Memorial Day

It has been an epically hot Memorial Day weekend here in Oklahoma. I heard Tia say that it reached 103 degrees yesterday and today it will be just as hot! I don’t even want to go for a walk and I could barely muster the energy to chase those darn squirrels from my yard. Dave and Tia took a trip with their friends to Oklahoma City yesterday and went to this place called a Zoo. I’m not sure what the big deal was, but I heard Dave say that he liked looking at all the animals. So, it’s a place with animals? Uh, they could have stayed home with me and chased birds and squirrels for free. They also went to a famous memorial for the Oklahoma City bombing. I could tell from the pictures that Tia showed me that it was a beautiful reminder and tribute for that city.

Since I was alone most of the day, with tons of squeaky toys, water, and this infuriating contraption that only spits out treats when I push it around, I had plenty of time to contemplate the meaning of Memorial Day. Yes, when I am not busy chewing

on my paws I do some deep thinking. Before Dave joined the Army I never gave this holiday much thought. It just meant the beginning of summer, cookouts, and stealing hotdogs off paper plates. However, I think I’ve come to a better understanding of what Memorial Day means to me. Dave and his friends have made a commitment to this country and their families to defend our freedom. This holiday is about remembering that commitment they have made and thanking them for their service. Not just their service, but the sacrifices that their families have made as well. All over the nation there are children, spouses, and pets patiently waiting for their soldiers to come home. There are the veterans who selflessly served in the past and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation. We need to remember those who are no longer with us, pay tribute to those who have served, and thank those who are serving now.

It does not have to be a grand gesture.  I think that wagging my tail when he comes home and licking his face makes Dave feel like the king of the world. Tia disagrees…but her way of thanking Dave for all he does is making dinner and cleaning the house. I personally don’t see what’s so great about a clean house. The dirtier the better I always say! Anyway, I also always make sure to snuggle up to Dave’s friends when they come over and I know they appreciate it. Showing respect and appreciation to our nation’s veterans and soldiers is the best way to celebrate Memorial Day. I’m not saying that I won’t be enjoying a cookout tomorrow with chips, dip, potato salad, burgers…oops. I made myself drool.  In conclusion, I might sneak a bit of charbroiled ground beef off an overloaded paper plate but only after showing Dave and his fellow soldiers how much they mean to me.

Whew, this heat is starting to get to me and there are some cheeky squirrels sunbathing on my tree! Alright, well I better drink some more water before going back out on patrol…those birds won’t chase themselves! Enjoy your holiday weekend and remember to lick the cheek of your favorite soldier or whatever you humans think is nice J

Tore-nay-dohs

So I googled that place called Germany. Apparently it’s this country in Europe and we have to travel across an ocean to get there! I’m not that great of a swimmer so I hope Tia has a plan to get me there.  She keeps telling me not to worry because it will all work out. I can tell she is a little worried about this move but I heard her say that there is not much she can do until Dave gets his orders in a few weeks. After that I think there is going to be trip to the vet for me and lots of paperwork for Dave and Tia. They’re keeping calm and have promised that I get to come with them, so I’m just going to go with the flow.

Yesterday Dave came home smelling so good! He had dirt and stuff all over those giant boots he wears and I was loving sticking my snout in the pile of those camo clothes he wears! He gave me a good tummy rub and said he had been in the field all day learning how to shoot some big guns. Sounded like fun to me except I don’t like loud noises all that much. After dinner we always sit on the couch together and watch the news. Did you hear about the “tore-nay-doh” in Joplin, MO? Tia seemed really upset when they showed all the houses blown away and there was even a scene of a man pulling his little dog from the wreckage of his home. I guess this “tore-nay-doh” is a really bad storm thing that can do a lot of damage. When I saw all the places destroyed I thought that there must be a lot of scared dogs and cats looking for their owners. Tia said she was going to donate to the Humane Society so that they can help my furry friends there get medical help and find their owners. I sure am glad that Tia has a plan set up in case there is a “tore-nay-doh” here in Lawton.

