Jimmy wanted a dog for companionship. The Army veteran got so much more when he adopted a dog from a local animal shelter.

Hello helo

In 1977 Jimmy enlisted in the Army National Guard. During his tour of duty he was an E-3, or private first class, serving as a combat medic specialist. These skilled professionals are responsible for a wide range of basic, urgent, and emergency medical treatment, including in hostile environments.

Combat medics must prepare to fulfill their duties in a wide range of situations, including being choppered into a conflict zone. To this day, Jimmy has a vivid memory of training for exactly that type of experience.

“My first helicopter ride for medic training,” he says. “When the copter turns seems like you should fall out, but you don’t.”

By April 1983 Jimmy completed his tour of duty and separated from service.

The Army veteran is now single, fully retired, and living in Atlanta. He enjoys baking, tinkering with electronics, and working on his vehicle.

Good company

Like many veterans—and people in general—Jimmy grappled with loneliness. So one mid-summer day he visited the website of his local animal shelter, Lifeline at Fulton County Animal Services.

The shelter is part of a trio of Atlanta-area Lifeline shelters that joined forces with Pets for Patriots to adopt companion pets to area veterans—and waives adoption fees for our members.

Adopting a pet for free was just one part of Jimmy’s decision to adopt. But the real motivation does not have a price tag.

“I live alone,” he says. “A dog is good company.”

At the time, Canterbury was a two-and-a-half year-old mixed breed dog at Lifeline at Fulton County Animal Services. He entered the shelter more than six months prior to meeting Jimmy.

Like so many shelter dogs and cats, Canterbury was homeless through no fault of his own. And as a large, adult dog he faced additional obstacles to adoption.

Dogs over 40 pounds take up to twice as long to be adopted than those under 40. It is the reason a dog’s weight is but one possible criteria for adoption through our program.

Dogs and cats may qualify as well if they are adults, have special medical needs, or are continuously homeless for six months or more.

But Canterbury is more than a statistic who met our adoption criteria; he is a sentient being who deserves a loving family. Jimmy was prepared to give him just that.

Days after being approved into our program the Army veteran renamed his new battle buddy Debo and welcomed him home.

Best friends

There is abundant evidence that companion pets, and dogs in particular, boost a person’s mental, physical, and social health. They love and accept us without condition or limitation.

Dogs compel us to get out of the house. They create new routines and break ones that are unhealthy, like self isolation. And dogs help create connections with other people, even if it is merely idle chit chat.

Debo is everything Jimmy had hoped for, and then some.

“Walking him, I get exercise,” he says, adding that the duo enjoy taking walks and meals together.

Often it is the simplest things in life that make the biggest impact.

An always-there friend, a wagging tail, a stroll through the neighborhood, a mealtime companion.

Jimmy and Debo both benefit from the unspoken pact created through adoption. The Army veteran gets respite from his loneliness, and an unwanted dog now knows the security of a loving home.