Welcome to Pet Tales from the Final Frontier
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August 2023
Table of Contents
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Petfleet Director - FCAP Randy Mitson & Nero his loyal Harlequin Pinscher.
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A Word from the Director of Petfleet
The first half of this year has been very positive with Petfleet thanks to all of you and our dedicated Petfleet staff. Petfleet membership has been growing at a fantastic pace, starting with 891 registered pets at the beginning of 2023, less than 8 months later and we now have over 1120 registered pets with Petfleet!
We launched a new Petfleet digital registration form earlier this year to make registration easier. The new form also allows members to update their pet information and register their pet’s final mission when they cross the rainbow bridge. Jessica Sommer, in our Member Services department, has been working diligently to issue all new member certificates within 48 hours so there are no more long waits to receive your pet’s Petfleet member certificate. Jessica was recently presented with the First Class, Order of Herodotus for her outstanding work within Petfleet.
Join us on our Facebook STARFLEET Petfleet group page and you’ll find daily posts from our members and staff about all things STARFLEET, Star Trek, and Pets. We encourage you to share pictures and videos of your pets and you can even enter them in our monthly Photo Contest. Right now we are hosting a special Pet Photo Contest for STARFLEET’S VIC on Aug 10th, 2023.
I am confident that with the support of incredible members like you, we can achieve all these goals and more. I look forward to working with you all and keeping you updated on our progress through our Facebook group, Discord channel, and this new quarterly newsletter.
Sincerely,
Fleet Captain, Randy Mitson
Director of STARFLEET Petfleet
petfleet@sfi.org
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Petfleet’s Command Staff:
- Director: FCAP Randy Mitson, USS Renaissance - R13 petfleet@sfi.org
- Deputy Director: COMM James Cecil, USS Commonwealth - R1
- Veterinary Consultant: CAPT Frances Smith, USS Neptune, R2
- Operations: CAPT Mary Demiter, USS Antares - R5
- Member Services: LT Jessica Sommer, USS Cerberus - R10
- Member Services Intern: Job Opening
- Newsletter Editor: CMDR Kelly Winterstein, USS Parallax - R11
- Newsletter Intern: CMDR Ronel Du Preez, USS Dauntless - R8
Job Opening: Member Services Intern/Assistant:
Join our team as a detail-oriented Records Keeper Intern! Assist in processing applications, managing pet records, and supporting members. Must have strong organizational skills and proficiency in Google Suite. 18 years old, SFDPP Certification required.
Exciting opportunity for hands-on experience! Apply now!
Kelly, our Newsletter Editor has had to step down, we will be posting a Newsletter Editor job position soon. See Volunteer Resources
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PETFLEET Staff feature - Mary Demiter, Chief of Operations
Mary Demiter (Dem-it-er) is your Petfleet Chief of Operations. With that title, she is charged with creating Petfleet activities so you and your pets can have fun in this auxiliary throughout the year. Keep watching for monthly photo contests, step challenges, academy courses, and more! Mary is also the XO of the USS Antares in Region 5. She has spent years volunteering her time with Wildlife Rescue organizations and specializes in rehabilitating injured and abandoned squirrels back into the wild. Though with a new baby in the house, she has taken leave of squirrel duty and tends to him, her Basset Hound Holly, and Guinea Pig (Earth Tribble) Fezziwig.
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Mary Demiter, Chief of Petfleet Operations.
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1st Class Order of Herodotus Award
Congratulations Jessica, on receiving the prestigious First Class, Order of Herodotus Merit Award for your exceptional dedication and service as the Petfleet Member Service Records Keeper in STARFLEET. Your meticulous attention to detail, swift response time, and efficiency in processing member records have been invaluable to the Petfleet division.
Your commitment to excellence has not only benefited your chapter and region but has had a profound impact on the entire fleet. Your remarkable work has earned the admiration and respect of your colleagues and superiors alike.
Thank you, LT Jessica Sommer, for your outstanding service and unwavering dedication!
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First Class, Order of Herodotus presented to Jessica Sommer, Petfleet's Member Service Records Keeper.