She always makes sure I have my collar on with my ID tags and I am glad she got me micro chipped. In case my collar comes off, any vet or animal shelter can scan my neck and all of my owners information comes up! I can be returned safely and they even can find out about my medical problems. Tia and Dave also have a closet in the middle of the house that is ready with bottled water, a first aid kit, and flashlight. They haven’t had to get in it yet, but Tia always makes sure that my leash is nearby when it gets stormy outside. She made sure that all three of us can fit in there!

Anyway, I hope everyone makes sure that they have a plan in case of severe weather for their pets too. I love my family a lot and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to them or me. I am really grateful that Tia and Dave made sure that if I get separated from them that I can be returned to them with that microchip thing in my neck.  Also, please donate to my friends in Joplin, MO if you can. They really need all the help they can get so that they can rescue and return those people’s pets.

http://www.joplinhumane.org

Toby

Hello internet people!

Army Woof: Tales from a soldier’s best friend

                Some people might think it’s odd that a dog is writing a blog about Army life. However, I feel that too long has the family pet and soldier’s best friend been without a voice! So, I decided to start writing about my adventures as the loyal pet of an Army officer and his wife. I guess before I start telling my tails (haha) I should fill you in on how I became an Army dog.

                It all started when my last owner asked her neighbor to find me a new home because she couldn’t feed me anymore. I don’t remember much of my life before I met my new owners, but as far as I know I was mostly wondering the streets of Memphis, TN eating what I could find. Then that nice neighbor brought me to this amazing woman’s house. She was so nice to me and told me that her daughter and son-in-law were moving in the next day and that they would love me. As soon as they came in the door, I knew that they would make great owners! I sealed the deal by being extra cute that night and cuddling up on the bed with them. Even though I hadn’t had a haircut or seen a vet in a long time, they promised that I could stay and they would try to find me a good home. The next day they took me to the vet and had me groomed. They even paid for me to get my teeth fixed and micro chipped! Before I knew it, they agreed to adopt me and we have been a little family ever since. They are so good to me and I am so glad they saved me because I would have starved out there. My owners are Dave and Tia, a real nice couple who are also new to this whole Army thing. They don’t have any children yet, so I get spoiled…and I like it!

                I quickly learned that Tia was a hairstylist and loved to sing…all the time! It’s not too bad because she is pretty good; sometimes she even sings things really loud and high in some crazy language. I also learned that Dave was going to be going to basic training for the Army. He left only a few months after he adopted me to go to basic at Ft. Benning and Tia was really sad. I watched her write letters to him every night while he was gone but it was so great when he came home for Christmas! I had missed him calling me “big guy” and playing squeaky squirrel with me. Dave was working on becoming an officer and soon after the New Year, Tia told me that we would be moving to Ft. Sill, OK once he graduated Officer Candidate School.

                It was a crazy week when Dave graduated. I guess Tia’s mom and dad were also going to be moving and the entire house was getting packed up! I was worried that I was going to get boxed up and sent to the wrong house. Luckily, Tia and Dave were able to load up a U-haul truck in only one day and we were on our way to Oklahoma in no time. Since this was our first move and we were doing it all by ourselves, I was nervous! I had never been anywhere except Memphis and this was all new to me. There were so many new smells and sounds and sights! It took me and my owners a long time to get used to the wind here too.  Dave is going to school for field artillery, which as far as I can tell is where he goes out into a big field and makes a huge noise like thunder. Tia is always telling me to listen to Dave making noise and not to bark at it, but sometimes I still growl when it’s a big boom. I like it here, especially because I have some new friends whose owners are Tia’s friends. We go on long walks and sometimes go on a drive to this place where huge critters called “buh-fah-low” live. I think they might be really big dogs, but Tia won’t let me close enough to find out.

Anyway, when Dave graduates in a few months we’re moving to Germany! I don’t even know where that is…I’ll have to google that and get back to you. I guess it must be a fun place because Tia and Dave won’t stop talking about it. Tia keeps gibbering away in this weird language and calling me her “hoo-nt”. I don’t know what that is either, but it sounds good to me! Well, I better finish this up before Dave’s alarm goes off. He gets up so early and then puts on this weird outfit so that when he stands in the backyard I can’t see him! Humans, huh? Alright, well I’ll have more to tell about my stay here in Oklahoma next week!

Toby