By uniting Military Veterans and rehabilitated Shelter Dogs, we are rescuing one to rescue another.

The story of how we got this wonderful dog named Patton is an incredible story of love. The man in whom we named this dog in honor of, Army Specialist Adam Patton, is a legacy that will live on in a unique way….

I wrote to Sandy Orr Kottre only days after her receiving the news of her son’s tragic death…..I debated on writing her, knowing a little of the shock and grief she was feeling. I also understand the need to hang on, to keep the memory alive in others. I was prepared that I wouldn’t receive anything back from Sandy for awhile, if ever. But I needed to have her permission to name this special dog after her special son before I could make it official. Sandy replied back that night…..needing to reach out understandably, but neither of us knew where this would lead….We have emailed back and forth over the next month, strangers connected in a shared tragedy, unspoken but understood. There is a sad and unique bond from these ‘Gold’ Star families…..a group you do not want to be a part of, but one highly respected.

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Faith: meaning hope and belief in goodness. Honor: fairness and integrity. Combine them together and you have love and loyalty….

This story reminds me of an old sang my mother used to say; “Never judge a book by its cover”

I remember that day at Michigan Humane Society, we were there a week ago and back to look at another dog. While in the room with that other dog, a black blur went by the door. “Let’s look at that dog” Donna pointed. And in wagged a stinky, chubby black mess….she helicopter twirled her tail and nudged her nose right in Donna’s face!  And out the door we walked with a dog that normally wouldn’t have been my first choice. (We all have certain breeds or looks we like, mine is a big block headed bully breed). So I was unprepared to be taken in by this sweet soul…

Honor, a big name for this little dog. But she lives up to it perfectly.  She is the most well balanced dog I know. Quickly nicknamed “Vet Cat” by one of our veterans. You know, the cat at the Veterinarians that is allowed out and greets everyone when they come in? Yup, that was Honor alright. And within weeks she was losing weight and ready to pass Canine Good Citizen. Honor was more than ready to meet her Therapy Human….

Air Force Veteran, Faith Harris. I was wondered if we would receive a woman in our program. I mean, woman didn’t serve in combat, right? And Air Force?  Maybe she was flying in a plane and got shot down? Faith Harris was assigned as Security Forces to an Army unit. Multiple tours including Iraq. When meeting Faith it is clear, it is not about man or woman, no difference in which Military branch…..but another Veteran who served our country (*understated*)

Faith wasted no time in getting plane tickets to come meet/train with her dog. Picking up Faith from the airport, we were allowed to have Honor meet her at her gate. It was like a reunion with old friends. Their connection so complete that I could have turned them right around and sent them home with no additional training…..

Hona, drop the r and add an a, with Faith’s Boston accent, quickly became her new name. I loved it! The change in Hona was immediate, she was more playful and even sassy at times. We took Faith and Hona to the lake wondering how she would be in water.  With Faith living by the ocean, they went to the beach often. Well, I believe it was Hona that pulled Faith into the water….swimming naturally back and forth, using her tail like a rudder. She looked like a Otter. She then became Honor Otter. Within the first week Faith and Hona worked so well together, that they were ‘neutral dog’ in part of 2 other dogs Canine Good Citizen tests. This confidence and motivation encouraged Faith to ask to become a trainer so she can go back home and help train other Veterans dogs.  Faith+Honor=Pride.

I got a call from Faith 5 days after returning home. “Something is wrong with Hona….. she isn’t acting right…..walking in circles, wont lay down, starting to whimper”……Faith took Hona to the Emergency Vet Clinic on a Saturday night at 9:00.  I paced my bedroom for the next hour…..what was going on? she couldn’t be sick, she was just seen by the Vet, did she eat something?  A bowl instruction? Terrible thoughts and worry raced thru my head….then Faith called to say: “Hona has swimmer tail!!!” …..apparently she had a little too much fun swimming in the ocean that day and  she pulled a butt muscle……

I recently realized just how far behind I was in writing my introduction/Deployment  blog, when I got an email from a Veteran asking to be paired with Trooper…..I wrote a previous blog about Trooper, the sad situation of his story. But this story is about Troopers handlers Jamie Gorm, cause it is just as good of a story….

I remember Jamie’s and my first conversation like it was yesterday. He was bostriuos over the phone, his excitement for being accepted in our program was clear. SO much so that he asked (almost begged) to come to the Barracks. Even though the class we were training for (dog and Veterans) wasn’t his group, he still wanted to learn, see how we worked, and to help the other Veterans. Jamie’s ‘visit’ turned into and on and off again visits for the next month as he helped prepare for the dogs deployment…. (more…)

These pictures have me in tears….heartwarming, wonderful tears. I thought I needed to share…

Patton went with his new Veteran, Eric and his family for a weekend at their lake house. This was a big step for Us, Patton and their family. Patton was introduced to the water, a boat, swimming, other lake dogs, other kids, other people…..and well……I will let you see for yourself how it went

They say a picture is worth a thousand words……

I remember the last thing I said to Jason before he left to make the trip up here, “Don’t worry Jason, I promise that when you leave here, you will be 100% happy with your Service Dog….”

That was in reference to Trooper, one of our dogs in training, who was being paired with another Veteran. Jason had his eye on Trooper and really, really liked him….

I knew that at some point  one of our Dogs and Veterans that we think will work together, just may not work…….the Veterans may not bond with the dog, or the dog may not bond with the Veterans. Whatever the reasons, I knew I had that promise in the back of my head….gnawing at me…….

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