We are excited to share December’s nominations to our DoD Honor Guard! We have received so many amazing nominations for DoD Boarders going above and beyond the “call of duty,” and here are just some of them that are Selected volunteers recognized in the Dogs on Deployment Honor Guard:
- will receive a $250.00 Tractor Supply Co. gift card, to be donated by TSC;
- will be recognized in Dogs on Deployment marketing communications, including this Military Tails Blog, the DoD newsletter, and social media;
- will receive a signed thank you card from Dogs on Deployment CEO, Alisa Johnson;
- will receive a certification of appreciation from Tractor Supply Co; and,
- will earn a badge on their DoD Boarder online profile.
Category of DoD Boarder
Darcy Maloney
With Gratitude from Eryn Banfield, US Air Force
“I’d love to nominate Darcy Maloney and her wonderful husband! They have been so so so welcoming to my crazy dogs and the short notice date changes due to quarantining and flight changes! They offered to host me in their spare room while I was visiting/dropping the dogs off for their fostering! They send me weekly videos and pictures of my pets along with my pets playing with the ones they have. They are all the best of friends! They have many acres of land to let my two fur children roam and play and new animals to see and explore! They even took one of my pets to the vet for an issue and found the solution I’d been looking for, for 6+ months with my personal vet. I’ve been so blessed to find this family for my babies and I genuinely couldn’t have asked for better, I would 100% recommend and use this amazing family again!”
Jamie Pedersen
With Gratitude from Meghan McClenahan, US Navy
“Jamie, in short, was a godsend. I had been in contact with several other boarders, but no one felt quite right for Huxley and time was running out. Jamie actually reached out to me when she saw Hux was in need of a home while I was deployed and it was a perfect match. She was wonderful and made Hux a part of her family instantly. She was great about sending updates and photos.
I truly never worried about my pup while I was gone. She took him on trips to the beach and mountains, which had me a little concerned he wouldn’t want to come home when I returned. I could not have asked for a more perfect boarder for Hux. When I was extended on deployment an additional 2 months she was actually excited to be able to keep him a bit longer. Jamie is a fabulous boarder and human. Though our roles are reversed now, I’m sending photos at least weekly, I know she is someone I can always count on.”
Brook Madden
With Gratitude from Dixie Dominguez, US Navy
“Brooke texted me and sent pictures at least every other day to let me know how Hershey was doing. Hershey was always smiling in photos and I know she had a blast with Brooke and her family and other dogs. She made Hershey feel right at home and even took Hershey with them to visit their family’s farm a few times. Brooke treated Hershey as if she was her own fur baby and I knew once I got home that Hershey would miss Brooke and her family. I couldn’t have asked for a better sitter for my fur baby. Brooke would always create availability to video chat even though I was in a different time zone, 10 hours ahead. She would be quick at responding to any questions I had and even went out her way to purchase food for Hershey when the one I purchased online didn’t reach her soon enough. I would 100% want her to dog sit again if I go on another deployment soon.”
Debra Larson-Adler
With Gratitude from Shawnar Thomas, US Army
“Mrs. Debra is an awesome person whom I had the pleasure of meeting through Dogs on Deployment. I was coming down to the last couple of weeks before my deployment and Mrs. Deb reached out to me to assist me while deployed. I remembered our very first conversation and it was so heartwarming that I decided to board my fur babies with her right away. She answered all my questions and provided references with whom I was able to talk too before boarding. I took the drive over 9 hours to transport my fur babies and we communicated throughout the entire trip. The pictures she provided me with while being deployed makes my heart full and fill my eyes with tears because she treats my babies just like family and I couldn’t ask for anyone better. She takes the time out to make sure Bentley and Cadillac has playtime and most important to them walks and cuddle time. I will always be grateful for Mrs. Deb and her family because she came through in a time of need and give truly from her heart to a Soldier in need.”
Courtney Barr
With Gratitude from Clarissa Verastegui, US Marine
“As a solo living service member, times became very stressful when I had to leave for training. What made it even more stressful was a few behavioral issues my dog has which created limitations for me. I got incredibly lucky when I found Courtney on my dog’s first deployment. She clicked right away with Leonidas. She walked him every day, played with him, brushed him, and gave him the love and attention he needs. She bought him treats and worked with him on his behavioral issues. She even went out of her way to drive 2 hours (both ways) to pick up his heart worm prevention tablets. I felt comfortable and at ease knowing he was in her care which is why I went back to Courtney for the second deployment. She goes above and beyond as if your dog is her own.”
Category of Military Member & Pet Owner
Janet Peace, US Army
Janet wrote to Dogs on Deployment, “I am a disabled combat veteran with no family, which is why Jack is so important to me. He was perfectly fine and healthy until that day; and when I took him to the emergency after-hours veterinary clinic I thought it was just a bad stomach bug. I was shocked and extremely distraught when they came out and told me the severe nature of his illness–he had a ruptured mass bleeding into his stomach. I had to make an instant decision of euthanasia or emergency surgery. I love Jack more than anything so I chose the costly and complicated surgery and was able to save his life; he spent a week in the hospital and is now home with me and recovering.”
With fundraising efforts, Dogs on Deployment and our donors were able to grant Jack a grant of $2,150 to help with his treatment. He is now recovering and Janet hopes to have many more years with him at her side.
Other Military Members to Be Recognized
Additional pet owners to receive a Tractor Supply Gift card as a part of the DoD Honor Guard for the month of January include:
- Shawnar Thomas, US Army who had two dogs boarded
- Dixie Dominguez, US Air Force who had two dogs boarded
- Aaron Fortes, US Navy who received a $3,000 grant for emergency surgery
- Brenner Moore, US Air Force who received a $2,500 PCS grant
Dogs on Deployment extends a very special thanks to Tractor Supply Co. (TCS). Read more about our incredible partnership in 2020 by clicking here.
Follow the DoD Honor Guard program with #dodhonorguard!
