No we didn’t get this backwards. While we are grateful to our fosters and volunteers, let’s be honest…part of the reason why many people choose to foster or volunteer (besides being a good human being and earning good karma points) is because dogs give back that unexplainable, unconditional thing.  It’s not really all that selfless.  If you are a dog person you’ll know exactly what I mean.

San Diego has the largest concentration of military personnel, which means San Diego is home to many people from other parts of the country and most likely missing their homes.

Our volunteer Kaitlin from Wisconsin has been in San Diego since December 2017 and is currently a Navy Operations Specialist. Kaitlin expressed that when she first moved to San Diego she felt homesick and lonely.  Her mom suggested finding a rescue.  Annie (pittie mix, 8 years young), in the pink scarf, had only one prerequisite; that her human share in a bit of fashion sense.  Annie approved and is happy to foster Kaitlin during her stint here in San Diego. 

Tyler from New Jersey didn’t grow up with a dog but is unquestionably a dog person. Tyler has been stationed in San Diego for two and half years and plans to go to college and study finance when he completes his tour.  Until then, Pepe (lab/shar-pei mix, approximately 1 year old) certainly doesn’t mind fostering Tyler and being his ‘wing-dog’.  Having a ‘walking dog’ date is the new Tinder for meeting girls. 

Grace started out as an aviation electrician and is now a Marine barracks manager. Of the four military branches, the Marines has the lowest percentage of women.  It could not have been easy for Grace in this tough male-dominate environment.  She certainly missed her dog Pepper back home in Virginia, so she sought to find a rescue with larger dogs.  Layla (lab/golden retriever mix, 2 years old) in the pink scarf, and Rudolph (lab/dane mix, 2 years old) were looking to help any human but specifically sympathized with shy humans.  Looks like all parties are all smiles.

Hopefully in some small way we (Annie, Pepe, Layla, Rudolph and the rest of the Labs and Friends team) are able to provide a little bit of comfort and support.  Thank you to our service men and women!