tennessee Army National Guard for six years. She recalls one particularly humorous moment during basic training when she was nominated for soldier of the week.

“While standing in line to be interviewed there was another soldier behind me, trimming my hair off my collar.”

Despite the distraction, she won the award.

Army strong

Military service taught Dodie perseverance, adaptability, and how to find humor in unexpected situations. Those qualities continued to serve her well long after she left the Army.

After separating from service, Dodie started her own business. Now retired, she and her husband—a Vietnam veteran—live in a rural Tennessee community settled in 1790. She remains deeply committed to helping animals, even as family responsibilities have changed how she spends her time.

“In my spare time I had been volunteering with our local shelter,” she shares, “but I’ve had to cut back on that to care for my 93 year-old mom.”

Rather than stepping away from animal welfare altogether Dodie found another way to help. She began fostering dogs from her local shelter, giving them a safe place to stay while they waited for permanent homes.

Most of the dogs eventually moved on. One did not.

Foster failure

Dodie learned about Pets for Patriots by helping her local animal welfare organization apply for our free shelter partner program—inspired to help other veterans in her community benefit from companion pet adoption.

Then the Army veteran decided to experience the process for herself.

“I helped our shelter get set up with Pets for Patriots so I used myself as the guinea pig.”

Since July 2024 Campbell County Tennessee Animal Center has offered our members fee-waived adoptions.

Dodie set about looking for a dog to foster, and soon a small senior dog caught the Army veteran’s eye.

“I do have a dog picked out,” she recalls telling our team. “He’s 10 years old, hard of hearing, and [has] skin issues. He’s such a sweet little guy.”

The dog’s name was Buttermilk, but Dodie calls him Buttie.

At more than 10 years old, Buttie faced challenges that often prevent senior shelter dogs from finding homes. Age had taken a toll on his body. His hearing was fading. His mobility was limited. Severe skin problems had left him looking far different from the healthy dog hidden underneath.

“When I brought him home most of the fur was gone from his back half. He looked horrible. We didn’t care,” Dodie shares. “We just wanted him to have a quiet place to recover. He tricked us into falling in love with him.”

What began as a temporary foster arrangement quickly became something much more. Dodie was poised to become the shelter’s very first adoption through our new partnership.

Many people might have seen a senior dog with medical problems and uncertain prospects. Dodie saw a sweet soul who deserved comfort, patience, and love.

Old dog rules

With time, care, and a home of his own, Buttie’s personality began to shine.

“Our little guy is a real hoot. He can’t hear or see very well—until I rattle the snack bag.”

Ever the equal opportunity trickster, Buttie will run from the house to the barn to get treats from Dodie’s husband. It seems he has figured out how to get what he needs from his new family. While his demands for love and affection top the list, treats are a close second.

“He guards his chew sticks with all the bravado of a Chihuahua. He’s just a funny, silly guy that rules our home.”

The tiny senior dog who once arrived looking neglected and fragile soon brought an animating spirit to his new family. Despite his age and physical challenges he is a lively member of this dual-veteran household.

“Our little butthead has settled right in. Being a Chi(huahua) mix, he honestly thinks he’s a big guy,” Dodie says. “We love this little boy.”

“We are smitten”

Dodie hopes other veterans, active-duty service members, and Gold Star families will discover the same joy she found through adoption.

“I definitely encourage other veterans, active duty, or Gold Star families to adopt through Pets for Patriots and support their mission. The staff has responded to all requests so quickly, and compassionately.”

As the weeks and months passed, the petite senior dog continued to thrive.

The transformation was not simply physical. A senior dog who once faced an uncertain future gains a family. A veteran who wanted to help one more shelter animal found a way to do so while caring for her elderly mother.

For Buttie, the outcome could hardly have been more different from where he started. An older dog with poor hearing, damaged skin, and little chance of attracting attention found exactly what he needs—a patient veteran willing to look beyond his challenges.

“Our little Buttie boy is doing so well. He has the funniest personality, but acts like a big Doberman. He just weighs 18 pounds. He has fit right in, and I’ve got him housebroken,” Dodie shares. “We are smitten.”

Sometimes winning looks different than an award earned during basic training. Sometimes it looks like a senior dog finally finding a soft place to land, and a veteran discovering that the dog she set out to save has enriched her life just as much in return.