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Wet Nose Blog
Home › Dog tales › Adopted Retriever mix fetches a Navy nurse

Adopted Retriever mix fetches a Navy nurse

April 30, 2013Dog tales

Kaitlin and Cooper

It was an adopted adult Retriever mix with “puppy dog” eyes that helped one Navy nurse feel more at home with her new life in the military.

Kaitlin serves in the Navy out of Portsmouth, Virginia and is the proud “mom” of honorably adopted Cooper, an enthusiastic and loving six year-old Retriever mix. A recent college graduate, Kaitlin joined the Navy after completing her schooling in May of 2012. She currently works as a nurse at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth and “loves every minute of it.” While she finds it hard to think of one specific event as her most memorable in the military so far, Kaitlin definitely enjoys giving back to her fellow service members.

“I enjoy going to work every day,” she says, noting that she gets to help members of the military and their families by providing them with healthcare.

“It’s amazing how appreciative people are,” she says, “and it feels great to be doing a job I love while serving others who are serving their country.”

Pet adoption makes house a home

Kaitlin is a life-long dog lover and always had a dog growing up. She suffered a touch of separation anxiety when she moved to Portsmouth and had to leave the beloved family dog at home with her parents. It didn’t take long before the Naval nurse knew she wanted someone to welcome her home at the end of the day. Preferably a furry, four-legged someone. Kaitlin and Cooper

During a visit to the Virginia Beach SPCA, Kaitlin learned about Pets for Patriots from a member of the adoption staff. If she was approved by the charitable organization and adopted a program eligible pet, she would receive various benefits to help make pet ownership more affordable – a big boost to a young service member at the start of her career.

“Once it was explained, it was hard not to go through Pets for Patriots, given the many benefits provided,” she says. Since adopting, she recommends the program to any member of the military who might be thinking about pet adoption.

“It’s a great program,” says Kaitlin. “Pets for Patriots seems to truly care about their members and animals.”

A four-legged friend for road trips and life’s journeys

In keeping with Pets for Patriots’ mission to save the most overlooked shelter animals, Kaitlin honorably adopted Cooper – a six year-old Retriever mix. Since saving the adult dog, Kaitlin finds it hard to choose the one thing she loves most about her new best friend.

“Everything!” she exclaims. And Kaitlin and Cooper do virtually everything together.

The energetic Retriever loves walking, visiting the beach and playing with his tennis ball, and Kaitlin insists she’s powerless to his “puppy dog eyes.” Every time Cooper bats them her way, she has “no choice” but to fork over little nibbles of people-food.

“He especially loves licking my bowl of strawberry cheesecake ice cream when I’m done,” Kaitlin says.

Cooper is a great driving partner as well, enjoying the twice monthly rides he makes when his Navy mom drives to Pennsylvania to visit family and friends. Cooper

“I couldn’t ask for a better driving companion,” says Kaitlin, but on further reflection realizes it’s the daily homecoming that she treasures most.

“I love the fact that he’s always sitting waiting for me, wagging his tail as I walk through the door after a long day’s work,” she says. “It never fails that he’s happy to see me.”

How does your pet make you look forward to coming home every day?

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Puppy mills are places of unspeakable cruelty. The Puppy mills are places of unspeakable cruelty. They exist solely because of greed and a callous disregard for the lives of animals.

Thanks to @bissellpets for sharing this informative graphic on how to spot a likely puppy mill. Please share in kind and - needless to say - always adopt, don't shop!

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Maisie, Hawk, Mosley, Betty White, Annie, Sammy, T Maisie, Hawk, Mosley, Betty White, Annie, Sammy, Talahassee, Juju, Corn, and Pierogi - just some of the long term pets waiting way too long for a hero and a home. Meet all of our Forget Me Not pets and contact the shelters directly to inquire about adoption. Many are available for out-of-state placements; all are amazing creatures in desperate need of a loving home and all deserve no less.

Can't adopt? Share til it hurts!!

Click the link in our bio to meet them all.

