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Wet Nose Blog
Home › Dog tales › Abandonment unites airman and shelter dog

Abandonment unites airman and shelter dog

January 10, 2012Dog tales

Ben and Siren

Ben and SirenVeterans and service members who honorably adopt shelter pets through our program often speak about the empathy they have for their last-chance dog or cat. Many feel isolated, lonely and unwanted, and tell us how they can relate to the animals they ultimately save.

Ben and Siren formed a strong bond through the abandonment they each experienced in their lives.

Ben is a Staff Seargent in the Air Force. Stationed at Langley Air Force Base (AFB) for six years, he works the stealth coatings for the F-22. Like many military personnel, Ben serves where the military needs him; throughout his career he’s served temporary duty at Tyndall AFB, Nellis AFB, Hickam AFB, Ft. Hood, Wake Island and Kadena AFB. He cherishes going home each night to his adopted dog, Siren.

“I work long hours and in a stressful environment, and it’s great to come  home to Siren after a hard day of work.”

But Ben didn’t always have a loving companion greeting him at the door. When asked why he chose to adopt through Pets for Patriots, his answer is heartbreaking.

“I chose to adopt Siren through the program because I knew that she and I could relate our lives to each other,” he says.

“I got Siren shortly after my wife left me. After I heard that Siren was also abandoned and stuck in the pound for half of her life, I knew that we would be a great match.”

It’s well established that companion pets provide valuable mental and physical health benefits to their guardians: fewer feelings of isolation or depression, improved sense of well-being, lower blood pressure and cholesterol among just a few. Less easily quantified is the profound bond between people and pets who intuitively feel the other’s pain. Some may question whether animals have the capacity for empathy; we’ll leave that for others to argue. What we do know is that they love without judgment or condition.

Just ask Ben. Ben and Siren 2

“Siren has dramatically changed my life,” he says. “When I get off of work and come home to Siren, she is just as excited to play with me as I am with her. The love and gratitude that she shows me proves that she is happy in her new home.”

At Pets for Patriots, we’re honored to have played our part in connecting Ben and Siren, two souls who needed – and continue to need – one another. But Ben says it best:

“I feel that I’m in a much better place in my life now that Siren is in it.”

*****

What life challenge has your pet helped you through?

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6 comments

  1. leslie w says:
    March 16, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    6 yrs at Langley is enough to stress anyone out without taking into account life’s big stressors! My husband and I were there for 6 yrs as well and also got a rescue dog (though we didn’t know about this program at the time). Rescues are so special they know you’ve saved them and they save you right back! Glad you found eachother!!

  2. Roz says:
    March 16, 2015 at 9:38 am

    So happy you two got together animals are wonderful they have unconditional love God Bless both of you

  3. Alison says:
    June 4, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    We resuced our cat Lia in 2007, about 4 months before my (then) boyfriend was sent for USAF training halfway across the country. I was at the beginning of what would become a pretty big alcohol dependency and being alone was really hard for me. Lia was then and continues to be a great source of stress relief and companionship. I have since gotten married to my wonderful Airman, I have 2+ years sober under my belt and we are expecting twin boys within the next month or so! Through it all, Lia and our other rescue cat, Sheamus, that we got 1 1/2 years ago, have been such wonderful companions to both of us. I honestly don’t know where we would be without their unconditional love. Congrats to all the miitary members and their rescues who more than deserve each other!!

    1. Pets for Patriots says:
      June 5, 2012 at 7:08 am

      Alison, congratulations on your two years’ of sobriety, your marriage and the impending birth of your twin boys! It sounds like Lia provided the love and stability you needed to turn your life around. Thanks for sharing and keep up the outstanding work of staying on the right path.

  4. Barbara says:
    June 4, 2012 at 2:23 pm

    I will never understand what Ben goes through but I do know what a dog’s love has done for me. I am so happy they found each other. And that they have this adoption place for soldiers. There is no greater love than unconditional love. And that can definitely be gotten from a dog. I wish you the best and each of you have saved the other.

