Diamond in the Ruff

Photo By Staff Sgt. Brendan Miller | YOKOTA AIR BASE, TOKYO, JAPAN (Oct. 25, 2021) – Harmony Carmack, pet care specialist, enters the kennel area to give dogs free time in the yard at Yokota Air Base, Japan, October 25, 2021. Pet care specialists exercise pets several times throughout the day to maintain the health and wellness of animals. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brendan Miller)  

TOKYO, JAPAN

10.25.2021

Story by Staff Sgt. Brendan Miller 

AFN Tokyo

The military life stresses every member of our families. When members PCS, TDY or go on leave, ensuring pets are taken care of is one way that some of that stress can be mitigated. Harmony Carmack, Yokota Air Base Pet Care Center specialist, is one individual whose mission is the health and safety of your pet when you need it.
The last nine months Carmack has worked at the Yokota Pet Care Center taking care of service members’ animals. However, before she interviewed with the pet care center, she had already been offered a position elsewhere.
“As soon as I was accepted for a job in retail I got the call for an interview with the Pet Care Center,” said Carmack. “I’ve worked two retail jobs and that is enough. I got that call for an interview and I said yes.”
Carmack turned down the first offer for a chance to work closer to her passion. After the interview Carmack waited for her acceptance email which never arrived. Later she received a phone call from one of the staff informing her that she had received the position.
“The Pet Care didn’t have the right email because of my handwriting,” said Carmack. “When I found out that I got the job I was so excited I called my husband right then while he was at work. It was amazing.”
After starting at the center Carmack discovered that while the work was fun is had its own share of challenges. These were the parts of the job that no one sees.
“First thing in the morning you have to carry the buckets around to wash the kennels,” Carmack said. “Your feet get wet carrying those five-gallon buckets and I hate my feet getting wet. You also must clean up after the dogs, which is not glamorous, but it needs to be done.”
The experience of working at the center taught Carmack what is necessary to be successful in her job. Rather than working alone she found that it was better to work in a team.
“You definitely need a love for animals,” said Carmack. “You also need to be a team player. This isn’t a job where you can be independent. There are too many tasks to do alone and if there are a lot of animals staying with us like they do during the holidays then we have to work together even more.”
For nine months Carmack worked alongside animals to ensure they have enough blankets, get fed and have time outside. While the dogs enjoy time with the staff, she still thinks her favorite part is when an animal goes home.
“The dogs are excited when they see us,” said Carmack. “But it’s a whole different level when their owners come to pick them up. My favorite part of any day is seeing them run back to their owner. I get to take care of an important family member and see the joy when they’re reunited. It makes the job worth it.”
When Carmack and her husband leave Yokota she doesn’t know what job she’ll get next, but if she had to choose it would be another job just like this.

• Date Taken: 10.25.2021
• Date Posted: 10.26.2021 23:13
• Story ID: 407979
• Location: TOKYO, JP