When Veteran’s Day rolls around, I never quite know the right way or even the best way to acknowledge all those that have served our country. I might post something on Facebook thanking my dear husband for his years of service in the air force. In previous years, I’ve done something as simple as buying lunch for a veteran. And this year, I spent time showing my son his great-grandfather in his sailor suit from the navy.
I also spent time the way every person should – watching videos on Facebook of returning soldiers surprising their families. I watched them and bawled like a baby. It was a good happy cry and apparently it was the same for everyone I shared it with. But there’s something else to make you cry – videos of returning soldiers being reunited with their pets.
And if you think that pets don’t really know or understand, you’d be wrong. Here’s one of my favorites.
There are plenty more videos just like this. Whether it’s been a short deployment or a long one, our pets know and show their love and joy in much the way a human would. Lots of hugs, some crying, and overwhelming excitement.
My husband Sean often flew on long missions out of Stewart Air Force Base in Newburgh, NY which was approximately twenty miles from his house. His little shih tzu, Madison, would stay behind in the care of his mother but she could attest to the fact that Madison knew when Sean was coming home.
He worked as a loadmaster on a C-5 cargo plane, one of the largest planes in the world. It’s four jet engines made a very distinct low whine when flying overhead. So distinct that even I can recognize it. And apparently, so could Madison. Sean would walk through the door and be greeted as if he was a long lost human finally finding his way home.
Every soldier deserves a happy reunion upon returning home with both the humans and pets he or she left behind. It’s why I’m proud to share Purina’s support of the Dogs on Deployment program, whose motto is Support. Connect. Reunite.,
Dogs on Deployment is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit providing a central network for military members to find volunteers willing to board their pets while they are deployed or have other service commitments, making them unable to temporarily care for their pets. No pet should ever be surrendered to a shelter due to a military commitment. DoD exists to help military members keep their pets by alleviating the need for pet relinquishment from military members due to the hardships of deployments.
And in case you’re wondering, Dogs on Deployment helps with any pet, not just dogs. As the wife of a veteran and a huge animal lover, this is certainly a cause after my own heart and I was thrilled to learn that there’s an easy way to help support this program.
I hope you’ll take time out of your day today to visit PureLoveForPets.com, scroll through the Reunion Gallery, maybe shed a few tears, and answer some trivia questions to make a difference in a soldier’s life.
This post has been sponsored by Purina but all thoughts and opinions are my own. I opted in simply because I truly believe this is a fabulous program worthy of your support.
7 comments
How awesome! Those dog reunited with owner video get me EVERY TIME! Love this campaign!
And if you watch them on YouTube, it’s just one after the other. Let’s just say my eyes have finally run dry.
oh how i love this ! those videos always make me cry
What an outstanding initiative. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Oh I love this post! Great campaign especially for this dog lover
Thanks for letting us know about this wonderful campaign and how we can help. Off to play some trivia 🙂
Thanks for letting us know about this wonderful campaign and how we can help. Off to play some trivia 🙂