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Order of Herodotus – History or Recordkeeping – Awarded to a member for significant activities in preserving a chapter’s, region’s, or STARFLEET’s history. - An Order of Merit, First Class, is awarded for fleet-wide service and must have its nomination endorsed by a Regional Coordinator and may only be awarded by a majority vote of the STARFLEET Executive Committee.
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Monthly Petfleet Roll Call
Our monthly STARFLEET Petfleet monthly Roll Call continues. At the beginning of each month, we invite all members to respond to our Roll Call with a picture of their furry, feathered, or scaly friends.
Below we have just a few featured members' pet pictures from the past April, May, June and July roll calls.
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August 2023 - Total Registered Pets in Petfleet
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305 Cats
285 Dogs
32 Stuffed Animals
17 Birds
14 Tribbles
13 Rabbits
10 Cheetahs
8 Lizards
8 Snake
7 Fish
7 Ship's Mascot
5 Guinea Pigs
5 Turtles
5 Other
4 Bat Eared Foxes
4 Pet Rocks
4 Robots
4 Sock Monkeys
4 Tarantulas
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4 Ferrets
2 Dolphins
2 Flying Monkeys
2 Gerbils
2 Horses
2 Iguanas
2 MeerKats
2 Mini Horses
2 Racoons
2 Rat
1 Bear
1 Bearded Dragon
1 Black Eared Jackal
1 Caracal
1 Potbelly Pig
1 Squirrel
1 Targ
Register Your Pet Here!
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April, May, June & July Petfleet Photo Contests
Participate in our Petfleet Photo Contest and showcase your beloved pets in this monthly-themed challenge! It's an exciting opportunity to share the cuteness and unique personalities of your companions with our Petfleet community. Don't miss out on this fun-filled event and join in the chance to win recognition and admiration for your adorable pets! Winners are featured on our Facebook Group Cover for the month.
April Contest - National Pet Day 11th (show your pet)
Winners: Kyleigh Chopelas, Rod Simmons & Firedog Oakley
May Contest - May the 4th Be With You (Star Wars)
Winners: Jessica Odell, Tony Miller, Mat Larkin & Constance Ruth Fleming
June Contest - Capt Picard Day 16th (Fleet uniform)
Winners: Constance Ruth Fleming, Josef Melech-Solomon & Dee Spirock
July Contest - SPECIAL VIC PHOTO CONTEST (Enter Now!)
Winners: Announced at the Virtual International Conference on Saturday, Aug 12th
Petfleet Photo Contests Coming
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Aug Contest Theme - Rainbow Bridge Day (Honour a Past Pet)
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Sept Contest Theme - Star Trek Day (Feature pets in any Trek Fandom)
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Oct Contest Theme - Pumpkins & Costumes
STARFLEET VIC Photo Contest
Petfleet is hosting a photo contest for this year's Virtual International Conference in August.
There are now five categories for you to enter your best STARFLEET Pet photos in, we’ve added a miscellaneous category so everyone can enter. One entry per pet per category, and we will be offering certificates for our winner and two honourable mentions in each category plus our category winners will each receive some very special custom Petfleet Swag!
Enter online at: https://woobox.com/yt8et7
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STARFLEET Petfleet Walking Challenge
 Join our fun and healthy bonding activity with your pets! Since April 2023, STARFLEET members have collectively taken more than 5,665,000 steps in this challenge! Participate in the monthly challenge and keep track of your weekly walking totals. Regions 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 20 have already taken part in this quarter.
Let's promote an active lifestyle and strengthen our connections with our companions. At the end of each quarter, we'll recognize the top participants with a STARFLEET Petfleet certificate of recognition. To be part of this exciting journey, simply submit your weekly step counts through the link below.
Let's walk, jog, hop, swim, and bond with our pets together!
Submit your weekly pet walking step counts here: https://forms.gle/95gvCie24Ntwft5D9
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STARFLEET Petfleet Academy Course Awards
 In April Petfleet announced its first Academy Challenge featuring the College of Veterinary Medicine (COVM) following courses: COVM 101 - Introduction to Veterinary Medicine, COVM D101 - The Informed Dog Owner, and COVM C102 - The Informed Cat Owner. Although the challenge is now closed we encourage all Petfleet members to complete the College of Veterinary Medicine on their own time.
