PET TALK: Happy Veterans Day from Soph!

Soph is not a veteran, but she supported her family while USMC SGT. Lilley served our country, while wife and mother, Jessica, and their two sons lived at Camp Pendleton.

Jessica treasures Soph’s memory, marked by her tattoo and happy memories and bruised legs by Soph’s trust fall.

Soph would get up from wherever she was and take her 80lbs and throw herself onto a lap, whether that lap was ready or not. Many drinks spilled and heads knocked with her joy of seeing her military family come home either from the store or deployment.

Her sweetness was always ready for her family.  

Soph and Georgia were adopted before SGT. Lilley last deployment to Afghanistan, and Jessica had her hands full since she had to get the series of vaccinations for two puppies.  

Yes, my Pet Talk friends, we are talking about vaccinating your dog.

I have seen the effects of Parvovirus, Distemper, and Leptospirosis on helpless dogs and the suffering that occurred that was 100% preventable. I follow the AAHA guidelines for vaccinating a pet, not the opinions of other people who think that they know best. 

It’s more cost effective to vaccinate than to have your dog come into ER with a virus that will drain your bank account by thousands and have a mortality rate of 90%.  

To think that these diseases will not affect your pet is ignorant since our local shelters have been closed due to viral canine disease outbreaks.

In March 2025, Fort Worth shut down two animal shelters and euthanized 17 dogs due to the Distemper outbreak according to Fort Worth Report.  

Midlothian Animal Services are temporarily closed from Nov. 3  through Nov. 17, 2025, due to a positive parvo exposure. 

Vaccinations are a cornerstone of canine prevention healthcare and one of the most cost-effective ways of maintaining your dog’s health, longevity, and quality of life. 

My warm wishes, thoughts, and prayers to those that have served our country.  

– Charlotte