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Meet our recent "K" adopters, m'kay? * Kricket is Meet our recent "K" adopters, m'kay?

* Kricket is retired Navy and recently visited our partners @kitsaphumanesociety where she adopted not one, not two, but THREE petite pups! Reina pictured here is @petsforpatriots eligible, as is Remy (not pictured). But Kricket wasn't done saving lives because she threw yet another lifeline to Dior to round out her perfect petite pupper family! Thanks to @kitsaphumanesociety for giving our veterans 50% off adoption fees...anchors aweigh! 

* Konner served in the Air Force and together with his beautiful partner welcomed 4 year-old Hammer into their home. Formerly named Lucretia, Hammer is a beneficiary of our hero fund for veterinary care to help with the initial costs of prescriptions to ease pain from patellar luxation (a fancy way of saying: knee problems)! Another great fee-waived adoption through @dekalbanimals - part of the trio of @lifelineanimal shelters that participate in our program. 

Every animal saved from a shelter makes room for another animal in need to be rescued. It's estimated that only 25% of dogs and 29% of cats are adopted through shelters, numbers that are frankly pathetic. Please continue to advocate for adoption as the only option!

#adoptdontshop #adoptdontbuy #adoptashelterpet #adoptashelterdog #pitbulllove #loveabully #dontbullymybreed #cutepup #weratedogs #navyveteran #navy #airforceveteran #airforce #usaf #femaleveteran
The impacts of serving in the Gulf War left John w The impacts of serving in the Gulf War left John with crippling, severe anxiety. A spirited hound who needed a home would be just what the Army veteran needed to regain his life.

Click the link in our bio to read their tale, and thanks once again to @bmorehumane for another lifesaving match!

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Clark retired from the Marines after more than 20 Clark retired from the Marines after more than 20 years of service to our nation. And in 2012 he was one of our early adopters - literally and figuratively - when he rescued then 2 year-old Ellie.

Ellie is now 13 and the pint-sized pup is still living large with Clark and his family, who recently gave us this heartfelt shoutout:

"Wanted to thank you for the many years of support your team has provided! It has helped out immensely over the years! Thank you all for what you have done and for what you continue to do."

Sounds like a mission accomplished to us!

Thanks to our partners @ranchocoastal - one of our earliest shelter partners - for this enduring match, and for continuing to waive adoption fees for veterans in our program.

#gotchadayanniversary #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterdog #adoptashelterpet #militaryfamily #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #usmarines #usmarinecorps #petsforvets
Ahoy, mate! Noah retired from the Navy and just th Ahoy, mate! Noah retired from the Navy and just threw a lifeline to Kali, a stunning Cane Corso mix. This big, beautiful girl was in the care of our partners @norfolkanimals which gives veterans we serve 50% off adoption fees.

Click to the next photo to see their freedom ride pic!

#canecorsoofinstagram #canecorso #bigdogs #bigdogsofinstagram #bigdogstrong #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterpet #adoptashelterdog #weratedogs #navyveteran #navy #usn #usnavy #norfolkva
CJ is a disabled Marine veteran who finds joy in t CJ is a disabled Marine veteran who finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, including the addition of an older cat who joined her after the loss of a beloved pet.

Click the link in our bio to read their tale!

Thanks @sdhumanesociety for helping us make this purr-fect story possible and for waiving adoption fees for veterans in our program. ❤️

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You know it's love when your new Marine Corps dad You know it's love when your new Marine Corps dad gives up his armchair for you. ❤️

Congratulations to nearly 9 year-old Holly Belle who's already made herself at home. She met Chuck through our partners @fredspca - which waives adoption fees for veterans we serve...oorah!

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Wishing all of our Jewish friends around the world Wishing all of our Jewish friends around the world a sweet New Year, especially the men and women of the U.S. military who serve in all corners of the world in defense of our freedoms, including the freedom to practice (or not) the faith of our choosing.

L'shana tovah!

#lshanatova #lshanahtovah #roshhashana #roshhashanah #happynewyear #jewishnewyear #freedom #freedomofreligion #sweetnewyear
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