29 Petfleet members participated and seven were able to achieve a gold certificate with 100% Distinction in all classes! Congratulations to everyone who participated.
For our second 2023 Academy Challenge, we will be featuring Xeno Studies to learn more about the animals and insects of Star Trek including the Truth About Tribbles. This challenge will be more challenging than the last one. You will have lots of time to complete it but all submissions need to be completed before November 1st, 2023 to qualify for a certificate.
Go to: Institute of Alien Studies (IOAS) then select College of Xeno Studies (COXS) then select ‘Animals in STAR TREK’ & you will see the following courses:
- FXZ 101 - Animals & Insects in ST: ENT
- FXZ 102 - Animals & Insects in ST: TOS
- FXZ 103 - Animals & Insects in ST: TNG
- FXZ 104 - Animals & Insects in ST: DS9
- FXZ 105 - Animals & Insects in ST: VOY
- FXZ 106 - Animals & Insects in ST: MOVIES
- FXZ 107 - The Truth About Tribbles
Anyone completing all Seven courses with 100% - Distinction in each, before Nov 1st, 2023 will receive a special Gold certificate, Silver Certificates will be issued for anyone who has achieved Honours in each course with Distinction in at least one course, and after that date, only standard Petfleet Academy certificates will be issued.
Once complete, please forward copies of your certificates to Petfleet using this form and you will receive your Petfleet Certificate. https://forms.gle/ZVqQzUvptqXqPMAZ7
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Starfleet Canine Corps - by Connie Fleming
 The Pensacola Unit of the Starfleet Canine Corps came into existence over 12 years ago. As a long-time Star Trek fan and a long-time owner of Shetland Sheepdogs, it was only logical for me to include my pups in my love of and passion for Star Trek. So, when I became a member of Starfleet International, it goes without saying that my fur kids became members of the Petfleet. The next logical step, given that I have been a member of the local dog club since 1984, was to gather other dog friends and colleagues together and form an unofficial offshoot of the Petfleet for our canine companions. Dubbing Capt Archer and Porthos as the original founders of the Canine Corps, we have, over the years, recruited other Star Trek fans (and a few non-fans) to join the Unit along with their fur kids and to represent the corps in local public events.
The real growth of the unit began back in 2011 when the Five Flags Dog Training Club of Pensacola held its annual AKC Obedience Trial. Daring to go where no obedience trial had gone before, the Club happily welcomed dogs from around the Southeast United States to be the guests of the Starfleet Canine Corps. During the weekend event, handlers and dogs competed to the stirring themes from all of the Star Trek TV series and movies. They later enjoyed a lunchtime serenade by DS9’s holographic entertainer, Vic Fontaine. Club members wore Starfleet shirts and insignia and greeted everyone with the traditional “Live Long and Prosper”. Everyone seemed to enjoy this little step into our favorite alternate reality and that weekend we added a number of the local pups to the Corps.
More recently, the Corps found themselves invited to participate in PensaCon, the local Comic Con. Each February, in honor of that event, Pensacola’s airport changes its name to the Pensacola “Intergalactic” Airport. The Starfleet Canine Corps, now made up of members of the Pensacola PUP Patrol (airport therapy dogs), are always in attendance to help celebrate. Handlers and pups don their STARFLEET best not only for the big announcement but also proudly wear them on their duty shifts at the airport during the remainder of the month. So, in addition to their mission of “unstressing passengers,” they carry out Petfleet’s mission of spreading everyone’s love of Star Trek throughout the airport and out into the galaxy.
Information and photos regarding both the above events can be found in past issues of the Starfleet Communique, Issues #168 (Dec2011) and Issue #210 (Jan-Mar2022).
