Nubs & Marine Brian Dennis Reunited

 

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(Update 9/25/09: You can read my recent interview with Maj. Dennis about Nubs here!)

Major Brian Dennis has returned from Iraq and was reunited with Nubs the dog. Nubs is the Iraqi dog that walked 70 miles to find the Marine who had befriended him. Dennis is looking forward to taking Nubs to the San Diego beaches and teaching him that playing in the surf is fun. Coming from a desert, Nubs wasn’t too sure about the ocean on his first trip to the beach with his foster parents. Nubs has been doing well while waiting for Maj. Dennis to return. He’s put on some weight, his coat has gotten smooth and shiny, and he’s been learning what it means to be cared for. We’re very glad Nubs and Brian Dennis have made it home safely.

You can learn a bit more about Nubs from the email I exchanged with Maj. Dennis. And about Nubs’ homecoming in February.

I checked previously with Major Dennis and he said it was okay to post his email address. You can write him at:

brian(dot)dennis(at)usmc(dot)mil

denbri18(at)yahoo(dot)com

24hr Airport Pet Kennel

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A 24 hour a day pet kennel will be opening adjacent to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport to serve travelers and their pets. It won’t matter when your flight leaves or gets in—you’ll be able to drop off or pick up your pet anytime. And best of all, it will be owned and operated by the Animal Humane Society (for Minneapolis/St. Paul).

It will be a full service facility with training, grooming, and massage available. There will also be a therapy pool, heated floors, and TVs for the cats. In addition, travelers boarding their pets at the facility will be able to park their car there and take a shuttle to the airport. The Animal Humane Society will benefit from boarding fees and parking fees and will be better able to serve animals in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

I like the idea of the Animal Humane Society running the business rather than some corporation who may be less concerned with the safety and comfort of the animals. I know a common complaint about kennels is there are too many dogs with too few people, which can lead to fights, medications not given, special diets not followed, little or no time out of a crate, and over-stressed dogs. I would feel much safer leaving our dog Saffron at a kennel run by our local Humane Society than some kennel that’s part of a chain.