Santana was just another stray dog in a Maryland shelter hoping for a home until a career soldier took a chance on him.

Be all you can be

The military is a way of life for Dawan. He enlisted in the Army in 2010 out of duty to our country, and for the various benefits and opportunities the military has to offer.

“I entered the military to give back to the USA,” he says with pride.

One year after his enlistment the young soldier signed an indefinite contract, signaling his intention to make serving the nation his career. Over the course of his enlistments Dawan has been stationed both stateside and overseas.

“I have been to four CONUS duty stations and one OCONUS tour in South Korea,” he says.

CONUS and OCONUS refer to inside and outside the continental United States, respectively.

For more than three years of Army career Dawan was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He credits that experience with strengthening his resilience and resolve, and teaching him how to better manage stress.

Each duty station was an opportunity to experience different leadership styles and learn new things. Still, after 16 years and counting, one memory stands above the rest.

“My unforgettable experience was with a non-commissioned officer who encouraged me to be the best soldier in the unit,” he recalls.

“She wanted me to start a leadership program for incoming soldiers.”

Today Dawan serves as a logistics coordinator stationed out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

However, due to a housing shortage on base Dawan and his family live on Joint Base Bolling-Anacostia.

“Longer commute time,” he says, “but the base is safe and family-friendly.”

The best laid plans

It was 2024 when winter began its thaw into spring. Dawan and his wife, Myesha, had learned about Pets for Patriots from one of our local shelter partners.

Prince George’s County Animal Services Division waives adoption fees for our members and has made more than 250 lifesaving adoptions through our partnership. There was no doubt that when it came time to add a dog to their household that the Dawan and his wife would adopt.

“It is important to us,” he says, “because giving a shelter dog a second chance at a good home environment, and building a strong bond with our pets [are important].”

Still, Dawan was not in a hurry, noting on his application his intent to adopt a companion pet within the next six months. But a stray dog who entered the shelter in April would upend the plans the couple had made.

Stray no more

A few weeks after we approved Dawan into our program, the young soldier and his wife met Santana.

The dog had been found as a stray earlier in the month. While relatively young, Santana was a big dog and believed to be a mix of Mastiff and Labrador Retriever. According to Best Friends Animal Society, dogs over 40 pounds wait twice as long to be adopted compared to those who are smaller.

The reasons vary. But many prospective adopters avoid larger dogs due to concerns about manageability, cost of care, or landlord restrictions.

More than three-and-a-half million dogs entered shelters nationwide each year since 2020. Like most of them, nothing is known about Santana’s prior life or how he became homeless.

Despite his history being a mystery, Santana’s bubbly personality won over Dawan and Myesha. In the spring of 2024, the honey-colored dog with big, shapely ears went home.

Tough love

There is a ‘3-3-3’ guide in the animal welfare community. It outlines reasonable expectations for newly adopted pets three days, three weeks, and three months after adoption.

Dawan knew that the adoption day is just the beginning of what is often a long—and sometimes uneven—period of adjustment for both people and the pets they adopt. But as a veteran soldier he knows a few things about grit and resilience.

The Army veteran’s fortitude and patience paid off.

“When we first welcomed Santana into our home it was an adjustment for both of us,” he shares. “Over time we learned each other’s behaviors and characteristics. He is a blessing because once we learned and understood his actions, our bond was strong and he was responsive to commands.”

Adoption is a journey. And along the way our team reaches out to every single adopter for at least a year. Dawan appreciates the continued support, and recommends other veterans considering pet adoption to learn about our program.

“…a blessing”

Adoption has been lifesaving for Santana. It has also changed Dawan’s and Myesha’s lives for the better.

“Santana’s energy and character keep my wife and me entertained. Since adopting him, we both have been more active in our community,” the soldier says. “We love going to the dog park and going for long walks on the river walk in Alexandria.”

At home Santana enjoys tug-of-war with Dawan. He has even figured out how to let his family know when it is time for fun.

“When he wants to play, he will bring us a rubber toy ball and set it in front of us. He is very smart and attentive to all the commands we teach him.”

In many ways, Santana chose his family. When Dawan and his wife visited the shelter they did not expect to adopt for several more months.

Santana had other plans.

Looking back, Dawan is grateful they changed course. Santana has become an important part of his family.

“I like having a pet to help me deal with the stress from a duty day,” Dawan says. “Coming home after a long day at work and having Santana meet me at the door is worth it.”

In 2025 nearly 600,000 animals did not make it out of shelters alive. Fewer than one-third of household pets came from animal shelters or rescues. Most were acquired from breeders, found as strays, or from friends whose pets had litters.

Those numbers remain difficult to accept when so many wonderful homeless animals face death and others languish for months—even years—in shelters.

Even the best shelter is not a substitute for a home. And every additional day a pet spends in a shelter can make adoption less likely.

Santana beat those odds. Found as a stray, he was a large mixed-breed dog with an unknown past—exactly the kind of pet that too often gets overlooked and the kind of pets we champion.

Today, he has a future.

“Santana,” Dawan says, “is a blessing to our household.”