Today, the Pensacola Unit of the Canine Corps, made up of members of the Five Flags Dog Training Club’s Caring Canines (therapy dogs) and the Pensacola Airport PUP Patrol (anti-stress dogs) continues to get together on occasion and provide both Therapy, Anti-stress, canine love and entertainment whenever the opportunity arises. They are wonderful examples of Canine Ambassadors and truly make Starfleet and the Petfleet proud.
Connie Fleming
SCC # 65672
Commander/OIC Starfleet Canine Corps, Pensacola Unit
USS Continuum, Region 2
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Feature Article from Firedog Oakley
 In this video interview, our very own Director of Petfleet gets a firsthand look at the remarkable partnership between Theresa Inman and the extraordinary Firedog Oakley. Together, they form an invaluable team working with both the fire departments and local law enforcement to detect accelerants at fire scenes, crucially determining whether a fire was deliberately set as arson or not.
Their combined expertise has already led to the apprehension of three arsonists in a surprisingly short span since Firedog Oakley took up her role. The dedication and skill demonstrated by this dynamic duo are truly commendable. As a testament to her outstanding contributions, Firedog Oakley has been honored as the first recipient of the prestigious Petfleet Pet Service Award.
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Video Interview with Theresa and Firedog Oakley
Our very own Fleet Captain Randy Mitson, Petfleet Director sits down for a chat with Firedog Oakley and some cheese treats.
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STARFLEET Petfleet Director, Fleet Captain Randy Mitson takes a minute to speak with Theresa Inman and Firedog Oakley about the life of a dog with a job.
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NEW - Pet Service Awards
Petfleet will present a quarterly Petfleet Service Award Certificate to an exceptional pet. Any pet that has a job or provides a special service to the community or anyone can be nominated by any STARFLEET member to receive this award.
To nominate a pet, simply fill out this nomination form.
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Mastering Pet Photography: Tips by Ronel du Preez
 For the past few weeks, we were on holiday at the beach in Port Alfred, South Africa. I Absolutely LOVE the sea; the sound of the waves; the ebb and flow of the tides as the moon and earth work their magic; as well as all the amazing shells. And don't forget the weird animals lying in wait in a rock pool for unknowing prey ...And to make everything more exciting it was my mom`s little dog`s first time at the beach…The big question was: how would she react?
I took quite a few pictures (over 500 to be exact!) with my cell phone as this was always with me. And I wanted to try my phone`s camera plus another camera app that I downloaded.. It was not always as easy as it sounds. To make it even more complicated I had a bag in my one hand to collect the small shells as well as Lindie`s lead in the other hand. A bit of a challenge but not impossible.
The first night I decided to look up how to take better pictures of your pets; your loved ones anywhere and in any weather conditions. I learned a lot!
What is a photograph - no I am not going to go into the scientific stuff - but as I see it: It is the capturing of a very special moment to make a memory even more special.
Here follows a few simple tips for taking those very special photographs:
- Try to get into your pet`s mind/brain. How do I want you to do that you would ask? Easier than you think - watch her daily; what does she like; what does she hate; what will cause her to give chase; to “speak”; to be happy; to be sad; to do weird things etc…you get the idea. This is needed to let your buddy feel at ease in her natural surroundings - like sitting on the side of a chair so that she can watch the birds outside but still be part of the family inside.
- Try to capture her personality - how? By telling a story with your photograph!
- Therefore you must take lots of pictures - fortunately, you can review them and delete the ones that are really bad or that you do not like.
- And always be prepared for movement - otherwise, you may miss a very nice photo opportunity! And remember to move the camera/phone slowly and evenly with your pet when she moves. Iit is easier than it sounds.
- Keep the background clean - boy oh boy can this ruin a very nice picture! Watch out for wires or lights or anything lying next to or behind your pet…as the wires can look as if it is growing out of his head making him look like Shran; the Andorian…
- AND also take a photograph with the sun or light from the front if possible otherwise your shadow can ruin what would have been a lovely or that one-in-a-million photograph…
- If your pet does not like to be photographed - use the Zoom feature. As this may allow you to take beautiful candid shots without them even knowing.
- Place the phone/camera at about the same level as your pet by using a selfie stick. It can give the picture an extra creative spark seeing the world from your pet`s viewpoint!
