Member Log In

Pets for Patriots

Companion pet adoption for United States military veterans and service members

  • Adopt a pet
    • How it works
    • Veteran benefits
    • Program availability
    • Proof of service
    • Eligible pets
    • Pre-qual application
  • Be a veterinary partner
    • How it works
    • Benefits
    • Criteria & eligibility
    • Application
  • Be a shelter partner
    • How it works
    • Benefits
    • Eligible pets
    • Criteria & eligibility
    • Application
  • Donate Now
    • Donate online
    • Ways to give
    • Spread the word
  • More
    • About us
      • Vision
      • Mission
      • Our team
      • Board of Directors
      • Financial accountability
      • Year in review
      • Program availability
    • Making an impact
      • Forget Me Not
      • The Wet Nose Blog
      • Partner News
      • Donor News
      • Home at last
      • Welcome Home
      • Hotel to Home
    • Friends & Partners
      • Veterinarian partners
      • Shelter partners
      • Sponsors
      • Banfield
      • VIP Petcare
      • Community partners
    • Resources
      • Donor FAQ
      • Veteran FAQ
      • Shelter FAQ
      • Veterinarian FAQ
      • Other resources
    • Connect with us
      • In the news
      • Free wallpaper
      • Contact us
Wet Nose Blog
Home › Cat tales › Iraq war veteran takes a chance on a homeless cat named Bunny

Iraq war veteran takes a chance on a homeless cat named Bunny

March 21, 2022Cat tales

Iraq war veteran takes a chance on a homeless cat named Bunny

Lee was reluctant to adopt a feline friend. But a rescue cat named Bunny gave the Iraq war veteran renewed focus during a challenging time in her life.

Like father, like daughter

Lee spent her early years in Winston-Salem, South Carolina. Her father served in the Army, which meant that she and her younger brother spent much of their childhood on the move.

“I grew up as an Army brat. We moved around a lot,” she shares. “My dad was stationed in Germany [and] we got to live in Germany for three years.”

After graduating from high school Lee followed in her father’s footsteps to pursue a path of service. She enlisted in the National Guard, working in communications as a network switching operator.

These professionals are tasked with the operations and maintenance of vital communications systems, including telephones and combat radios.

“It’s a lot of dynamic voice and data networking,” she explains.

Lee was set to be discharged following her six-year tour of duty. However, she was not ready to part with the military just yet. So in March 2000 – after transitioning out of the Guard – Lee enlisted in the Army. 

“…trying to make it from day to day”

The young veteran was already accustomed to moving where the military needed her most. Stateside she was stationed out of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

In time Lee would serve out of Camp Casey north of Seoul, South Korea, as well as Camp Red Cloud, situated between Seoul and the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

“I did the back and forth to Korea shuffle,” she says wryly, “and then Kuwait and Iraq.”

Lee was one of the first American troops deployed into combat theater during Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was her first time in a war zone and a test of her mettle.

“The whole time I was mostly doing my job and trying to make it from day to day,” she recalls. “One day at a time.”

Lee’s job as a communications specialist was mission critical. Life in a combat zone is unpredictable, dangerous, and demanding – and depends upon secure, reliable communications.

In 2005 Lee was finally ready to make the transition to civilian life. While she still misses her friends, she was happy to leave the bureaucracy of the military behind her.

Life after service

Lee worked in law enforcement for several years before deciding to return to school. She used her GI Bill benefits to attend college, where she studied biology.

These days Lee works as a university research specialist in high end microscopy.

But the Iraq war veteran would soon learn that bureaucracy is not unique to military life. Still, it prepared her for similar administrative complexities of working for a large institution.

“That’s what makes me good at my job now.”

A reluctant adopter

Lee has always been an animal lover.

Still, the Army veteran was hesitant to adopt another pet. She and her wife, Joyce, already had Latimer, a Chihuahua mix who was accustomed to being their only child. They discussed the prospect of adding a cat to their home.

