After losing our second golden retriever, Hondo, to cancer two years ago, my family finds itself in a season of transitions. Military retirement is closer than ever, and high school graduation is just weeks away. We’re all still grieving the loss of our pup, who was only eight when he unexpectedly passed.
Over the last couple of stressful years, we certainly have wished we had his comforting presence in the house. We weren’t expecting it, but we learned mental health and science lessons after he left. He didn’t do anything but be a very good dog, always tempering our anxiety and tension and dropping all our blood pressures after a challenging day at work and school.
We miss him terribly, but with all our upcoming changes, is this a good time to get another dog? We’re the type of family that considers the dog’s well-being above our own in most cases, so I know the commitment ahead. Since I’m the mom with a flexible schedule, most dog duties fall to me.
I also have an idea of what an empty nester and veteran spouse’s life looks like: impromptu travel, late dinners out, family weekends at college, and new home searches. None of which are conducive to bringing a new puppy (or two!) home. Yet, we have a big 80-pound hole in our lives shaped like a golden retriever.
Military Pet Resources
Just the idea of moving with a new dog brings up plenty of PCS cross-country trip memories with a dog in the back seat. It’s a lot of work to prepare and plan for an extra furry passenger, especially if they’re projectile car-sickness pros. During our early PCS trips, we spent A LOT of time trying to find pet-friendly hotels in remote areas of the country. It’s harder than you think to hide a golden retriever from a hotel desk clerk.
Thankfully, animal-accommodating hotels and military-related pet resources have evolved from when we owned our first golden. There’s even a new pet travel reimbursement program, but caring for a dog during a hectic relocation is no easy feat.
Dogs During Deployments and Life Changes
It would be a disservice to our first golden, Cody, to say that he supported me through back-to-back years-long deployments when I lived alone in less-than-ideal military locations. He didn’t just help me; he provided a worthwhile reason to structure my days around instead of just burying myself in my job. He demanded early morning walks, breakfast, lunch, dinner and an evening walk, not to mention unabashedly asking for snuggles throughout the day.
He was also my built-in friend maker. I made several friends because our dogs liked to play together. Every day, he was my responsibility, and I’m grateful he needed the attention, so I didn’t focus on global events that were out of my control.
Today, I kind of feel like I’m losing a bit of control as our major milestones continue to creep up. Shouldn’t this be the best time to get another dog? A dog whose main job is to lay around on our designated dog couch while unknowingly providing the purpose and distraction needed during unfamiliar days ahead. I’m not convinced it’s time yet. I’m still enjoying the one good thing that comes from losing a beloved pet — the freedom to live without a strict schedule. It’s getting harder and harder to resist my family’s daily golden retriever video and picture campaign to bring a new member of the family home.
Blog Brigade unites military spouses by creating a community built on shared experiences and mutual support. Navigating the complexities of military life can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Military OneSource offers valuable resources focused on well-being, readiness, and connection. Explore a range of resources tailored to your needs.
