Group supports soldiers - and their pets, too

By COURTNEY LAMDIN | Staff Writer
courtney@miltonindependent.com

Eric Dion expected a warm welcome home.

As he pulled into the gravel driveway off Ted Road in Milton, he was met not only by two friends but a very excited dog, his Shepherd-hound, Anni.

Dion, 28, of Burlington, had just returned home from 7 ½ months at Fort Gordon, Ga., training with the Vermont National Guard. He knew he couldn’t take Anni with him and didn’t know where she’d go.

Luckily, he read about Vermont’s chapter of Soldiers’ Angels, a non-profit that supports troops with letters and care packages from home and also provides pet foster care for the duration of training or deployment.

“I was like, ‘Oh, that is exactly what I need right now,’” Dion said. “Soldiers’ Angels saved the day.”

Dion contacted Barbara Greck, captain of Vermont’s chapter, who helped him pick an adoptive family for Anni. After reading a list of names, he landed on Milton resident Terri Sabens, who promised homemade dog food, a place to run around and a companion, Madison, another Shepherd-hound.

“Terri seemed to be super enthusiastic and willing to help,” Dion said.

Sabens, whose son just graduated from Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, was happy to be a Soldiers’ Angel. She and Greck said the group has only fostered two dogs but have a list of more than 100 people willing to help troops, including college students and disabled veterans.

“It’s the least we can do for what they did for us,” Sabens said. “Veterans got us where we are today.”

While Dion was away, Sabens kept him updated on Anni’s life in Vermont. She posted more than 500 photos to her Facebook page, treated the dogs to a spa day and taught Anni new tricks – like how to eat Cheerios off her chin.

Sabens reminisced about Anni’s first time seeing snow, the two dogs bonding and Anni chewing everything in sight.

“It’s just material stuff – don’t worry about it,” she told Dion.

Greck encouraged troops and veterans to contact Soldiers’ Angels if they’re in need of pet care – even for a short time.

“It’s like you make a friend forever,” she said. “You never forget that person.”

Indeed: Dion offered to house- and dog-sit for Sabens while her family attended her son’s graduation last week. He was happy to help for the care Anni received.

“It’s huge,” he said. “With a dog, a lot of people end up giving them up or not doing that one thing, so this way you’re able to still keep your dog. It’s man’s best friend.”

Once Anni stopped jumping on her owner, who mistakenly wore a white shirt for the occasion, she played and wrestled with Madison on the grass. Sabens and Dion discussed finding him summer work, and Greck watched the scene serenely from a lawn chair.

“This is the happiest moment,” she said.

For more information on Soldiers’ Angels in Vermont, see their page on Facebook, or email vtsoldiersangels@aol.com.