AI (Artificial Intelligence) said there was no connection between Doris Day and Norman Hooben. I say there was....
It was sometime in the mid-seventies while stationed at the Military Working Dog Center in San Antonio, Texas when we were sent to California for the purpose of procuring dogs for Uncle Sam. In order to have sufficient prospects we were preceded by a Security Police Dog Team that advertised our time and place for the physical examinations that would determine the dog’s fitness for military duty. My role in this endeavor was to x-ray all the dogs that were pre-qualified by the trainers for hip dysplasia, a very important aspect of the medical exam.
We flew into Los Angeles airport on a Thursday and immediately set up shop at Fort MacArthur near San Pedro, California. The lines of prospects were already forming with anxious dogs and their excited owners. It got busy real fast. So busy that when someone went out to buy lunch we didn’t get to eat any of it until the day was over. In the midst of all this the phone would ring and at one time I picked it up and answered the call.
The lady after identifying herself asked if we could take any number of her dogs for service to their country. I quickly ran through some of the requirements such as age and height restrictions and that although they did not have to be pure-bred German shepherd dogs, they should have the characteristics of the breed. After a bit of small talk I had to end the conversation for we were very busy, “I’m sorry that I cannot be of further assistance to you but thank you for your interest in the Military Working Dog program; it was a pleasure talking with you Miss Day.” Doris Day!
It should be noted that none of Doris Day’s dogs qualified because they were all strays that she adopted and did not have the characteristics that were desired for military service.
