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Wet Nose Blog
Home › Dog tales › Marine veteran eases loneliness and loss with rescue dog

Marine veteran eases loneliness and loss with rescue dog

October 30, 2017Dog tales

Marine veteran eases loneliness and loss with rescue dog
Of love and loss

Ron is a Vietnam veteran who lost his way when his beloved Weimaraner of 10 years passed away from cancer. He decided to give a rescue dog a new leash on life after enduring months of crushing loneliness. 

From 1967 to 1970, Ron served in the United States Marine Corps as a combat engineer. He was stationed at Camp Lejune in North Carolina and given schooling for demolition, as well as construction and rebuilding. He then served on the USS Monrovia off the coast of Africa prior to being deployed to Vietnam.

After his tour of duty was over, Ron decided it was time to head back home and continue with the family business.

If I had a hammer…

Ron has a long family history in carpentry and construction work. His grandfather came to the states from Italy and was a mason. Both his father and now his son have been involved in the same line of work.

After separating from service Ron returned to his native Brooklyn to pursue his career in carpentry. But after 9/11, he lost some friends in the attacks and decided to retire early – leaving city life behind.

The Marine veteran moved his family – wife, son and daughter – to start a new chapter in Pennsylvania.

After the couple’s children had grown the pair decided to start another adventure by moving to Florida. To date they have survived three hurricanes. They feel lucky for having had minimal damage and no need to evacuate. However, Ron’s wife has been encouraging a move farther south to her native Puerto Rico, where they visit her family frequently.

Search for a gray ghost
Marine veteran eases loneliness and loss with rescue dog

Ron remained terribly lonely four months after losing his senior Weimaraner to cancer. He loved the breed and was determined to find another, but was committed to his next pet being a rescue dog. 

The Weimaraner is often called a “gray ghost” due to the coloring of its sleek coat. 

Big Dog Ranch Rescue saves all types of dog breeds, both large and small. However, they tend to save a lot of Weimaraners, making them the ideal place for Ron to start his search. The Vietnam veteran believes strongly in companion pet adoption.

Since 2012, Big Dog Ranch Rescue has partnered with Pets for Patriots and offers veterans in our program a deeply discounted adoption fee of $50.

Ron took notice of Smokey on the rescue’s website. The then four year-old blue Weimaraner had been homeless for several months and was severely underweight. But something about Smokey inspired the Marine veteran to drive nearly 300 miles to meet him.

“I knew I wanted a blue, and seeing Smokey online was love at first sight,” he says.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue told Ron about their partnership with our charity. He learned about our mission to make pet guardianship more affordable for military veterans, and save the most overlooked homeless dogs and cats.

Ron applied to our program and was promptly approved. As a result, Big Dog Ranch Rescue reduced Smokey’s adoption fee by hundreds of dollars.

“His adoption fee was $450. Gratefully they reduced his adoption fee to just $50,” Ron says. “Either way I was bringing him, so money was never an issue.”

The Marine and the rescue dog

The Vietnam veteran brought Smokey home the very same day he met him. 

There were some problems at first, as is often the case with any rescue dog or cat. But Ron was determined to overcome any challenges. He made a commitment to save the big dog’s life.

Smokey was underweight and full of worms. He displayed fear aggression towards unknown dogs.

Marine veteran eases loneliness and loss with rescue dog

These behaviors may be attributed to Smokey’s life prior to rescue, about which little is known. And it can take weeks – even months – for an adopted animal to feel secure in his new surroundings. Fortunately there are basic actions any adopter can take to minimize their pet’s stress.

For nearly a year Ron worked with Smokey to overcome his fears. The dog is now a solid 80 pounds of muscle, goes for walks three to five times a day, plays with toys, and – most importantly – never leaves Ron’s side. Smokey has even discovered a love for peanut butter, as well as some fruits and vegetables.

Above all, the big rescue dog has embraced his new life with Ron – and the feeling is mutual.

“He’s just so good,” Ron says. “He just loves everyone.”

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6 comments

  1. Alyson says:
    December 6, 2017 at 8:40 pm

    Thank you for your service – and for rescuing Smokey!

  2. Mary Eaton says:
    October 31, 2017 at 3:25 pm

    All it takes is one hand reaching out for another…..or paw, as the case might be. Thank you for sharing and sending smiles our way.

  3. Christine E says:
    October 31, 2017 at 2:26 pm

    Weimaraners are great dogs. When I was a kid, I babysat two for an entire summer while my neighbors were traveling. They were so sweet, but a handful, especially the male! I have never forgotten them and have a resulting soft spot for the breed. I’m so glad that you found Smokey and you help each other out. Guess that’s what this program is all about.

  4. John A. Smaldone says:
    October 31, 2017 at 12:20 pm

    Great story, great dog and a great marine! Can’t get a better combination than that!

    Ron, so happy Smokey filled your void and visa, versa, he is a beautiful Weimaraner and the two of you look great together!

    God speed Bro,

    John

  5. Sarah Williamson says:
    October 31, 2017 at 9:39 am

    Oorah!

  6. John Ward says:
    October 31, 2017 at 9:13 am

    Look at the smile on Smokey’s face – and on Ron’s, too! Well done, Marine!

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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!

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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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* Tim is active duty Army and just became cat dad to Iceburg - one cool cat (sorry, we couldn't resist)! Thanks to @jeffcospca for this purr-fect match and for giving veterans we serve $100 adoption fees.

* Andre is an Army National Guardsman with a heart for older pets. He met 11 year-old Camo (great name!) through our partners @nfsaws in Connecticut, which offers our veterans 50% off adoption fees.

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It's adoptapalooza "J" edition! * Jonasia is an A It's adoptapalooza "J" edition!

* Jonasia is an Army veteran who visited our partners @bmorehumane and added 3 year-old Josey to her family. This gorgeous hound and her adorable human sister are both so pretty in pink...twinning!

* James is an Iraq war veteran who needed the comfort of a 4-legged battle buddy. Three year-old Nami fit the bill after being in the care of our partners @lollypopfarm!

* Jacob is active duty Army and met Charlemagne at @jeffcospca where this stunning Shepherd-Retriever mix just fetched a new home!

Thanks to all of our shelter partners mentioned in this post - and across the country - who help us place animals in need with our nation's heroes.

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Jeff has always believed in doing the right thing Jeff has always believed in doing the right thing as his guiding philosophy. Eventually that attitude led the Marine Corps veteran to save a shelter dog who would forever change his perspective on adoption.

Click the link in our bio to read this truly inspirational tale!

#usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #usmarines #marinecorpsveteran #iraqwar #combatveteran #militaryfamily #cutedogsofinstagram #weratedogs #adoptdontshop #petsforvets #muttsrule
22 years after the 9/11 terror attacks we continue 22 years after the 9/11 terror attacks we continue to honor the lives of thousands of souls lost that day and in the years that followed, including two as yet unnamed victims identified within the last few days.

May they all rest in heavenly repose with the knowledge that we will never waiver, we will always stand on the side of freedom, and we will never, ever forget.

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