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Patriot story: Clarke and Laila

ClosedDeadline: 05/12/2014

Story Details

Background:

Clarke is a Navy veteran who adopted Laila, a then three-year old Boxer, through our partnership with Monmouth County SPCA in November 2013.

  • Assignment goal is to synthesize the information provided by the member patriot into a compelling story
  • It is not necessary to tell the veteran's story in the order that s/he provided the information unless that is the best way to tell the story
  • It is not necessary to use all the quotes provided
  • You may make minor adjustments to the quotes only to correct for grammer, punctuation, spelling, etc.
  • Punctuation always resides inside the quote marks, e.g., "like this," and not "like this",
  • Close the story with a compelling call to action or question based upon the story's narrative and place in italics at the end, e.g., What are you more willing and able to do now that you have a pet in your life?

Quotes:

Pet's Name
Laila
A little about me
I am 41 years old. I am married and live with my wife and 4 children (ages 11, 8, 7, and 2) in Freehold, NJ. I am currently unemployed. I am attending school to be an EEG Technologist.
My military experiences
I served in the Navy from 1994-1997. I was stationed abroad the USS Nimitz. I completed 2 tours of the Persian Gulf and was part of Operation Southern Watch. I chose to enter the military to make a positive difference in my life.
My most memorable experience from my time in service
The ship performed a display of power for the King and Prince of Jordan.
Why I chose to adopt a pet
I was looking for a companion. I was looking to teach my children responsibility and to give them a sense of security.
Why I chose to adopt through Pets for Patriots
I learned about the program through the internet. My shelter that I was going to visit participated in the program. I feel that the program opened my eyes to adopt an older dog (she is 3) that I may not have thought about doing.
How my honorably adopted pet has changed my life
Laila has adjusted wonderfully. She is attached to me. She will follow me around the house and outside. I often find that if I stop short, she tends to bump into me. She has given me inspiration to get more exercise. I take her in the yard to play and will take her on walks. For me, this is great, since I am not working I have not been getting the exercise that I was getting. She gives me the push to exercise.
What I love most about my new pet friend
She is great with my children. Laila is a beautiful dog, she is part Boxer, part Bulldog. She came from a not so great past. Her previous owner left her and her son and she was eventually surrendered to the Monmouth County SPCA. She was still somewhat emaciated when we got her, but now she looks like a healthy dog. She is very sweet. She will play with my children in the yard. She is a perfect match to our family. She will tend to sleep at the top of the stairs in our home. I have noticed recently, that when I have a sick child, she tends to be close to the child and will sleep near the child.
What I would tell other veterans or service members who might be thinking about adopting through Pets for Patriots
The program is wonderful. If you are lucky to be near and adoption center and a vet, the benefits are great. The discounts and support are wonderful. It is nice when you find a program that gives back to the veterans. It is nicer when it is veterans giving back to veterans.