However, the couple was unsure if Latimer would be open to a feline friend, and Lee had other reservations as well.

“I always liked cats, but we just were like, ‘I don’t know about a litter box in our house,’” Lee shares.

Joyce, however, was not as reluctant. She offered to take care of the litter box as an enticement for Lee to consider adopting a companion cat.

Looking for love online

Like many adopters, Lee and Joyce started their search online.

It was through SPCA of the Triad that Lee learned about our companion pet adoption program for military veterans.

Since 2015 SPCA of the Triad website offers veterans in our program a 20 percent adoption fee discount, bag of food, and a leash and collar when they adopt eligible dogs and cats.

Lee liked what our program had to offer. She applied and was approved in January 2021, but it would be another six weeks til she fell in love with a cat named Bunny.

From foster to family

The couple decided that a kitten was out of the question – too unpredictable – and preferred to adopt a mature cat. They were struck by the online profile of a then seven year-old Siamese cat who was named Gigi at the time.

“We read about her temperament,” Lee recalls, “and she was super adorable.”

Gigi was being cared for in a foster home. Fostering is used by animal welfare organizations to relieve shelter overcrowding, to give very young, old, or sick pets a low-stress environment, or to help acclimate pets to normal household routines.

Fosters offer important insights to potential adopters about an animal’s behavior and temperament.

“The foster said the cat is great,” Lee recalls, “but she is very shy and won’t come out.”

Lee and Joyce were no less smitten with Gigi when they met her in person.

So about six weeks after Lee was approved into our program she and Gigi were adopted. And like so many newly re-homed pets, Gigi got a new name. From her adoption day forward she would be known as the cat named Bunny.

The cat is out of the bag

A few weeks after the adoption Lee was scheduled for hip surgery. The Iraq war veteran’s newest charge was a welcome and positive distraction during her convalescence.

“Getting Bunny kind of gave me something else to concentrate on,” Lee shares. “She kind of stayed out of the way during recovery. It’s almost like she knew something wasn’t right.”

Not everyone in the household was as enamored of this cat named Bunny. Latimer was perplexed about his new feline sibling after being the only pet in the home for so long.

Although dog and cat are not best friends, they are of similar size to one another. Perhaps that helps to keep the peace. Still, Latimer continues his adorable habit of “Zoom bombing” Lee during remote meetings, and lately Bunny has gotten into the act as well.

Bunny is no longer the shy cat that her former foster described. She is comfortable and confident in her new surroundings.

“Once she realized she could come out and run around, she hasn’t stopped.”

“…love me, pet me, feed me”

Now, one year after adoption, the cat named Bunny has come out of her shell and is thriving in her new home. Lee and Joyce have fallen in love with the adult cat’s affectionate personality.

“She is just so calm,” Lee says. “She is just like ‘love me, pet me, feed me, give me treats.’” 

In fact, Bunny is so attached to her adopted family that sometimes Lee and Joyce have trouble managing her boundaries. 

“I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and she will try to sleep on top of me,” Lee shares. “She will snuggle right on top of the down comforter and I am sweating, please stop.”

Still, every relationship in life involves some degree of compromise. The Iraq war veteran accepts Bunny’s need for extreme closeness because she loves her, and the friendly feline brings a certain tranquility into her home. 

“She is just really, really one of the most calm animals I’ve ever had.”

“…doing the Lord’s work”

Lee  is grateful to Pets for Patriots for bringing Bunny into her life even though she was not sure she was ready for a cat at the time.

The Army veteran appreciates the ease of applying to our program and the various support we provide to every single adopter. She adds that our partners SPCA of the Triad were easy to work with as well.

Adopting a pet – versus buying one – is important to Lee. She especially appreciates our focus on the most overlooked, undervalued shelter animals who face fewer prospects for adoption.

“You’re putting older animals and special needs animals in homes with veterans who need companionship.”

Lee feels strongly enough to advocate pet adoption to other veterans. She encourages them to learn about our organization and our many successes uplifting the lives of veterans and shelter animals.

