Gone To the Dogs at Naval Hospital Bremerton
By Douglas H Stutz, NHB/NMRTC Bremerton public affairs officer -- Naval Hospital Bremerton staff don’t really go to the dogs during National Dog Week.
Many were already there as evidenced by their submissions: https://archive.org/details/national-dog-week-2025
Along with the personal connection for with canines for many staff, the U.S. Navy has long had an professional affinity for dogs.
Military working dogs have long been part of America’s operational readiness, although they didn’t have an official role until 1942 during World War II. Since then, they’ve been with soldiers, Sailors, airmen and Marines up through Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom until present day. There are approximately 1,600 military working dogs currently serving in a variety of mission essential land, sea, air roles, including security, search and rescue and part of foot – and paw – patrols
Navy Medicine Readiness Training Unit Bangor personnel augmented their Tactical Combat Casualty Care proficiency earlier this year in providing battlefield trauma care to military working dogs. The training, a collaborative effort with Army Veterinary Corps the Veterinary Treatment Facility located on Naval Base Kitsap Bangor was designed to improve the ability of non-veterinary medical providers like Navy corpsmen to render correct and timely treatment for military working dogs having a medical emergency in an operational environment.
Dogs have also been haze-gray underway and not just as official mascots. Most notable has been Capt. Demo, a golden retriever/lab mix on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during their extended nine-month deployment to the volatile waters of the Middle East, providing comfort, companionship and curative as only a canine can.
Staff were more than willing to share their connection with their fur family. For the fourth year in a row, over 30 dog-owners responded to a request to provide an image of their canine companion(s) for the last week in September. The pictures were compiled into a visual digital display, ranging from lovable rescues to runts of the litter and many breeds in between.
Dog gone it, indeed.
Staff were introduced to Charles, a rescue from San Antonio, Texas, who came to the family of Michelle VanOverbeke, Family Medicine Clinic Women’s Health Nurse and OB Referral Navigator, about five years ago.
“We had his DNA done. He is a lot of things but primarily Great Pyrenees and Siberian Husky,” explained,” said VanOverbeke. “He came to us after being fostered by a trainer who taught him basic obedience and some fun tricks like riding a skateboard. He loves to go for hikes and sniff absolutely everything along the way. He will do anything for food, and he drools like a Saint Bernard. Since our kids are grown, he is spoiled and gets all the attention.”
There were working breeds represented, such as bloodhounds Ellie Mae and her younger sister MJ, of Amy Salzsieder, Occupational Health registered nurse, who are actively involved with the Kitsap County K9 Search and Rescue and National Search Dogs Alliance. Their other canine, Kelicie, is the resident bird dog.
German Shepherd Harley belonging to Terry Lerma, NHB emergency preparedness manager, has officially retired from her K9 Search and Rescue days and is enjoying retirement as property patroller and squirrel and rabbit barker.
Tifanie Riley, certified medical assistant and occupational health technician, has quite the fur family. Nodens is her 8 years old Labrador Retriever she has had his entire life. “He has moved with me to every part of the country and is the best co-pilot (in the car),” she says. There is also Momo, 2 years old Yorkshire Terrier. “I’ve had him for 2 years. He is a small boy with a big attitude but is also the sweetest little guy.” Belle is her 9 years old Chihuahua-mix she’s had for three years. “She has no teeth, and her favorite activity is chewing squeaky tennis balls.” Toph is a 3 year old Mini Schnauzer she has had for three years. “She has a scream that can break the sound-barrier, and she screams when she is excited, all the time,” exclaimed Riley.
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marissa Stancil shared her two girls: Stella, a 4-year old German Shepard and Roezi, a 11 years old Husky. “I have had sweet Roezi since before I joined the Navy in 2017. She has been all around the world with me. So far the Pacific Northwest is her favorite! She loves hiking and can still be convinced to do a 5K [3.1 miles] with me if I promise we get snacks after. I got Stella right before permanent change of duty station to Italy in 2022. She loves the Pacific Northwest as well. As for running, she’s the one convincing me that we never need to stop,” shared Stancil.
Embo, a West Highland Terrier, all of six months old, who Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marlon Fleming, Radiology Department, has had for four months. “We named him after the Star Wars bounty hunter.”
There are a few sizable breeds in the collection. Tabetha Sanders, PSNS detachment audio technician and family have the Cane Corso duo of Nico, 9-years old and Bleu, all of three months. “Don’t be intimidated- their hearts are pure cuddle,” she insists.
No doggerel, dog-eat-dog sentiments here.
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2025 10:27 |
| Story ID: | 548905 |
| Location: | BREMERTON , WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 96 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Gone To the Dogs at Naval Hospital Bremerton, by Douglas Stutz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
