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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - When Staff Sgt. Arin Vickers returns home to Scott in a few months, she will have a new furry family member waiting for her that she rescued during her current deployment in Kuwait.
The terrier mix was found abandoned with two siblings by Vickers on the side of the road. The 435th Supply Chain Operations Squadron C-5 stock control supervisor fell for the puppy she named Bandit, after some deliberation with her friends about what to name him, and posted updates about her furry buddy on Facebook.
Vickers said, “I grew up having pets. We've had everything! Rabbits, mice, snakes, dogs, cats ... you name it. I was stationed overseas for five years and always wanted to get my hands in rescue, but it never hit reality until I moved to Illinois.”
She said she started working with a local pet rescue, where she first met her friend, Sheila Ford. Their friendship took off from there.
“Between fostering, transporting and working fundraiser events for over 10 rescues between Illinois and Missouri, it's been crazy and stressful, but the rewards are worth it,” she said.
Ford is a retired Air Force Aircraft Maintainer of 26 years. She heard about Bandit’s story from Vickers, whom she met through a volunteer pet rescue event. Ford’s passion for animals has turned into a mission in the four years she’s been involved in pet animal rescue.
Ford said, “Through our love of animals and serving in the military, it was just a natural thing that we became friends. Once you get into pet rescue, there’s no getting out. All you want to do is provide a voice for the animals, so that they have a second chance to live a wonderful life.”
Ford kept in touch with Vickers during her deployment.
Vickers said, “I felt bad leaving home for deployment, especially during the cold season, as that's when we get hit with the most abuse and neglect cases, but that's the military life.”
Ford saw that Vickers posted that she found puppies on the side of the road while traveling.
“I never thought I'd still be having that rescue itch being in Kuwait, but I couldn't leave those poor pups on the road,” Vickers explained. “We passed them on our way to another installation. I then realized they were still there on the return trip. I was able to get Bandit to come near me while the others kept their distance. He put his butt up in the air with his wagging tail and wanted to play. I knew then that he was no desert dog; those three babies were abandoned. There was another deceased dog under the blanket they were all cuddled on. It made me angry someone could do such a thing.”
Bandit's personality was described as a playful puppy who probably hasn't realized he's hit the jackpot.
“He would take off running, do a full spin, stick his butt up in the air and wait for you to chase him,” she said. “We couldn't get enough of his cuteness! I call him my big ball of fluff! He would tire out quickly and just curl up by you on the floor and take a nap.”
Vickers said Bandit lifted her and her fellow service members to a new level of morale.
“You couldn't help but smile and have a better day just by seeing his cute, scruffy face.”
She then began to make arrangement to bring the puppy back to home with her.
“We contacted Puppy Rescue Mission, who put me in contact with a kind soul named Marlene, a local here in Kuwait. Altogether, we raised over $3,100 in Bandit's name. Marlene took him in until travel arrangements could be made.”
Puppy Rescue Mission is a Texas-based nonprofit charity that works to reunite service members with the dogs or cats they've connected with while in deployed locations by coordinating the logistics and fundraising to get them home. Vickers sought help from Ford to bring Bandit back home to Scott.
Ford did what she’s done for dozens of animals, and found Bandit a foster family to stay with until Vickers returns from her deployment. She sent the word out on the "Scott AFB All About Pets" Facebook page and, within a matter of hours, the post had Scott families stepping up to help.
Bandit began his journey across continents. He spent his travel in a crate inscribed in marker, “Bandit of Kuwait.” He finally arrived at his Scott AFB foster home Jan. 28, where Airman 1st Class Tyler Clay, 375th Medical Group medical technician, and his spouse, Edna Pizano, volunteered to welcome him into their home. They are interested in adopting a dog in the future and figured this would be the best way to acclimate their lives around a furry companion.
Ford said it takes a special type of person to be a pet foster parent, often leading to tearful goodbyes when the pets go to their forever homes.
She said, “Dogs like Bandit have ‘magnetic’ personalities, and he’s so adorable.”
Pizano said, “I think I will be sad, because I’m already in love with him.”
In the meantime, Pizano said being home with Bandit will help him adapt to home life that much easier.
Vickers said Bandit has a brother to play with, a boxer named Baxter she brought back from England.
“The homecomings will definitely an emotional one, but I'm beyond excited to reunite with my pooches,” Vickers said.
| Date Taken: | 02.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.06.2015 16:18 |
| Story ID: | 153828 |
| Location: | SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Canine companion travels to await owner’s return, by Erica Fowler, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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