Richard and Piper

 Army veteran Richard met us at an VFW event and let us know that he was wanting a new buddy. He had a very specific type in mind: small dog but not "yappy", affectionate, good with other dogs and, most importantly, big pointy ears! Enter Piper. Piper came to us from our partners at The Good Dog Rescue after he had lost his home in New Mexico. Loving and playful, we knew they would be the right match. Although he was a little shy at first, Richard now reports that Piper loves his yard, sleeps in bed with him, and especially loves going RV camping. And as you can see, he more than satisfied the big pointy ears criteria! We wish Richard and Piper many happy and adventure-filled years together.  

After having toy poodles for years, Air Force veteran Joe was ready for a bigger dog. He and his wife Sue had wolf hybrids previously and, while they weren't up for something that big again, Joe wanted a medium-sized dog that was a bit beefier. His hope was for a low-shedding dog that could go fishing with him in the mountains and learn to run alongside his bike. His specific request was for a "scruffy" boy. 

Scruffy was transferred to Longmont Humane Society from an overcrowded rescue in New Mexico. His curly coat was matted and allergies had caused him to lick his feet until they were hot pink. Despite his discomfort, Scruffy patiently allowed our groomer to bathe him and shave off his mats giving him a fresh clean look for his fresh start in life. 

Thanks to Black Ops Rescue, Joe has the scruffy boy he had been dreaming of and Scruffy is living the high life, even sleeping in bed with his new pet parents. Joe says he "couldn't ask for a better dog" and that he "couldn't be happier with him." We wish Joe and Scruffy many years of happiness and adventures together. 

We have been remiss on updating y’all about Buddy, now known as Benny. As you may remember, Benny is the 11 year old pup that needed an echocardiogram. We got good news there—though he has a grade 3 heart murmur, he does not require medication at this time, just a healthy lifestyle. He will need an echocardiogram annually to monitor his condition. We also discovered that Benny is incontinent at night. Luckily he doesn’t mind wearing a diaper since he sleeps in his human’s bed! Sadly, Benny’s veteran adopter began having severe health problems requiring frequent hospitalization. He came to the conclusion that, though he desperately wanted to have a dog in his life again, it wasn’t possible and would be unfair to a dog. We understood and agreed.  So, what happened to Benny? Benny had been in foster care with Craig Hildebrand, Black Ops’ Veteran Relations Coordinator and an Army veteran himself. When Craig unexpectedly lost his own 2 beloved dogs in rapid succession to cancer and kidney failure, Benny was there. And now Craig needed Benny as much as Benny needed Craig. So we made it official. Benny is now Craig’s dog and he is home forever.

Shadow is home ❤.

When Shadow's veteran could no longer care for her due to health issues, she came back to Black Ops Rescue. We make a lifetime commitment to each of our clients, whether they have 2 legs or 4 legs. After several weeks in foster care with us, Shadow's new veteran found her on our Facebook page.  Reading her story, he realized that by adopting her, he could not only give a dog a loving home but help bring peace of mind to another veteran. The ways veterans show up for each other is both admirable and touching.

When David saw Shadow's post, he knew immediately that she was destined to become part of his family. David is a Vietnam era Navy veteran who was looking for a new buddy. He has had many shelter and rescue dogs over the years and was undeterred by Shadow's shyness. Within a couple of hours of coming home, Shadow was exploring her new digs and even slept in the bed on the first night! Now several weeks in, we are happy to report that Shadow has blossomed under his care into a much more confident pup. David shared, "She took over! Seems like we've had her forever." She enjoys watching the world from her window seat, snuggling with David, and keeping her new yard free of squirrels. She's become a little "ball of fire", zooming around the house and yard and demanding pets with her tiny shovel nose. Her favorite time is breakfast when she gets to share a couple of Cheerios with her new dad. Best of all, she's brought new light and life to her veteran's life, alleviating his low moods with her antics and affection. 

