Patriot story: Wayne + Spade

Adoption date: 10/2021 Am. Pit Bull Terrier mix Shelter: SPCA of Anne Arundel County,https://petsforpatriots.org/partners/spca-of-anne-arundel-county

Pet's name
	Spade
A little about me
	I am a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer living near Annapolis, MD. I retired from the Navy in 2011 after just over 20 years of service. During my career, I was able to serve all over the world. Currently, I am an active Federal Law Enforcement Officer, however, I am home from work due to a work-related injury. My wife and I enjoy spending our time together and with our pets. In 2017, we brought in a stray cat. She turned out to be pregnant. We cared for her through the process and were fortunate enough to be with her when she gave birth. She had 3 Tortie girls and 2 Orange Tabby boys. We kept the 2 Orange Tabby boys and the runt Tortie girl, as the other 2 girls were incredibly bonded and we were fortunate enough to adopt them out together.
My military experiences
	I served in the United States Navy from 1991 to 2011. I went to Orlando, FL for Recruit Training and attended "A" school in Pensacola, FL. I was stationed at Oak Harbor, WA (1992-1995); Oklahoma City, OK (1995-1999) ; Chinhae, Korea (1999-2000) ; Yokosuka, Japan (2000-2003) ; Bahrain (2004-2005) ; Washington, DC (2005-2008); San Diego, CA (2008-2009); and again in Washington, DC (2009-2011). During my career, I deployed to Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean, Sea of Japan, as well as, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia twice (1997 & 1998); Port-au-Price (1998-1999), Haiti; Basrah, Iraq (2004), Ramadi, Iraq (2005) and Baghdad, Iraq (2010) and Bagram, Afghanistan (2008-2009).In 1991, I was working at a grocery store and going to college for accounting. On January 16, 1991, when Desert Storm started, I rushed to our video department and watched the being of the war start. At this point, I thought I needed to do something else with my life, other than be an accountant. 31 years later, I can standby the fact that I made the right decision.
My most memorable experience from my time in service
	My most vivid memory/experience was from Summer 2004. I was attached one of the SEAL Teams and embarkedon USS Yorktown at the time. At one point, those of us on USS Yorktown were going to be moving to USS Whidbey Island to fly into Basrah, Iraq. Under cover of darkness, we embarked on a NSW 11M RHIB to be transported to USS Whidbey Island. It was a pretty full moon that night with fairly calm seas. When we came along side USS Whidbey Island, the 11M RHIB was bobbing pretty hard and we were bouncing off the side of the ship. It was time to climb the Jacob's Ladder to the deck of the USS Whidbey Island. We are fully kitted up (body armor, backpacks, rifle, pistol). I was next to get on the ladder and the SEAL I was standing next, just said, "when you see your chance, jump". This is one of the moments in my career where I thought "well, this could be it". I made the jump from the 11M RHIB to the Jacob's Ladder and only secured myself on the ladder by throwing my arm around one of the rungs; my feet slipped off the wet rung and I dangled momentarily until I could bring the climb up the side of the ship.
Why I chose to adopt a pet
	My wife and I have been to our local SPCA numerous times in the past. We had met a 8-10 dogs over the past 5+ years and we never had the instant connection with any of these dogs. After the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, I was depressed and frustrated. On September 11, 2021, my wife thought it would be a good idea to go visit the cats & dogs at the SPCA to brighten the day. We made our way around, we found Spade. I kneeled down and put my hand on the floor near the kennel door. Spade immediately stretched his paw out of the kennel and put it on top of mine. I put my hand on top of his paw...and then he put his paw on top of my hand. This repeated several times. I sat on the floor outside his kennel and he seemed comfortable in my presence. It was really love at first sight. We would find out that Spade had been surrendered at 7 months old and he had been at the SPCA for 10 months, and we knew that he was going to be a handful as he was essentially be a 90 lb puppy. We, also, knew that we would be dealing with the stigma toward Pitbulls. My wife and I discussed Spade and decided he was our dog. We submitted our adoption application within 2 hours of leaving the SPCA. We visited Spade before our application was approved and I would sit outside his kennel and just touch his paws and talk to him. After his application was approved, we would visit him and take him for walks. He was visited about 3 times a week until we could finally bring him home.
Why I chose to adopt through Pets for Patriots
	I don't remember where I heard about Pets for Patriots but it was likely through a Military/Veteran Facebook Group. We decided to adopt with the help of Pets for Patriots because Pets for Patriots has a relationship with our local SPCA. I didn't know anything about the benefits that Pets for Patriots provided until after we found Spade and I started looking at your website more closely. It was great to receive your assistance with the adoption process, as well as, the Chewy gift card since we needed to outfit the house for a dog.
How my adopted pet has changed my life
	I have a shadow now. Wherever I go, Spade wants to go. Spade is always nearby. He has helped alleviate my depression caused by my current situation. He can just look at me with his big, goofy face and I just feel better.
What I love most about my new pet friend
	Spade and I started bonding at home immediately. Knowing that he was a puppy when he got to the SPCA and had been there for months; I treated him just like a puppy after we got home. We were outside and walking in the yard every 2 hours to ensure he didn't have any accidents in the house. Now, at home for just over a year, he has never had an accident. Every time he needs to go outside, he will tell me. He will either go stand by the door or he will start to grumble. I love that he chooses to be near us all the time. He does not wander off and curl up in another room. I love that he is eager to learn and wants to please us. I, also, love that he knows when my body aches and he tends to sit next to me instead on on the ottoman between my legs. It's, also, great how quickly he has adjusted to being in a house with 4 cats. He wants to get to know them but they can been a little apprehensive at times, I don't blame them, I would be a little apprehensive if I was dealing with something that weighed 6 times what I do. Other times, they can be found laying around in the kitchen in close proximity.
What I would tell other veterans who might be thinking about adopting through Pets for Patriots
	The team at Pets for Patriots is great! They were helpful throughout the adoption process. Ted Whitcomb, Director of Veteran Outreach, even reached out via email and phone calls following Spade's adoption as a check-in. To my fellow Veterans, if you want to rescue a dog, do not hesitate to speak with Pets for Patriots, they have numerous partnerships and I'm sure that you will be able to find the right dog for you. And remember, dogs help us with depression and anxiety.