WEBVTT

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- [Jason] Pets and pet parents
of Marine Corps Air Station,

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Iwakuni, came together in
the Iwakuni Vet Clinic,

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to pay a visit to the clinic's
special holiday-guest,

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Santa Paws.

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Santa Paws herself brought
the holiday festivities from

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Okinawa to MCAS, Iwakuni.

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- I am not one to re-create the wheel.

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this event actually happens in Okinawa,

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at the Kadena Veterinary
Treatment Facility

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and I thought, "Hey, if
they're able to do it

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"down in Oki, why not do it on Mainland?"

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(laughing)

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- I think the pet parents are really happy

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that this opportunity exists
all the way here in Iwakuni.

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I like bringing a little
bit of the North Pole, here,

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to what some consider remote duty stations

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and just giving them a little
taste of the Christmas spirit.

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- [Jason] During their
visit, pets wore various

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holiday attire, spent some
quality time with Santa Paws

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and took some holiday-filled pictures.

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- What I really like about this event

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is that it's a really good opportunity

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for our patients to come to the vet clinic

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and have an absolutely
positive experience.

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They're not getting poked or prodded.

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they're no veterinary exam
that's going to happen,

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they just get lots of
love and lots of attention

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and they learn that the vet clinic

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is a really good place to be.

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I love seeing my patients happy.

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I love seeing them excited.

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A lot of my patients can be pretty anxious

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coming to the vet clinic

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but knowing that they're
going to get treats

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and love and attention, it's
one of my favorite things.

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This is my third and final
time dressing up as Santa.

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I started the event when I got here

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and it has been growing ever since

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and so it really just
warms my heart to see

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the community respond this way

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and I love doing it.

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I have to believe that someone

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is going to fill these shoes

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and this suit, maybe better
than me, (laughs) next year,

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but, I think, I hope so.

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Right!

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- [Jason] Reporting for
Marine Corps Air Station,

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Iwakuni, Japan, I'm Corporal Jason Kolela.