It truly does take a village to make these matches. From our supporters who shared Shadow's story on social media, to her foster parents that loved and worked with her during her transition, to our donors who make our mission possible, we are grateful for each and every one of you. 

Sadly, David passed away in November of 2021. His widow Lola and Shadow find comfort in each other and honor his memory. 

Josh is a former Tennessee National Guardsman that came to us looking for a companion that would be a good fit for his young family and help him feel more comfortable in public. He was wanting a pup that would get along well with his 3 year old twins and be a loyal and protective family member.

Gimli came to us via our partners at Longmont Humane Society after having been rescued out of New Mexico. Only about a year old, Gimli was most likely hit by a car at some point as he has a healed leg and pelvic fracture that have led to some muscle atrophy in his back leg.

When Josh and Gimli met, it was love at first site as you can see from the photo! Josh reports that Gimli is adjusting very well and bonding nicely with the entire family. He also seems to love having a soft bed to sleep in. Josh says, "I wish I had the words to explain how happy it makes me that there are decent human beings left in the world, and that I can help him get his strength back and bond with him!"

Maggie was originally placed with Dan, a Navy veteran. Sadly, Dan died of cancer in May of 2020 and Maggie came back to us. Dan’s last request was to find Maggie a loving new home. One of our fosters, Ken, a Navy veteran himself, was moved by Dan and Maggie’s story and offered to foster her until we found her new veteran. 

Maggie is one of those difficult to place dogs. On the surface, you see a strong, determined, black pitbull mix that needs to be an only pet. Originally pulled from an under-resourced local shelter, she was at high risk of being euthanized. Dan’s love and our mission to rescue dogs, even “difficult” dogs, are what saved her life. 

While fostering, Ken and his wife ended up falling for Maggie. How could they not?! Maggie is the funniest, most people friendly, and sassiest pup ever! She loves to cuddle on the couch and watch TV, really watching and vocalizing excitedly whenever an animal appears onscreen. Ken says she likes watching football too. And since Ken and his wife both work from home, she gets to be with her people all the time. Now nicknamed "Magpie" and "the Velvet Hippo", Maggie will be loved and spoiled for the rest of her days. You can rest easy, Dan; Maggie is home.

Wesley is an Army veteran, Infantry and Airborne. He and his wife have a very active lifestyle and wanted an adventurous dog that could keep up with them. Enter Wolfie! From Adams County Animal Shelter (now Riverdale Animal Shelter), Wolfie was an unclaimed stray. Our best guess is that he is a Husky/Kelpie mix, hence his athleticism and smarts. His timing is pretty good too, just in time for the 2019 Christmas holiday.

Wolfie’s willingness to learn and try new experiences has proved a good match for Wesley and his wife. From adjusting to apartment life, to learning commands for hug, sit, and heel, to running alongside Wesley on his bike, Wolfie continues to show how much he wants to understand and please his humans. He even went on his first camping trip. But learning is a 2 way street with this smart boy! When he wants to play, he mouths Wesley’s hand until he picks up a toy and when he wants to go for a run he nips at his heels. 

Wolfie also has a “Velcro dog” side and can be very affectionate, especially with Wesley’s wife. He acted as her snuggle buddy when Wesley had tours of duty, firmly attached to her hip. 

Wolfie’s devotion and companionship have truly enriched Wesley’s life. And Wolfie, a former stray, now has his forever family.  

Harry is a Vietnam era veteran of the Navy where he was a tractor driver positioning warplanes on an aircraft carrier. Due to a TBI that affects his memory, Harry lives in an assisted living home and has a wonderful caregiver, Monique. His perfect match was George, an Oklahoma stray who found his way to Denver thanks to the Dumb Friends League and then to us. Now Harry has a buddy to keep him company and George has a loving home. We think they like each other.  

When we did our 3 month check in with them, we asked, "Is there anything we can do for you and George?" Harry replied, "Just find more dogs for vets. You make people happy!" Thanks, Harry. You and George make us happy.