This year we bring you A Season of Thanks. Words from our Veterans and their families about how their Service Dog helps, the changes they have seen and the love that grows. It is a honor to be a part of this powerful impact. We start off with Jon and Zoltan….here are quotes from his monthly emails over the past year…

November 2011:Love how Zol’s helping me be more mobile.  Life is still a handful with TBI & PTSD challenges, but braving each new dawn is a little easier thanks to Zoltan Bott 

November 2011. (regarding a TBI seizure/fall Jon had) Rough experience Thurs - awoke face down in the snow w/ Zol pacing over me barking (first time I’ve seen his tail tucked like that since Detroit).  Guess it’s good to know my wing man will draw attention if I’m down for the count.

December 2011  (Regarding his mothers heart attack) Mom’s home from hospital and happy to see her granddog.  She loved having him in ICU too.  In fact, the whole ICU staff loved Zoltan, no surprise! This afternoon Mom said, “Zoltan is the best thing that’s happened to us since your Dad died.”  She’s right.  Thank you guys for making it all happen.

  January 2012: The Tan Bott has achieved our final goal of treadmill training.  He stays on while I ride a bike next to him!  So proud of this accomplishment.

February 2012: Yeah, as usual, The Zoltan has been awesome.  Remember that movie Forrest Gump?  Well, Zol & I have been like “peas and carrots.”  that is our theme song:

March 2012: TSA was stressful with all the people crammed in tight quarters and so many eyes on us.  Their guards were excellent though.  Had a positive flashback during screening.  They asked me to have Zol wait on one side of a metal detector, while I passed through.  Then I was allowed to call him after being cleared.  As I asked my Little Bott to “Wait” and walked away my mind’s eye was back in the barracks with Donna during training.  Brought a tear to my eye after the Zol brutha and I had TSA in our rear view.  We certainly have progressed - thanks Donna, you’re the best!  No issues at all in flight.  Our only challenge was the occasional stranger trying to molest Zoltan.

April 2012:  Seems like everything the little Bott does draws a smile from us.  There’s love and humor in his energy.  He can’t even slurp up a drink of water without us adoring his every step.  ZB is an incredible miracle for our family, but most impressive is how he’s transformed my outlook on everything.  When the physical reality of TBI becomes debilitating or PTSD sets in, I no longer consider a swan dive off a bridge.  It’s amazing to awake every morning and feel the welcomed responsibility of feeding and pottying my Zol.  The drive to ensure he gets walks is certainly mutually beneficial too.  His companionship, love and routine strengthens me.  This change he’s empowered is often mentioned by Mom, Marti and those who are close in our lives.  Not sure where I’d be without my service dog.  Sure wish dogs lived as long as humans…Thank you, again, for making this possible.  Zol’s my missing link.

May 2012: Yup, seems Zoltan is always smiling while reminding me to smile as well

June 2012: Quality kibble, daily outings, nightly massages and weekly showers…  Zol is one lucky canine  ;)  He’s so special to all of us and knows he’s loved.  But one of our most recent (and quite pleasant) surprises unfolded when checking the mail on Friday.  I had The Zoltan escort me off leash and there were several rabbits in our yard.  Staring intensely, the little tan Bott refrained from bolting, while occasionally glancing over for direction (i.e. please Daddy, please = permission).  It was just like those days when we encountered deer while hiking last year.  I checked for cars on our quiet street, stared back with my hand full of mail and whispered, “Take it!”  Zol leaped forward and the rabbits scattered for dear life.  With a quick dart into a neighbor’s yard and then across our culdesac - one of those critters led Zoltan on a full speed gallop.  Then I yelled, “Zoltan! Eeeenough!!!”  So impressed with what happened next … he immediately stopped, looked back, turned around, trotted to my side and sat with a big smile.  Followed me indoors straight away and that was that!  Love how ZB listens, especially considering a primal chase in progress.

July 2012. Every smile I can muster from that week of displacement/uncertainty is associated with my ZolBrutha.  Sure wish I had a dog on active duty.  Can’t help but wonder whether PTSD ever would’ve manifested if I had been going home to such a loving, accepting and emotionally attached dog years ago.  Sure glad to have the little Bott in my life now  :)

August 2012. I must sing praises for The Funk ZolBrutha.  Never trained him on a sign to initiate an “excuse to leave.”  But he’s keenly aware of my emotion and often eagerly bugs me when I’m feeling uncomfortable, which presents a perfect opportunity to say “appears my best friend here has to go outside … excuse me.”  :)  He’s truly proven to be an angel.

September 2012. More Zol pics from yesterday are attached.  Amazing how he waits for my command and resists engaging nearby deer.  He was calm the entire time.  Zero grumbles and no hair standing up or anxious body language.  Love how close and trusting he is with me in these situations!

October 2012.Speaking of which, Zol weighed in at 73lbs and the doc had no concerns.  She was especially impressed with his teeth (I brush them every few days).  Tough for me to see him getting stuck with needles.  He was okay with it until I teared up, then reacted to my emotion.  Overall a positive yet expen$ive visit, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure especially for my wingman (without whom I’d certainly be stuck in the doldrums at best).  Lord knows I love my lifesaver brutha from another mutha!

November 3rd.   Zol’s certainly helped me challenge myself both physically and emotionally.  Lord knows I would’ve been too lost in the doldrums to embark on this excursion had my wingman never become part of our fam.  Thank you, as always, for giving me a chance and embracing my challenges.  It’s nice to smile again and brave life a bit.

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