Little Rock Snapshot: Senior Master Sgt. Melissa Spurling

  • Published
  • By 19 Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Airman 1st Class Kaylee Clark: Q: Could you please state your rank, full name and duty title?
Senior Master Sgt. Melissa Spurling: A: Senior Master Sgt. Melissa J. Spurling military personnel section superintendent

Q: Where are you from?
A: Sioux Falls, Texas.

Q: How long have you been at the rock? And in the Air Force?
A: I have been in the military for 20 years and 8 years at Little Rock.

Q: Tell me a little bit about your job?
A: I am the superintendent of the military personnel section, and I have about 40 troops and there is three different sections, Customer Service, Force Management, and Human Resources Systems.

Q: What got you into rescuing animals?
A: Once I got Samson, he's 15 years old, I don't know what it was, I just knew I loved animals. I was in San Antonio, Texas, and you couldn't go anywhere without seeing a stray.

Q: How do you find the animals? Do people call you?
A: It's a little bit of both. When I started off, it was just cats and dogs that I found on my own on the side of the road or gas stations, wherever there was an animal in need. Once word got out, people started calling me. It's a little bit of both word of mouth and just finding them.

Q: Do people adopt from you?
A: Not so successful in that area. I have had a few adoptions, but my philosophy is if I can't get them a home that is better than mine, they can just stay with me until I do.

Q: What rescue had the biggest impact on your life?
A: I think every animal has a story. Some stories are more sensational than others. My best rescue is my Korean Jindo, Holly and her son I rescued from Kunsan Air Base.

Q: What is the most time you have spent on a rescue?
A: (Laughing) Days! Like the dog on base that now has a home. I was out there every lunch break trying to get her to trust me. I am sure people saw me running around base. But that one didn't work out for me, but she has a home and I am happy about that.

Q: Do you have any crazy stories about a rescue?
A: No, miraculously I have never been hurt by any of these animals. So I know it was meant to be. I did have a situation where I had a pit bull and a deer in my car at the same time. And there were no tragedies whatsoever.

Q: All together how many animals have you saved?
A: I use to keep track. I have no idea maybe 50. Plus all of the ones that I have kept over the years.

Q: Do you favor cats or dogs?
A: Everyone calls me the crazy cat lady. I would say though pound for pound I am more for the dogs. Maybe not the number but pound for pound there are more dogs.

Q: After you retire do you plan on going full time?
A: I would like to but unfortunately in rescue there is no money in it. In fact you spend all of your money. We are lucky enough that financially I have been able to do this. Do I still want to save animals? Absolutely, and do I want to make it a huge part of my life. But more than likely I am going to have to get a job to support my habits.

Q: Other than rescuing animals is there anything else you like to do?
A: I have four little nephews in Conway, and I love hanging with them and they love coming to my house because it is like a zoo. But rescue is a huge part of my life.


Q: Is there any advice you would like to give to the average animal lover?
A: First of all, if you want an animal, and of course purebred is what everyone wants, but shelters are full of purebred animals.