A Truly Patriotic Organization: Save-A-Vet

To those of you who are unfamiliar with Military-types, you'll never find a more modest demographic (when not being boisterously competitive).  Often times, when thanked for their sacrifices, Veterans will redirect your thanks to the men and women that aren't here to be thanked.  

There is--as in every demographic--a completely unsung Hero in the Veteran community.  Thanks to the keen noses of some of America's finest soldiers, many Service men and women get to come home to their loved ones.  

Danny Scheurer, a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and founder of Save-a-Vet, recognized the need to help our Military and Law Enforcement dogs find homes after their careers, less they be euthanized.  

Save-A-Vet takes in dogs that couldn't be adopted through a traditional process, due to injuries or slight behavioral issues, re-trains them, then links them up with a caring home.  Additionally, Save-A-Vet matches some of these dogs with disabled servicemembers, who receive a home from the organization in return for taking in the dogs. 

For the dogs not matched with Veterans in need of a home, some of are matched with Veterans suffering from PTSD and serve as therapy dogs.  Others are fortunate enough to find a home with general supporters recognizing the need to support our furry Troops in their retirement.

Check out the Save-A-Vet site here.

If you're in the market for a new best friend, please consider taking in one of these Heroes to watch over you and your family.

Leash Laws are for YOUR dog's protection, not mine

He sleeps on his back like a Human.  He's also dangerous like a Human.  That's why I leash him outdoors.

According to Chicago City Ordinance under the 'Animal Under Restraint' provision, "The owner of a dog must restrain his or her animal by a leash, confined within a crate, cage or vehicle, or confined on the owner's premises."

Today, Kemo and I strolled out into the alley for our morning walk as we do every morning.  Unfortunately, I can't walk him anywhere normal during daylight hours.  Also unfortunate is when an individual assumes they have so much control over their dog, that they let him/her roam freely without leash.  In the same sense that humans are unpredictable when they feel their life may be in danger, animals (which are unpredictable even without the fear of death looming) happen to be equally unpredictable under pressure.

Much to my absolute horror, a man was 'walking' his Cocker Spaniel in the alley.  Kemo wears a medieval-looking pinch collar and a superleash about an inch in diameter.   This Cocker Spaniel was prancing around like a show dog off leash.  For some reason, Kemo's death growl wasn't enough to turn this little dog away--ironic as I've seen it send Great Danes running.  This dog ran up to Kemo, who lost his mind.  I tried to evacuate him as fast as possible, but when he goes crazy, he forgets the subtle pain of the leash.  

I somehow managed to get Kemo back to my house without a Cocker Spaniel in his mouth.  The dog followed us all the way to the back door.  His owner stood leisurely in the alley watching me frantically drag Kemo back the whole way.

For the sake of YOUR dog, please follow leash laws.  I would never let my little monster threaten your pet.  Please don't give my dog the fruit of the crime--a delicious unleashed dog--that could have him put down.

Okemo's Story

It seems fit and proper that I share Okemo's background, given that this is a blog about him.  

I'd say its too bad he can't read this, but the little self-absorbed bastard probably wouldn't even appreciate the recognition.  He'd likely just say, "Yeah: Im a badass from the wrong side of the tracks, turned handsome-doggie-blog-star.  What of it?"

FYI: Much of the following is paraphrased, or directly quoted from the rescue organization, Guardians of Rescue, that facilitated his travel to the US--I figured their account of the story is probably pretty accurate, as they're the group that helped draft it.

Okemo was found outside of Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan (main airbase in AFG/the only place you could get a Whopper in AFG) in October 2010 by a soldier from Vermont, when he was only a few weeks old.   He was matted, infested with fleas, and emaciated.  The soldier brought him back to base to stabilize his condition.  He shaved him down completely, which prompted other soldiers to give him the nickname "Chemo" because, "they all thought of him as their little patient" (those were the rescue organizations words; realistically, they called him Chemo because soldiers are sick SOB's (in a good healthy way)).  

Post-deployment,  the soldier that found him brought him back to Vermont.  Unfortunately, the soldier had some readjustment issues--namely an inability to find steady employment--which rendered him less-than-capable of providing the life he wanted for Kemo (the 'k' makes it less offensive... somehow).  He quickly found himself having to move back in with his family,  who couldn't bring Kemo into their home already populated with other pets and small children (Kemo's favorite food groups).  

Kemo was stuck at a local shelter for weeks while his soldier tried to find a way to hold on to his buddy, but as time went on, it seemed less and less likely, and every extra day Kemo was in a cage was worse than it's predecessor for the soldier.  He asked for help from the rescue organization that brought him over in the first place.  His soldier asked that we help find Okemo a new soldier to care for him.

Enter me.

I found out about adopting Afghan rescues (almost no dogs are treated worse/are in greater need of rescue than the dogs of Afganistan) through the Rescue Organization, Nowzad Dogs, which helped facilitate his travel out of AFG and into the loving hands of the Guardians of Rescue.  Then, I saw the pictures of this little goof, heard about his personality, and embarked on a 32 hour round-trip drive to New York to pick him up and bring him home.  

Nowadays, aside from not being able to take him out during normal hours, he lives a pretty awesome life.  He sleeps in a TempuPedic bed, watches Animal Planet when I'm in class or at work, and gets routine midnight park time (unless anyone else is already there with their normal, non-blood-thirsty dogs).

Any other rescue stories out there?  

Dog Adoption Blog Uno: The First Frontier

See spot.  

See spot run.  

See spot run for the neighbors dog.  

See me run for spot.  

See neighbor Kevin's lawyer.

See frowny emoticon--> :(

Note: All dog and human names have been changed to protect their doggy/human identities.

Welcome to my doggy blog...y, which proudly highlights my favorite mistake (where I come from, that's a phrase-of-endearment).  Take your shoes off.  Stay a while.  Socks stay on, weirdo.

That beautiful little monster above, ominously anticipating his next fleshy dessert, is Okemo.  He is a wild dog rescued from Afghanistan by an AMAZING New York rescue organization, then cared for by an equally AMAZING doggy day care in New York; which, I boldly adopted, hoping he'd instantly abandon the survivalist mentality after his first night in a TempurPedic bed.  I mean, it worked on me.

Okemo--better known as Kemo--is my best friend.  My skin is his favorite flavor.  Our symbiotic relationship was written in the stars long before we met (sometimes I wish it were in eraseable pen).  For better or for worse, the two of us geniuses are teaching each other about life--mostly him teaching me about the fragility thereof.

This blog will consist of the usual goings-on between this dynamic duo.  I'll probably drop some product reviews here-or-there, too.  I've likely spent more money than most on every training/adoption care strategy imaginable (I may not have food in my fridge, but Kemo has a thundershirt (it's amazing, btw)), so it only seems fair that I share what does and doesn't suck.

Despite my regular use of dense sarcasm, the main aim of this blog is to share my experiences domesticating the most amazing wild animal to ever gnaw on a man's forearm like it were rapidly loosing flavor.  I hope to draw from you readers that have faced/overcome a similar experience, and hope to add some faith to those of you contemplating the plunge into rescue adoption.   Where a normally-acquired dog wants you, a rescue wants and needs you.

I look forward to keeping you posted on Kemo and I.