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 › Dog tales › Once unwanted pint-sized pup gives Army veteran unexpected emotional support

Once unwanted pint-sized pup gives Army veteran unexpected emotional support

December 16, 2019Dog tales, Pet training & health

Demica and Mannie

When Demica adopted a shelter dog the Army veteran was unsure if the pint-sized pup would give her the emotional support she needed. Soon she learned why her “little terror child” – named Charles Manson at the shelter – was a dog no one else wanted.

But since the initial turbulence of their adoption, the two have learned to lean on one another during some important life changes.

“I can do this”

Recently Demica took a leap of faith. She quit her job and became an entrepreneur.

“My happiness is more than anything. Coming home from work – and you’re at work more hours than you are at home sometimes. And being miserable for that many hours is just not worth it,” she shares. “I feel like we’re killing ourselves and in the same breath, you know, you’re stressed, your anxiety’s high, you become depressed. So it’s like, that wears and tears on your own mental state, so I finally was just like, ‘I can do this.'”

The Army veteran’s former colleagues and clients kept in touch. Demica continued to help them and it inspired her to start her own business as a virtual assistant.

“I basically work with real estate agents and I provide assistance with the contracts, with different documents they’re needing done throughout their real estate careers,” Demica explains. “I have three real estate agents that I have as clients now and I basically do the administrative work.”

The adjustment to life as an entrepreneur was a hard at first. Now Demica is happy and has found her niche – something she struggled with after separating from the military.

Pint-sized pup with a big heart

Thankfully Mannie has stayed by his veteran’s side through it all. Since his adoption in 2017 he has made big strides in his new home.

Still, Demica admits that Mannie can be a “little terror child.” But she is grateful for his support and is proud of the progress in his behavior.

Once unwanted pint-sized pup gives Army veteran unexpected emotional support

When Mannie was first adopted his veterinarian suspected he had once been abused. He was afraid of peoples’ feet, and did like men or groups of people.

And while Demica adopted Mannie to help her transition to civilian life she worked just as hard on her little dog’s big challenges. Mannie has given her the emotional support she needs through all the changes in her life, much to the Army veteran’s surprise.

“I think it’s a process and once you give it the time and go through the process, you’ll find that if that pet is for you, you’ll find a lot of support and ways that that pet can actually help you overcome whatever it is you’re trying to overcome.”

From foe to friend

Mannie’s reputation from his days at Lifeline at Fulton County Animal Services was well-earned. The staff even gave Demica and the pint-sized pup a round of applause as they left the shelter. Since 2015, it is one of three Atlanta-area Lifeline shelters that offer fee-waived adoptions to veterans through our program.

However, the little dog has since shed his bad-boy image – for the most part.

“His behavior has gotten a lot better. Mannie is more acceptable of people now,” Demica says. “At one point he was just a wild child. But I think he was just trying to figure out, ‘are these people here to hurt me?’ I kinda had to learn that aspect of it.”

The Army veteran’s hard work paid off. Now she can pet Mannie with her feet. She takes him on trips to the pet store to help him learn how to be less stressed around other people.

Once unwanted pint-sized pup gives Army veteran unexpected emotional support

But most of all, Demica’s little charge just wants to be near her.

“Mannie wants to be under you 24/7. Although he’s feisty and mean, he’s still loving in the same sentence,” she says. “He’s a big, little soft, little something. Because he just loves to love on you. People will come over and he’ll bark at them at the door, and as soon as they sit down he jumps on the couch and he’s snuggling.”

But to know Demica is to know that she and Mannie have many of the same personality traits. 

“Most people that know me and have had a chance to meet Mannie, they’re like, ‘You and Mannie are just alike,’” she laughs. 

Mannie has even managed to win over an unlikely friend: Demica’s father. He did not care for dogs, but now will visit and take him for walks.

Four-legged emotional support system

Demica was skeptical when a friend suggested that a companion dog could give her emotional support as she transitioned from service to civilian life.

Now that Demica and Mannie have bonded, the Army veteran realizes how experiencing pet companionship is so important to military veterans.

“I can see it now and I had a girlfriend that used to always say that her dog was her, basically her best friend. And when things were not going well she could always count on Dash, and I was like, ‘Oh my G-d, a dog? Really? You cannot be that serious,'” she recalls. “But I honestly can say that I can see that now. It’s almost like an emotional support system. He’s not trained to be an emotional support dog, but I feel like that’s what they eventually become.”

Sometimes it is just Mannie’s antics that brighten Demica’s day.

The little dog has his own version of playing fetch. Demica throws him a ball, but rather than returning it to her he hides it under a table. And they do it all over again.

“…my little shining light”

The Army veteran credits the structure of our program to helping her work through Mannie’s challenging adoption. Our guidance gave her the confidence she needed to teach Mannie how to trust people again.

“They were so helpful,” she says. “During the time when I first got Mannie I actually called them and was like, ‘I don’t think I can do this.'”

Not only could Demica do it – she did. In return Mannie has been an unexpected support system for his veteran. 

“Emotionally, he has made things better. Learning to care for someone, or something, all over again,” Demica explains. “I basically felt like I have another child. So, he’s changed me with having patience, because at one point it was like my patience had went out the door, so I think I became more patient. And learning to actually care and have some kind of, something to look forward to, so to speak.”

Not every pet adoption goes smoothly at first – or ever. Some dogs and cats enter shelters having endured a lifetime of abuse, neglect and cruelty. Others never experienced a loving home or received training on how to be a well-mannered member of their family.

Still, animals like Mannie are homeless through no faults of their own. Just like people they are imperfect and deserve a second chance at life. Demica is grateful that she did not give up on her tiny charge.

“I guess Mannie is my little shining light,” she shares. “Because when things seemed to not be going as well as I would think they should be going, it’s like Mannie knows. And I’m not in a good mood and here he comes, sitting by my side, although he’s a little terror child, [when] times when I need him, he’s there.”

PreviousNext

2 comments

  1. John Rizzo says:
    December 17, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    Congratulations on your adoption. You have made a wonderful blessed life change for both of you. Sounds as though you have overcome many of your own life issues. Most people who adopt don’t consider or realize that the pets also have issues they need to contend with from their previous life. Abuse being a reality.
    As well as abandonment. You both have overcome many and may God bless you both with a long loving relationship. Only question I have is who rescued who. Sounds mutual. Thanks Pets For Patriots for making it possible as well as the shelter.

  2. Mary Eaton says:
    December 17, 2019 at 10:19 am

    Hi Demica,
    You certainly took on a challenge double-fold when you decided to become your own boss and adopt a shelter dog who so badly needed the structure and comfort you had to offer. You found your way. Thank you for sharing this story and realizing it was meant to be!
    Thank you for your service. Happy Holidays.

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

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
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!

#olddogsrule #seniordogsofinstagram #adoptaseniordog #adoptaseniorpet #olddogsofinstagram #cutedogs #weratedogs #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #iserved #iadopted #petsforvets
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
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.