While the US military does provide for its servicemen and women after they finish serving, veterans sometimes fall through the cracks.  Combat medic Darla Stange is one of them.  She was assured that she and her emotional support dog, Gimli, would be provided with lodging upon their return to Washington, but that wasn’t the case.  Now they’re staying in various unsavory motels, and would love a place to call home.

This plea comes from SPC Stange:

I never thought I’d be here. Basically begging for money to get by. I am almost six years on active duty, and have honorably served my country all around the world. I am less than five months from getting out medically from multiple injuries – four surgeries and PTSD. I was prescribed an emotional support animal to help with the stress I was enduring – Gimli. He saved my life. I was in Germany when they decided to send me back to Washington in July of 2015. Through lack of communication in the Army channels, I was dumped at a new post with my partner in crime and no funding for a house. I have gutted nearly all my savings in renting rooms and hotels for my dog and I to stay, waiting for Army paperwork and funding. I am asking with the utmost humility to help Gimli and me get back on our feet. I am scared thinking how this situation has placed me as a soldier upon exiting the service.

I was really struggling after multiple injuries and surgeries were ending my military career sooner than I wanted. I was struggling with severe depression.  I was headed down a very dark and spiraling path with very little hope for my future. Just when I had all but given up, Gimli came into my life.

The post Veteran and Emotional Support Dog Find Themselves Homeless appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Specialist Brown and his dog Rocky were sweeping a structure when the bomb went off.  They were immediately transported out of the country for treatment.

“I am a member AE crew of the 379 EAES (Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron) who transported Rocky and his handler from Afghanistan to Germany. We were very concerned about all three involved in the blast and we are very glad to see they are doing well,” commented Sherry Sexton on the Facebook post from the 89^th Military Police Brigade.

“We love our job. I had Rocky’s injured handler medicated to rest on the flight, and his alternate ha flee was exhausted, so our aeromedical Evac took turns lovin on Rocky. If he were a cat he would have purred. He got lots of attention. It just hurts our hearts when our working fur babies are injured. They can’t talk to us and tell us what to do for them so we do the medical stuff – but we shower them with hugs and pets.”

The photo of Rocky wearing his purple heart has gone viral, and now the pair are receiving tons of attention from well-wishers.

“They are both very thankful for your thoughts and prayers and are in the process of heading back home,” an additional Facebook post said.  “SPC Brown arrived early this morning to Walter Reed where he was met by his waiting family, and Rocky is expected to return to Fort Hood in the coming weeks. Please remember them, as well as all our Soldiers deployed around the world, during the holiday season.”

The post Injured Soldier & Dog Recover in a Hospital Room Together appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

After heading back to the States, he had another opportunity to change this dog’s life by giving him a forever home.

Who could imagine a better ending than that? Even though he’s a tough soldier, he’s a big softie when it comes to his canine companion.

The post A Soldier Reuniting With The Puppy He Saved In Afghanistan Will Make Anyone Smile appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Daysi is a military dog who has worked with hundreds of men and women in the US Army’s 802nd Security Squadron. When the loyal K-9 was suddenly diagnosed with terminal cancer, her team’s heart was broken. The sad reality of this brave girl’s condition meant that her life would have be cut short to limit further pain.

To honor all the work she had done, and to show how much they loved and appreciated her, Daysi’s grieving humans decided to send her off in the most admirable way possible. Watch the heartbreaking video below to see these dear friends say goodbye one last time.

The post Terminally Ill Army Dog Is Honored By Her Humans Is The Most Powerful Way appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.