Dave was unsure how he would navigate life following a painful divorce. A sassy adult cat turned his ship around, for the better.

Run silent, run deep

Dave carries a deep sense of purpose from his Navy years. The first two years of his enlistment were spent training as a submarine sonar technician, assigned to the USS Jack in Groton, Connecticut.

These highly skilled professionals are the ears of the submarine. They are responsible to detect and analyze sounds in the ocean to ensure safe navigation and identify potential threats.

But the additional training meant a longer tour of duty. Dave did not seem to mind.

“The extra schooling required obligating for six years,” he explains, “instead of four.”

One memory from Dave’s naval career stays bright in his mind. A personnel transfer took place near the Strait of Gibraltar, and his commanding officer allowed him to carry his camera topside.

Dave captured a stunning picture of the Rock of Gibraltar, an image lived in his heart ever since.

Unmoored

Years later, Dave and his now ex-wife had settled in the outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland with their young son. In 2018 they heard about Pets for Patriots; Dave was inspired by our mission helping people save pets and pets save people.

“My ex-wife found the program. Our last cat had passed away and we both love animals too much not to have them in our life,” Dave explains.

“We decided to adopt through Pets for Patriots because we—especially me—believe in your mission.”

It was June 2018 when Dave adopted a bonded pair of middle-aged cats, Lilly and Louie. And for a short while life was good.

The following year Dave and his wife separated and finalized their divorce in 2022. When Dave moved out he made the noble and responsible decision to leave the cats with his son and ex-wife.

A few pet-less years followed since Dave moved to a residence that did not permit animals. The Navy veteran was navigating life without any anchors to keep him from going adrift.

Man on a mission

Fast forward to spring 2025. Dave was working full-time as a senior network administrator. His days often felt full, especially with a ten-year-old son who stays with him every other week. Books fill every shelf in his home, almost four hundred of them, because reading brings him joy.

Still, something—or someone—was missing: a four-legged companion.

“I’m a life-long animal lover,” he says. “Other than from late 2019 until May 2025, I’ve had cats in my life continuously since the early 80s. I also had a dog for 11 years.”

In May 2025 Dave moved to a new place that allowed pets. He reached out to Pets for Patriots to reapply and start his new pet search in earnest. His quest took him to Baltimore County Animal Services, which offers members of our program half-priced pet adoptions.

The shelter is among scores of municipal organizations we partner with nationwide with our free, turnkey military pet adoption programs.

While there Dave met Serenity, a then five-and-a-half year old tabby cat. She arrived at the shelter in late May severely overweight and at risk of serious health issues. But the Navy veteran was not deterred.

This mission-driven man saw the corpulent cat as worthy of his devotion, and changed her name to Mia.

Life is good, again

The years following Dave’s separation and eventual divorce were unsettling and lonely. Yet to the casual observer the Navy veteran had a full life: quality time with his son, a meaningful career, and free time to indulge his love of reading.

Mia, however, brings a ‘seize the day’ spirit that enlivens Dave’s world. All she needs to do is demand his immediate attention.

“If you talk to her in a high-pitched voice and tell her she’s a pretty girl, she tucks her head and rolls onto her back so you can rub her belly.”

Long since out of her post-adoption shell, Mia is affectionate, curious, and a very distracting officemate.

“She walks across my desk in front of the monitors or rubs her head on them which moves them out of position,” he shares.

“All kidding aside, she’s an absolute joy. I am so happy I found her.”

And that happiness is a feeling that endures. The Navy veteran is no longer navigating life alone every day. Now he has Mia to anchor his days with a mix of comforting routine and the unpredictability of life with a cat.

Dave sees the change in himself—his mood, his outlook on life—all smooth sailing.

“How has she not changed my life for the better?” Dave says. “While my spirits are generally good—especially when my son’s with me—having her has pushed my spirits even higher.”