NATIONAL K 9 CEMETERY FOR CHEROKEE?

While many things have changed in my life one thing has remained wonderfully constant through the years, and a source of continual hope and optimism for me.  That bedrock of optimism and love that I tap into when life generates lemons instead of lemonade has been my love of dogs.

I have unabashedly loved and cared for dogs since I was a child watching the bravery and love dogs showed for humans in TV shows like Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.

I have been around dogs, especially K 9 dogs since I was born. My dad was a mounted police officer in Newark New Jersey, and a K 9 handler as well. I remember the feelings and smells and excitement to this day sitting high atop my Dads police horse named Phil. I was probably only three years old as my dad would hoist me up on Phil, a massive horse to ride in the police stables. My first introduction to police dogs was there in those mounted police horse stables. Although dogs usually spook a horse these two breeds seemed to respect each others assignment to serve and protect. An officer perched high above a horse could see over the cars in the city and make sure things were safe. Also one officer on a horse could control crowds as well as 7 on foot.

The heat and air of a hot Saturday afternoon in a confined 3 story city police stable mixed with the sensuous smell of leather saddles and gear, canvas feed bags of feed and oats, hay, tin water troughs and buckets, and woolen saddle blankets was a symphony of testosterone and primal scents I remember to this day. It may sound odd to some but the most vivid and clear memories of life for me are more the tactile textures, and the aromatic scented smells that I remember more than the pictures in my minds memory.

It was in the old city mounted police stables in Newark New Jersey that I developed my love and respect for animals, especially dogs. Newark New Jersey has one of the oldest mounted police units in America, founded in the late 1800’s. They almost were closed down in 2011 due to city budget cuts, but after protest from people all around the country they were saved.

Seems that I have been rescuing dogs since I was about six or seven years old. I rescued my first abandoned dog, a black cocker spaniel, left on the streets of Newark, New Jersey. We kept her for a while but eventually adopted her into a new home. That gave me the opportunity to then rescue another dog, which we did. She was a tiny fox terrier with a bad leg. I named her Peggy. My cousin later adopted Peggy and I was off again to rescue another street dog. I have been rescuing and been a voice for homeless and shelter dogs for most of my life.

We have four rescue dogs now. Three I rescued while at Green Pets America, as its founder and one my wife Lynne rescued from a local vet. A lady took the dog in, now named Tia and wanted the vet to put her down as the 8 pound Chihuahua peed on the carpet all the time. Fortunately he did not put the little dog down. Lynne saw Tia when we took one of our dogs in for shots and adopted her then.

Each of our rescues has a story as well. I personally rescued Jackson my blue-eyed Australian Shepherd the same day he was scheduled to be put down by the animal shelter in Rome Georgia. He was only one year old, a beautiful pure breed; yet he was going to die for lack of kennel space. Our other two dogs Sweet Pea a beautiful miniature Dachshund was rescued by our GPA group after her human mother died leaving sweet pea and her puppies alone. Such a tragic situation all around. And Ruby our Chihuahua - Italian Grey Hound mix is also a rescue who had a bad start, but now has a happy ending.

After I survived what was supposed to be a terminal illness about seven years ago my life changed again. To say the least, that was a loud wake up call for me. I realized it was time to put the corporate man behind and let the original me come back to life. Realizing how precious life is I wanted to give back, and I especially wanted to rescue dogs again. Not dying was a kind of second chance for me. I wanted to give abandoned dogs a second chance as well, and rescue them from death row shelters. Give them a second chance at life - just as I was given a second chance at life.

So with that new purpose and passion for life I founded a dog rescue non-profit named Meals Fur Pets to feed animals in our community of Cherokee County and keep them from going to the shelter. A few years later I then founded a dog rescue named Green Pets America to help rescue death row shelter dogs that were turned in or abandoned. I got back to my roots of dog rescue.  Green Pets America is still rescuing dogs and being led by Kristen Butler who shares my love for dogs. GPA has many wonderful volunteers and foster families that carry out my original vision. I still help where I can.

I have learned that if we have a passion, and have something we want to accomplish that will benefit many, and if we step out and build it...they will come. I saw it happen with Meals Fur Pets and Saw it happen again with Green Pets America. People sensed and then capture the passion and helped create these wonderful organizations that care for our dogs..

I plan to put that belief into action again. I have created a third voice for dogs organization named K9 Dogs of War to honor the sacrifices of America's brave  K9 Dogs and their officers.  Our intent is to build a National Monument and then National Cemetery to bury with the highest honors the K9 Dogs of War that gave their lives to America in Police, Military and Government service. Fighting the wars on Terror, Drugs and Crime. We have a tentative agreement to work with Cherokee County, the County Shelter and Green Pets America to build a small K9 Memorial to our K9 Dogs of War in 2014. We  then intend to gather groups together to build a National K9 Dogs of War Cemetery, similar to an Arlington Cemetery, in Cherokee County Georgia for all of America's fallen K9 DOGS of WAR sometime in 2015.

While there are a few small dog cemeteries scattered around our country there is no National Memorial or National Cemetery for a proper burial and thank you for our K9 Dogs of War who made the ultimate sacrifice by the gift of life to America. It will not be an easy task but I know that once K 9 lovers hear about this they will help us get it built. Please join with us to honor America’s K 9 DOGS of WAR and build an expansive and beautiful fitting memorial and cemetery for all Americans to visit and celebrate the lives of America’s fallen K 9 DOGS of WAR

To help open this National Memorial in 2014 please contact the National K 9 Memorial - Steve Monahan Committee Chairman at info@SteveMonahan.me

Or make a donation to Green Pets America.com a IRS approved non-profit and reference National K 9 Memorial

YOU CAN REACH THE WRITER STEVE MONAHAN AT INFO@STEVEMONAHAN.ME