  5. Laura Lambert says:
    April 27, 2012 at 12:04 am

    Great storey, I’glad Ben and Siren found one another. I also own a pit and they are the best, but seriously Ben, Siren needs to lose some weight

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Who's going to win this epic battle? Vote!! Who's going to win this epic battle? Vote!!
**Application window for Hairy's adoption closes t **Application window for Hairy's adoption closes today May 31!!**

This amazing Dog In Residence at @bobbyhotel is ready to check out of the hotel forever and into a loving home with a veteran living within 40-driving miles of our partners @NashvilleHumane! 

Click the link in our bio to apply. Hurry; Hairy's waiting!

Gratitude to @todayinnashville for sharing Hairy's need. 🥰

#adoptdontshop #nashville #nashvilletn #teamrwb #petsforvets #dogtraining #traineddog #adoptashelterdog #adoptashelterpet #nashvillehumaneassociation #petsforpatriots #bobbyhotel
Thank you for your service, Keisha, and for being Thank you for your service, Keisha, and for being a hero to a pet in need!

Keisha serves in the Army National Guard and just added two year-old Toby to her pack. Thanks to our partners @bmorehumane Toby's adoption fee was waived, and this big pup's 'welcome home' gift card and year of post-adoption follow up are generously sponsored by a grant we received from @veteransunitedfoundation ...woot!!

#army #armystrong #armynationalguard #nationalguard #femaleveteran #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterdog #adoptashelterpet #hounds #houndsofinstagram #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #petsforvets #baltimore
On Memorial Day we reflect upon the men and women On Memorial Day we reflect upon the men and women who died while serving in the United States armed forces - and give gratitude and comfort to our Gold Star families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

The holiday is not about the sales, the barbecues, the day off from work. But that our lives as we know them were made possible in large part by brave souls who died in service, please pause from whatever you are doing today to remember that freedom is not free - and while all veterans give some, some have given all.

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**THIS** is what rescued looks like/sounds like: **THIS** is what rescued looks like/sounds like:

"She has been such a joy to me. She loves me and I love her. Thank you assisting me with giving her a forever home." ~ Lisa, Army veteran, on her one-year adoption anniversary to Nala.

The now 8 year-old cat was in the care of our partners @phillypaws which waives adoption fees for veterans in our program. Please consider older pets when you adopt; they have so much joy to give!

#adoptaseniorcat #adoptaseniorpet #cats_of_instagram #catsofinstagram #catsofig #rescuecatsofinstagram #rescuecat #armyveteran #femaleveteran #armystrong #philadelphia
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#caninecancer #adoptdontshop #seniorpets #seniorpetsofig #seniordogsofinstagram #twoisbetterthanone #shoppingspree #sandiego #dogsonthebeach
Zinger's ship just came in when Sonia, active duty Zinger's ship just came in when Sonia, active duty Navy, saw this precious 2 year-old pupper and said, "Let's sail away."

Another great adoption through our partners @chesapeakehumane - and made possible thanks to a generous grant from our friends at @veteransunitedfoundation ...anchors aweigh! ⚓

#cutedogsofinstagram #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterpet #adoptashelterdog #navyveteran #femaleveteran #navy #navylife #chesapeakeva #muttsrule #muttsofinstagram
There's just something about Hairy! For the past y There's just something about Hairy!
For the past year this handsome hound has been the resident dog ambassador at @bobbyhotel where he's been a guest favorite, greeting all visitors (2- and 4-legged alike). 

Now it's Hairy's time to check out of the hotel and into the home of a U.S. veteran living within a 40-mile driving distance to our partners @nashvillehumane.

Application deadline is Monday, May 31 - Memorial Day! 🇺🇸

What you should know about Hairy:
❤ Loves frolicking in the yard and working on his frisbee-catching skills
❤ Adores car rides - a great travel buddy!
❤ Visits to the beach? Yes, please!
❤ Expert snuggler, couch curler-upper
❤ Active household that loves adventure - a must!
❤ Good with both dogs and cats...furreal!

Veterans living within 40 driving miles of our partners Nashville Humane Association must apply both to the shelter and Pets for Patriots by Monday, May 31. Hurry for Hairy!

Apply to NHA: https://nashvillehumane.org/news/nha-pets/hairy/

Apply to PFP: https://pfp.care/adopt

Stay tuned in the coming weeks to meet Hairy's new humans! P.S. Click the link in our bio to learn more about this exciting 'Hotel to Home' partnership!
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