“I keep telling my vet friends, if you want a pet, check out Pets for Patriots,” she says. “[They] are doing the Lord’s work.”

PreviousNext

3 comments

  1. Mary Eaton says:
    April 6, 2022 at 11:09 am

    It is good to have “smooth sailing” and Bunny took it all in stride!. What a snuggler. Thank you for your many years of service in both the military and private sectors. You have had a lifetime of adventure.
    So happy for you that Latimer has, more or less, caved in not being the center of your four legged furry’s attention.

  2. Gary Gonzalez says:
    March 28, 2022 at 11:27 am

    So happy for all of you: Lee, Joyce, Latimer & Bunny!

  3. Dorothy Greynolds says:
    March 23, 2022 at 9:49 am

    I’m so glad you and Bunny found each other and that she brings you such joy. Thank you for adopting an older cat.

    Thank you for your years of service. My best to you and your family!

Comments are closed.

Join the Conversation

  • Cat tales
  • Dog tales
  • Hope for a home
  • Mental health
  • Extra
  • Pet training & health
  • Donor News


Give with Confidence

logo logo logo logo
Make a donation today
email-icon

Did you enjoy this story?
Don’t miss the next one.

Sign up for our newsletter and get stories like these directly in your inbox.


The Dodo and GEICO honor Pets for Patriots adoptions by sharing their heartwarming tales

WATCH THE VIDEOS

Petco Foundation

PetMeds Logo 300x250

Shop 1800PetMeds for all of your pet’s health needs and we’ll get 10% of your purchase!

Shop Bissell Today!

Shop BISSELL for your home cleaning needs and they will donate 10% of your purchase to us!

Join the Conversation

Stay Connected

Join the conversation, read recent adoption stories, view featured pets needing new homes and more.

Twitter

@petsforpatriots

Follow Us

Instagram

@petsforpatriots

Senior pets are among those most overlooked at she Senior pets are among those most overlooked at shelters. But one old dog is living proof that mature pets can breathe new life into their adopted homes.

Click the link in our bio to read the inspiring story of Chuck, a retired Coastie, and his 10 year-old bud Wayne!

Thank you @fairfieldcodog for this amazing match and waiving adoption fees for veterans we serve.

#coastguard #coastguardveterans #coastie #uscg #milspouse #militaryspouse #petsforvets #olddogs #olddogsrule #adoptaseniordog #weratedogs
Lance enlisted in the Marines in 2016 and ever sin Lance enlisted in the Marines in 2016 and ever since he separated from service he longed for the companionship of a rescue dog. 

The Marine Corps veteran met Marty, an adult Pittie mix, through @bmorehumane, which waives fees for veterans in our program.

In a 'freedom ride' message Lance shared with us he introduced Marty as his son - and we wish this new dog dad many happy years together with his new boy!!

#usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #marinecorpsveteran #devildog #pibble #dontbullymybreed #dontbullymybully #loveabully #adoptdontshop #petsforvets
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!

#adoptdontshop #endpuppymills #animalcruelty #animalcrueltyawareness #adoptionistheonlyoption #adoptashelterdog #adoptasheltercat #adoptashelterpet #rescueismyfavoritebreed
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.

#forgetmenot #weratedogs #weratecats #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterpet #adoptashelterdog #adoptasheltercat #cutedogs #cutedogsofinstagram #cutecats
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!

#army #armyveteran #milspouse #militaryspouse #ptsd #ptsdrecovery #ptsdawareness #anxiety #anxietyawareness #gulfwar #gulfwarveteran #petsforvets #houndsofinstagram #cutedogs #weratedogs #yourarenotalone
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. ❤️

#sdhumanesociety #femaleveteran #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #cats_of_instagram #cutecat #cutecats #cutecatsofinstagram #nalacat #adoptasheltercat #adoptaseniorpet #oldcatsofinstagram #oldcats #twoisbetterthanone
Follow Us

© 2023 Pets for Patriots, Inc. | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Contact us

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.