Photo By Roger RyDell Daniels | Melina Garos, the owner of Howl a Day Inn, a dog boarding, daycare and training...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas -- One day after retiring with more than 23 years of military service without owning a dog, John Conwell – on the urging of a friend – adopted his first four-legged companion.
Now, more than six months later, the retired Army helicopter pilot has 12 dogs: six of his own, five fosters and one other.
Conwell entered the Army as a helicopter mechanic and eventually became a helicopter pilot. His career consisted of two tours in the Army. He first retired in 1995 after 20 years. The combat death of a friend prompted his request for a second stint on active duty, which started in 2007 and ended with another retirement in April 2011.
After retiring and getting his first canine, he saw the number of his dogs quickly grow. At the same time he developed a new passion for saving canines’ lives.
He’s helping save dogs through No Kill El Paso, a grassroots organization he formed to advocate against the euthanizing of pets.
After learning the El Paso Animal Services was euthanizing an average of 75 unclaimed pets per day despite the city’s commitment in 1995 to become a “no-kill” city, Conwell felt he had to do something.
“I felt it was my calling,” he said about starting No Kill El Paso. “All of the animal shelters know me.”
To do his part to encourage the city to fulfill its commitment, his organization advocates a variety of programs such as volunteer rescue, foster care, catch and release, and spay and neuter initiatives.
Although getting your dog spayed or neutered could be an expensive procedure, costing up to $80, Conwell feels it’s an important part of No Kill El Paso.
He said an un-spayed female dog can have multiple litters per year.
Besides promoting spaying and neutering, Conwell does a variety of things to promote the initiative and feels his military career has helped prepare him for the current chapter of his life.
Being a service member, he said he is aware of how difficult it can be for military families to own pets because of multiple moves and deployments.
“The unfortunate part is when Soldiers leave, the government doesn’t pay for their dogs’ boarding,” he said.
Conwell believes military families would make good foster parents for a dog or two. He does caution would-be dog owners.
“Get a dog that fits your family and lifestyle. Get a dog you can take with you when you leave the area,” he said. “If you like to run, get a dog that can run with you.”
For those military families who are unable to take their dogs with them, Conwell urges families to find a suitable facility that offers short and long-term boarding.
One such place is Howl a Day Inn, a dog boarding, daycare and training facility located in west El Paso.
“Howl a Day Inn offers military members a reduced rate,” Conwell said.
Conwell and Melina Garos, the owner of Howl a Day Inn, formed a bond about six months ago when they realized they had a common goal of saving as many canines as they can through the No Kill El Paso initiative.
Currently Garos houses five boarder dogs – two from Soldiers who are deployed -- among the 35 at her facility. This includes 16 dogs that were previously recovered by local rescue personnel. Conwell also houses several of his dogs at Garos’ facility and is at the facility almost daily to help the staff care for the dogs.
Garos, who was married to a service member and moved to the United States about five years ago, stresses that she will do whatever it takes to find a stray dog a new home, but if she is unable to find a home, she will keep it indefinitely.
Still, because of space and cost, she doesn’t take in every dog, which she said really hurts her heart.
“I’m not a shelter. I hope to become one,” said Garos, “Other shelters are full or don’t take certain dogs.”
Regardless of that, both Conwell and Garos are happy for choosing the No Kill El Paso movement.
“I am really happy, because this is my dream,” Garos said. “When you love what you do, you just do it.”
Conwell agreed.
“I love it,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 01.20.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2012 12:32 |
| Story ID: | 83069 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 286 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Saving lives, one dog at a time, by Roger RyDell Daniels, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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