A Veteran's Dying Wish: A Home for His Dog

By Beth Zimmerman, Pets for Patriots

We share this story with a sense of both urgency and sadness, with the hope to giving an elderly, dying veteran some peace of mind during his final days.

Pets for Patriots was contacted earlier this month by a hospice social worker in San Diego caring for a terminally ill veteran of the Korean war. We know little about this very private man except that before he dies, he's determined to find a new home for his beloved dog, Gizmo. This hero has no family and possibly only days to live as I write this piece.

Since our original appeal, a few potential adopters have come and gone, none the right fit. We were hopeful that a lovely and sincere family who expressed interest in adopting Gizmo would be "the ones," but Gizmo didn't connect with the family's own elderly dog. Not wanting to cause undue stress on either animal, the veteran decided that Gizmo must be the only dog in the family and requested that the search continue.

To honor his dying wish, Pets for Patriots is working with one of its outstanding California adoption partners, Rancho Coastal Humane Society. Anyone interested in adopting Gizmo should fill out an online application immediately. If requested, potential adopters may be asked to travel to Alpine to interact with Gizmo and meet the veteran. A brief profile of Gizmo is available on the Rancho Coastal Humane Society site.

Gizmo is a special dog with a special and urgent need. In addition, he's a Pets for Patriots eligible pet: any servicemember or veteran of the U.S military who might want to adopt Gizmo should apply online to our program immediately. Whether adopting Gizmo or another eligible dog or cat through Rancho Coastal Humane Society, membership has its privileges.

With our partners at Rancho Coastal Humane Society and with the cooperation of the veteran's hospice care team, we will not rest until we can help bring this bittersweet situation to a positive end: a loving home for Gizmo and peace to an American hero in the sunset of his life.

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About Pets for Patriots
Pets for Patriots, Inc., is a registered 501(c)(3) charity that helps service and veteran members of the United States military honorably adopt adult and at-risk shelter pets. Its mission is to consistently give the gifts of fidelity, joy and companionship to both pet and person.  Pets for Patriots is one of the only organizations in the country dedicated to both homeless pets and military personnel at any stage of their careers and from all armed forces. The charity is a proud member of the Army AW2 Wounded Warrior Program national community support network, a national partner of the Real Warriors Campaign and is listed by the National Resource Directory for ill and wounded veterans. Visit Pets for Patriots online today and Be A Pet's Hero(TM).

©2011 Pets for Patriots, Inc. All rights reserved.