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Animals have played an important role as human companions throughout the years. They have helped with field work, transportation and have provided a way to pass the time. Though animals have helped people in many ways, they have sometimes been mistreated by people throughout history. One such way is through the breeding at puppy mills.
The month of October has been set aside as Adopt a Shelter Dog Month to encourage future pet owners to adopt instead of purchase pets from breeders.
Master-at-Arms Seaman Justin King recently adopted a dog, Shadow, from a “kill” shelter based in North Carolina.
“I’m not saying [King] was sad, but he always talked about getting his dog from back home,” said Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Zachary Penatzer, King’s roommate. “He would always talk about how there was something missing. The apartment is really just the bare essentials but he kept saying we were missing something, something that would make the place perfect. Once we got Shadow, King lightened up so much. He just became so much happier. I’m not saying he was ever mean or mad, but he never has a down moment with that dog being around.”
Pets can have a profound impact on service members, because they essentially become the only family some Sailors have. It also gives them the ability to take care of something or someone besides themselves.
Though there were many options in the dogs that were available, King chose Shadow for his demeanor.
“I don’t know, he was just different from all the other dogs,” said King. “He was just real quiet and calm. He likes to curl up with you and he stays real calm, he should’ve been a cat.”
King said he had looked around for a while before he chose a dog, and he wanted a shelter dog instead of one from a breeder.
“This is it for them,” King said. “If they don’t make it out of the shelter, they don’t make it period. If I didn’t get him then someone else might not and he could get put down. I’d rather pick someone who I know might not have a chance over someone who will. Dogs from breeders sell like crazy so if an itty bitty thing like a Schitzu has five puppies they’ll be gone in an instant, but if someone has a Lab, German Shepard mix like him they may not go.”
Adding Shadow to the mix was a benefit in King’s life. It made things feel more like home.
“He makes a bad day good,” said King. “It’s all the little interactions. Like when I come home, I see him poking his head out the window and he gets very playful. When I hop into bed he jumps right up there and lays down with me, if I’m walking around he’ll attack my shins with his rope toy. I don’t know, he is just funny. He is a funny dog.”
Shadow has also had an effect on Penatzur as well. He mentioned all the quirky things that Shadow does that stands out and makes his personality shine.
“He chases squirrels all day,” said Pentazur. “He always has to be touching you no matter what. If you’re walking around he has to be right in between your legs, if you’re sitting on the couch he will put one of his paws on your leg. He doesn’t care how big he gets, he will still think he is a lap dog.”
The most important thing to King about adopting Shadow is that he is now committed to this dog for the rest of Shadow’s life.
“If you are looking for a pet, you have to be committed,” said King. “These dogs have already been in shelters and that’s something I wouldn’t want to put someone through twice. You have to be committed. Some days you come home tired and you don’t want to take them out, but you have to because you are committed to them now. You signed a life contract so now you are obligated to take them out, obligated to have fun, obligated to just live.”
To Penatzur and King, adopting Shadow felt like saving a life.
“I’m glad that we got him,” said Penatzur. “I don’t know if he would’ve been taken home by anybody else. Whenever I see him, even if he does something that I get mad about, I’m just happy that he is happy, healthy and alive.”
For more information about adopting pets, reach out to the local pet stores and animal shelters in the area.
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| Date Taken: | 10.15.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.30.2017 17:12 |
| Story ID: | 260973 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 2,147 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Adopt a Shelter Dog Month: GW Sailor Finds Happiness in Adopting, by CPO Anna Van Nuys, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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