- If it is possible, do NOT use a flash, as natural light is much better and softer.
- Take shots with some of the other family members to show interaction.
- Show their playfulness by taking a picture where they are playing with their toys or with the other animals and people who are part of the family.
- And do not think a day is wasted when there is fog. This can lead to very interesting, and sometimes weird photographs.
- And whatever you are trying to capture: BE PATIENT.
This is enough, for now, to get you all experimenting…
And keep those pictures coming to PETFLEET`s monthly competition!
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This Month’s Fun Activity - Petfleet Crossword
Across:
3. In “The Next Generation”, what animal did O’Brien reveal to Barclay?
5. What animal did both Janeway and Archer have?
7. In “Enterprise”, what animal did Dr. Phlox have?
9. In the movie “The Voyage Home”, what animal did the crew of the enterprise go back in time to get?
10. What kind of animal did Picard & Kirk use as a mode of transportation in the movie “Generations”?
11. What animal did Spock have as a child?
Down:
1. In “The Next Generation” what animal did Date have?
2. What animal did Worf have as a child?
3. What animal hates Klingons but loves others?
4. What kind of animal did Picard have in his ready room?
6. What animal attacked Kirk resulting in Kirk killing the animal with his phaser?
8. On “Deep Space Nine”, what animal were they having trouble with?
View the answers.
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Petfleet Newsletter Submission Form
Calling all STARFLEET Petfleet members! Share your companion's stories and adventures in the "Pet Tales from the Final Frontier" newsletter. We welcome original submissions like articles, creative writing, opinions, suggestions, photos, and artwork. Keep written submissions to 2,000 words or less, but if you have more to share, contact our STARFLEET PetFleet News Editor. Join the fun and submit your original content today
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How to Join Petfleet?
We extend an invitation to all STARFLEET pet lovers to become part of our vibrant Petfleet community. The process of joining is simple - simply make your way to Petfleet's Facebook Group or visit our Discord channel located on the STARFLEET Discord server. Upon arrival, we encourage you to register your beloved pets using the Petfleet Registration Form. We look forward to welcoming you and your furry friends to our warm and inviting community.
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Did you know?
- Petfleet’s new online registration form allows you to update your pet information and report your pet’s Final Mission over the Rainbow Bridge.
- The Petfleet Facebook group has 547 members.
- STARFLEET Petfleet currently has 1121 registered pets.
- More cats (355) are registered with Petfleet than dogs (307). The next most popular pet registered are stuffed animals. Followed by 14 Tribbles, 13 rabbits, and 10 cheetahs!
- Petfleet exotic pets include a bear, targ, tarantula, snakes, flying monkeys, tribbles, lizards, raccoons, ferrets, miniature horses, a squirrel, two dolphins, a potbelly pig, meerkats, bat-eared foxes, freshwater and saltwater fish, imaginary pets, mascots, pet rocks, and even three robots and one AI companion!
- Region One has the most registered pets (189, 22.4%), followed by Region 4 (83, 11%) and then Region 2 (88, 10.4%), Region 13 (70, 8.3%), Region 20 (65,7.7%) and Region 12 (61, 7.2%)
- The USS Dauntless (28) has the most registered pets, followed by the USS Dark Phoenix, USS Neptune, and the USS Merlin (all with 25).
- Since April 1st, 2023 members have registered an additional 109 pets
- The Iotian Felines: In the original Star Trek series episode "A Piece of the Action," the crew visits the planet Iotia, where they encounter humanoid inhabitants who have patterned their society after 1920s gangster culture. The Iotians also keep cats as pets, similar to Earth.
- Alfa 177 Canine: In the original series episode "The Enemy Within," a transporter malfunction splits Captain Kirk into two identical copies that terrorize the crew. In one scene, a dog-like creature is exposed to the transporter's malfunction, creating two versions of the canine.
- Hirogen Hounds: The Hirogen, a species of hunters introduced in Star Trek: Voyager, are known for using holographic technology to recreate challenging hunting scenarios. They often employ ferocious hound-like creatures in these simulations.
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Step back in time through the Guardian of Forever.
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