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GW Dog Lovers Volunteer at Perth Shelter
Story Number: NNS090707-16
Release Date: 7/7/2009 4:35:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Christopher Harte
PERTH, Australia (NNS) -- USS George Washington (GW) (CVN 73) Sailors made the most of their liberty time July 4 and volunteered at the Dogs' Refuge Home as part of a community relations project (COMREL).
The Dogs' Refuge Home is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, care and adoption of abused, neglected and unwanted dogs. The project was just one of 14 different COMRELs scheduled during GW's recent port visit to Fremantle and nearby Perth with more than 300 Sailors participating.
Sailors spent the majority of the day divided into small groups. The groups alternated in their assigned tasks, which included landscaping the grounds, painting the facility's kitchen and building protective shelters to protect dogs from wind and rain.
Midway through their workday, Sailors were treated to a lunch with Karen Rhodes, president of the organization.
"These Sailors make a huge difference, giving up one of their days off to do maintenance and repairs, even after being out to sea for a while," she said. "It's just a massive improvement, what the Sailors have done here."
After lunch, each Sailor chose their favorite dog or puppy and played with and fed their dog.
"I like to leave a place looking better than when I arrived. It's good to do constructive, helpful activities and meet people who like doing good things as well," said Air Traffic Controller 1st Class (AW) Luke Wray.
"When we visit a foreign port, we act as ambassadors of the United States, so we want to have a positive impact on the people and the places we visit. I want to make sure I volunteer at every port we visit," said Aviation Support Equipment Technician Airman Anton Yang.
The port visit to Fremantle was GW's first stop of its inaugural summer deployment from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. GW, the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, relieved USS Kitty Hawk last September.
For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn73/.
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