It took a rescue dog to turn a Navy veteran’s too-quiet empty nest into a vibrant home and sanctuary once again.

On fire

Dana had spent much of her life serving others.

A U.S. Navy surface warfare officer Dana served aboard two ships out of San Diego, the USS Tarawa and USS Jarrett. During shore duty she was an assistant professor at a defense institute where she taught military personnel about foreign military sales. This role included travel to Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.

Life aboard a Navy ship demands focus, skill, and a willingness to act when things went wrong. Dana learned those lessons firsthand.

During one deployment aboard the Tarawa, Dana stood watch on the bridge while the ship anchored off the coast of Eritrea. She is proud that she was one of just two officers of the deck trusted to take the ship in an out of foreign ports.

One day the heat and humidity caused the bridge windows to fog. Dana switched on a window defroster then looked toward the executive officer’s (XO) chair.

“I see what looks like those rope Christmas lights on his window,” she recalls. “First thought—why does the XO’s window have Christmas lights? Second thought—the window is on fire!”

The fire turned out to be electrical. Dana shut off the defroster and called the commanding officer. However, the incident earned her an unforgettable nickname aboard ship: Dana, Destructress of Darkness.

Years later Dana would find herself solving a very different kind of problem that did not have an on/off switch. It could only be solved by a rescue dog.

Silent night

Dana’s life took some unexpected turns following her separation from service. While stationed in San Antonio, Texas, her husband asked for a divorce before he took orders to Ohio.

Dana packed up her two children and moved back to her hometown near Port Orchard, Washington to begin her life anew. Now grown, her son enlisted in the Army and her daughter is completing a degree in criminal justice.

While Dana is separated from service the Navy veteran continues to serve. She remains active in various military and naval associations, and is an ambassador for a women’s military memorial.

But despite busy professional and volunteer roles Dana missed something that had always been part of her life: a rescue dog.

Dana grew up with dogs and adopted several over the years. Sadie joined her family near San Diego. Later, Dana and her children adopted Wendy from Kitsap Humane Society. Her daughter helped bring Lacey into the family after the dog’s previous guardian passed away.

Eventually Dana lost both Wendy and Lacey. At first, she thought she could live without another canine companion. Then one night she lost power and the silence was deafening. Her house—once filled with the joyful bustling of kids and dogs—no longer felt like a home.

Life astray

In an instant the decision to adopt a rescue dog became an easy one. Dana began searching websites of local animal shelters. She preferred an adult dog, which she knew would be a better fit with her work and volunteer schedules.

One day while searching the website of The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County she saw the online profile of a dog named Ramona.

The big dog entered the shelter in mid December as a stray. Nothing was known about her prior life or how she became homeless. But Dana could not help but notice her oversized, radar-like ears.

“When I saw her picture, her ears were so large and cute I knew that I wanted to meet her.”

Dana’s daughter happened to be home from college at the time, so the two went to meet Ramona together. Dana felt an instant connection even though Ramona was bigger than her previous pups.

So in the waning days of December, Dana adopted Ramona—since renamed Rio—through The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County. Since 2012 the shelter offers our members a deeply reduced adoption fee of just $16, and has 180 lifesaving adoptions through our partnership.

Because Dana used our program the shelter waived the hold fee when Rio needed to stay in place until she could be spayed. She went home just in time to ring in a new year—and a new life.

Rough start

The first few days did not go exactly as planned, but Dana remained optimistic.

“It was a little dicey at first as she ate through her wire crate,” she shares, “and kept pooping in the house for the first couple of days.”

While soiling the house was resolved quickly, Rio’s destruction of her crate was the first sign she may have been suffering with separation anxiety.

Fortunately, Dana has support. Her employer allowed her to work from home, creating time to help Rio adjust gradually to Dana’s absence. The Navy veteran tried calming chews and a pheromone diffuser as well.

Pets for Patriots followed up with Dana after the adoption and offered practical guidance for managing Rio’s anxiety.

“I love the program,” she says. “During the follow-up call after I adopted Rio, I was given pointers on how to help with her separation anxiety and it helped.”

Moving on

Rio has brought more than companionship into Dana’s life; she has upended her routines in a welcome way. Before Rio, Dana used an exercise bike to stay fit. Now she laces up her sneakers for adventuresome walks in the neighborhood.

“We have our route,” Dana says, “and it is fun to watch her look for the bunnies, squirrels, cats, and dogs that she has seen on previous days.”

These walks are not casual strolls. They have all but replaced the Navy veteran’s need for her trusty bicycle.

“It is not a leisurely walk either,” she says. “I get as much cardio done in a 30-minute walk with her as 60 minutes on the exercise bike.”

The big rescue dog with radar ears has another talent; he is an expert navigator.

“My daughter has gone hiking with her twice and gotten lost,” Dana says. “I was with her the second time. Both times, Rio has guided us back to where we were supposed to be.”

At home Rio is content to enjoy the affections of her new family. She is gentle company for nights watching TV or just lounging around the house.

“I love just chilling with Rio on the couch as she loves to be around my daughter and I,” Dana says, adding, “She loves belly rubs.”

Family

For all the challenges that came with bringing a new dog home, Dana sees the bigger picture. She took a chance on a once stray dog and her faith that everything will work out has been rewarded. Rio is both keen and affectionate, the perfect companion.

“Rio is very sweet and loving,” Dana says. “She is also fairly intelligent.”

These qualities help make the rescue dog more than just a pet. She has become part of Dana’s family and an invaluable fixture in her everyday life.

A daily exercise partner, a couch cuddling pal, a hiking companion who always knows the way back home. But perhaps the best description of Rio’s place in Dana’s life comes from the Navy veteran herself.

“She has been a great addition to our family.”