THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 12, 1995 TAG: 9504120399
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: My Turn
SOURCE: Mary Mahoney
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Recently my husband embarked on what is supposed to be the final Med cruise of his career. The anticipation for this deployment has been building for many years.
In many ways, this cruise will be like all the rest. Appliances will break, mail will be slow in arriving, and it will seem as if a lifetime will pass before my sailor returns home safely.
This cruise, however, will be a bit different for me. I recently had to bid a sad farewell to a very dear friend - my dog, Duke.
He was not just a pet. Duke, through the course of many years, became a family member. He was a lab-shepherd mix and was always home when my sailor couldn't be.
Duke provided me with a great sense of security while Bill was away. Duke was a great friend and confidant.
Duke was a well-traveled pet. He began his life with us in Pensacola, Fla., in 1984. One year later, when Bill got orders to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, we paid a small fee to have Duke flown there also. In 1987 when we moved to Virginia, Duke was again there to meet us.
In many regions, veterinary services are available for military families. We have always taken advantage of this service when we could.
This is a service not advertised, except by word of mouth between pet owners. Surgical procedures are not available but shots and certain preventative medications are.
In Duke's 11 years with us, he was treated by both military and civilian veterinarians. All were caring and sensitive. One, however, cost less.
Just as you do trying to get medical services for military members, you may reach what seems like an endless busy signal when trying to schedule a veterinarian appointment, and hours of operation at many veterinary clinics are limited.
But it's well worth the wait. The cost of shots and medication is very affordable. This is important to me and my family, as Duke left behind his friends - two cats and a canine companion, Dublin.
The fact that our government tries to help with the needs of a military member's pet reminds me that there is a sensitive side to our government.
In the midst of many cutbacks, this is a much-needed service. If the opportunity to vaccinate your pets at a reduced cost exists, there is no excuse to keep your pet unprotected from rabies or other diseases.
I am grateful to the Armed Forces for enabling us to take Duke with us from one duty station to another, especially overseas. Thanks to all of the veterinarians, both military and civilian, that helped us to take care of him.
Duke's age and infirmities made it clear he couldn't survive much longer, so we decided to put him down before Bill went on cruise. Bill wanted to be there when his buddy left; it would have been a terrible thing to read in a letter.
I am aware that some folks have no regard for animals. Many people take animals into their homes expecting nothing but a little companionship.
I brought Duke into our home 11 years ago and what he gave to me was many years of unconditional love, loyalty, protection and companionship during countless deployments. He will be missed. < by CNB