Mike has long adopted shelter dogs. The Army veteran enjoys seeing them thrive when given what they need most: love and freedom.

Day to day

In 1985 Mike enlisted in the Army and served at Fort Sill in Oklahoma for two years. While there he completed basic and advanced duty training.

Mike’s official military occupational specialty, or MOS, was 71 Lima. These professionals are responsible for a wide range of administrative tasks.

In time Mike would be permanent party. These are core personnel tasked with day-to-day operations of the base.

In this role Mike wore many hats. One was maintaining SIDPERS, the Standard Installation and Division Personnel Reporting System. This personnel tracking system has since been replaced by a more modern database.

Another of Mike’s responsibilities was driving the base major for field duty.

The Army veteran has fond memories of one particular and unique assignment. A year into his enlistment, the base sergeant major chose him to serve as a lifeguard at Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas.

“It was a dedicated resort on the lake for military retirees, their families, and also German fighter pilots and their families.”

After about seven months of lifeguarding Mike returned to regular duty in Oklahoma. He completed his military obligation there and was free to return to civilian life.

It’s a dog’s life

Mike and his wife Kimala call Aberdeen, Maryland their home. For the past 32 years – and counting – Kimala has worked as a teacher.

One passion the couple shares is giving freedom to shelter dogs. In 2013 they adopted Roscoe, a Doberman mix. His best friend was Kayla, a German Shepherd rescue who passed away in late 2022 to cancer.

“We still miss her to this day,” Mike shares.

The family grieved, including Roscoe. But a few months later Mike decided to give another rescue dog her freedom. He hoped it would help Roscoe overcome his sense of loss.

It was March 2023. Allie was a four year-old dog in the care of Baltimore County Animal Services. The shelter offers our veterans half-priced adoptions for saving eligible dogs and cats.

Allie faced multiple obstacles to adoption. She was a large, adult dog. She is a mix of two working breeds, Husky and German Shepherd. These are intelligent, driven, active, and often independent-minded dogs. Dogs like Allie need experienced handlers who can give them the physical and mental exercise they require.

And Allie was who Roscoe needed to shake his grief.

“After not wanting to be around other dogs for a few months, he fell head over heels, back in line, charged full of life,” Mike shares.

Follow me

A sense of equilibrium filled the Army veteran’s home. Allie stepped into a role that Kayla had fulfilled until her passing.

“She became our alpha overnight,” Mike shares, “and he (Roscoe) was secure again being the follower.”

With her newfound freedom Allie fit well into the Army veteran’s household. She put her trademark smarts to work right away, albeit in unconventional ways.

“Turns out she is probably the most intelligent and learning capable dog we’ve ever had,” Mike says. “She can open everything in our house.”

Mike ticks off the long list of things that Allie can access: opening the range, dishwasher, and upper and lower refrigerator doors. She can even open the under-cabinet pullout trash container.

Kennel stressed

Several months later the Army veteran decided to give yet another dog his freedom.

Pets for Patriots allows veteran to have up to two eligible pets at a time, each receiving full benefits. This helps bonded pairs find loving homes. And it gives flexibility to veterans in our program to add another pet to their households over time.

In November 2023 Mike met Judah at Anne Arundel County Animal Care and Control. Since 2016 the shelter waives adoption fees for veterans approved into our program.

But the purebred German Shepherd was showing signs of severe kennel stress. To say he did not present well to potential adopters is an understatement.

“He was at their shelter for a few weeks and kind of got a bad rap,” Mike says. “German Shepherds, especially males, are extremely uncomfortable in the kennel. Constantly barking and showing aggressive behavior.”

Mike concedes that it was a busy time for him and Kimala. But something about the big dog’s online biography told him that he needed his freedom – in a hurry.

Return of the Jedi

The stressed-out shepherd’s road to adoption would not be easy. Shelter staff believed he should go only to a qualified rescue. This gives animals special rehabilitation, care, or training to improve their adoption potential. It is a common practice for shelters unable to provide those services themselves.

Yet shelter volunteers witnessed a more relaxed Judah when he was out of the kennel. They saw his potential and shared their views with shelter managers.

So one fall afternoon Mike took his two resident rescues to meet Judah. Allie took to him right away. Shelter staff felt that Roscoe and Judah would adapt to one another once in a loving home together.

Mike agreed to foster the big shepherd. By mid-November – with all going well – he converted the foster to a permanent adoption. And from that day forward Judah would be known as Jedi.

Love heals all

It was clear that Jedi did not have a happy start to his life. All Mike knows is that he was surrendered to she shelter with two other dogs. He suspects Jedi had little or no exercise.

“Jedi was skinny and weak when we met. His muscles, especially the rear legs, had atrophied,” he says. “The first few weeks Allie could outrun him by yards over a distance.”

All that would change with the loving embrace of Mike and his wife. Besides giving Jedi his freedom, they gave him quality nutrition and a lot of love.

“With proper care and guidance, along with regular feeding, health care, and nurturing, those runs equaled out in time,” Mike says.

“Over a few months Jedi learned how to run, turn, and have fun playing with Allie. In time Jedi and Roscoe would develop their own play format.”

It did not take long for Mike to notice that there was something special about Jedi. He had a calm, cool demeanor – unlike how he presented in the kennel. He accepted the other dogs in the home with confidence and ease.

And it does not hurt that he takes a good picture, to boot.

“Jedi is the most photogenic dog I have ever had,” Mike says. “The camera loves him!”

Going to the dogs

The Army veteran discovered Pets for Patriots by chance. He was browsing the website of Humane Society of Harford County – where he adopted his first two rescues. Mike saw they are a partner shelter and followed the links to learn about our program.

“I wanted to be involved with a service related organization that actually helped veterans,” he says of his decision to apply.

Mike and his wife are devoted to animal rescue. They have seen firsthand how a dog’s demeanor changes when given a chance to thrive.

“We have three incredible dogs that were given the freedom to have developed their personality and traits. And we would not have it any other way,” Mike insists. “They always have gotten the run of the house and yard.”

It would be obvious to even a casual visitor that the couple’s home is all about their dogs.

“We have a lot of rope toys for Jedi and Allie that love to play tug of war, and dozens of artificial chew bones of all sizes and shapes. Kimala loves to joke that our pets have more toys than some kids,” he says. “We are responsible dog owners that believe in positive reinforcement training.”

Positive reinforcement training uses rewards – such as praise, toys, and treats – to reinforce desired behaviors. This approach help people and pets form stronger bonds, reduces stress, and improves the pace and durability of dogs learning good behaviors. And it shuns the use of force or punishment.

Freedom

Mike will always be a beacon of freedom for dogs in need. He believes companion pet adoption is beneficial to his fellow veterans, as well. Having worked with us not once, but twice, he encourages other veterans to adopt through Pets for Patriots.

“Please use the program as a way to keep some attachment from your service. You can save a few bucks, and really save a dog’s life,” he shares. “Every dog in these shelters was someone else’s pet in the past. They are not objects or toys – they are a living species that really is man’s best friend.”