Photo By Tech. Sgt. James Cason | U. S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Taylor Harrison takes a break from kitchen chores with her...... read more read more
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Dogs Equal Family
By: Staff Sgt. James Cason
Publish Date: Feb. 17, 2020
Summerville, S.C.- When Staff Sgt. Taylor Harrison drives home from work at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. every day, the thing she looks forward to the most is getting to see and spend time with her family. Her dog family that is.
But for Harrison, her dogs Remington and Lola are as much members of her family as anyone.
“I got Remington with my ex-husband. Rem is still here, and that’s all I’ll say about that. I got Lola by myself, she was a rescue…skin and bones when I got her. I feel like both of them are my children. Some people roll their eyes at that, but it is what it is. My dogs are my family. It’s just that simple,” said Harrison.
Taylor’s connection with her dogs is immediately obvious and powerful. From the moment she enters the house, her dogs greet her and want her affection. And Harrison smiles back at them and gives them what they ask for.
Remington is a massive Alaskan Malamute weighing in at over 180 pounds. He’s friendly but often doesn’t seem to realize how big and strong he is.
Lola is a smaller brown and black speckled hound mix. She’s the protector of the two dogs and won’t let anyone she doesn’t know close to Harrison.
“Being in the military, I’m pretty far away from home. From my family. We always had dogs growing up. I pretty much love most animals, but I’ve always felt a special connection with dogs,” said Harrison.
As Harrison goes about her routines after getting home, there are moments when she takes a quick break and her dogs look up at her and the affection they show one another is very much akin to that of a mother and her children.
“You know I thought I’d found one kind of family at this point in my life, but it turns out that Remington and Lola are the family I really needed right now. It makes me feel so happy that such pure beings as them are so excited to see me every day. And no matter how stressed I am, they always make me feel better,” said Harrison.
Military members often face a variety of stressors that many of their civilian counterparts don’t encounter. Long hours, days—even weeks away from home and the understanding that at a moment’s notice they could be sent halfway across the world. So when Harrison lays down on the couch on top of Remington, with Lola at her feet and smiles the smile of one who is truly content and happy in the moment, it’s clear to see that Harrison’s dogs are so much more than pets. They’re family!
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| Date Taken: | 02.11.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.18.2020 17:32 |
| Story ID: | 363353 |
| Location: | CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 190 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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