Courage; The quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear.

Destiny: the predetermined, usually inevitable or irresistible, course of event

Meet Air Force Veteran Jon. Who with determination and faith drove over 1,500 miles and through 8 states to meet his Service Dog, Zoltan. That drive alone would be difficult for most people…alone, a long way from home, venturing off to who-knows-where……taking a risk. However for Jon, this trip was the first time he has driven in over 2 years (per Neurologist request). Courage……seems like an understatement for Jon as he drove towards his Destiny:

Courage + Destiny= Jon and Zoltan

Their immediate connection does seem predetermined. From the moment Jon walked in, Zoltan has not stopped staring at Jon, he follows him with his eyes everywhere…..The change in both of them visibly noticeable, Jon’s posture and body language, loose, open, accepting……Zoltans wiggle butt knocking out any fear Jon may have had. There was an initial respect and trust within them that normally takes time to build.

Over the course of their time together, I share with you some of my favorite memories/moments that show their bonding…

Jon must say at least 20 times a day “I just love him” to us…..and “That’s my boy” to him….

Jon said to me one day…..”I can remember going more than a week without even smiling…” as he glances lovingly over to Zol…grinning larger than life.  At least once a day we hear Jon laugh out loud at something Zoltan does, we even hear a few giggles now and then……

Jon and Zoltans connection so deep so fast was learned only five nights into their time together. Jon experiencing a very bad nightmare, told me “I was woken up by Zoltan, standing over me, barking in a deep tone  that I never heard from him……..When Jon was fully awake, he noticed that there was a wet pee spot on the bed…. Zoltan was so afraid of the noises, and movements that was coming from Jon- it actually made him pee a little. But it worked! Jon woke up, faster than normal. As soon as Zoltan knew he was awake, he started licking Jon’s face.  Jon since then has had another bad night, Zoltan waking Jon up immediately, minus the pee……

I remember one night while Joe was telling Jon and I a story. Jon politely asked Joe to hold on for a second….. as he pointed to Zoltans behind who was in a full stretch….”Doesn’t he have the cutest dimples” he exclaimed!

Fellow Veteran Jamie Gorm, taking Jon and Zoltan around a Downtown , Plymouth, he tells me this story. “We had a full day of in and out of small tight shops, a toy store, and the fountain walk area. Jon and Zoltan did great working together. On the way home, I remember looking in my review mirror at Zoltan, all curled up and falling asleep in a sunny spot. The next thing I knew, Zoltan was over behind Jon, with his paw on his shoulder, licking his face. I asked Jon if he was ok?, which I realized  because of Zoltan actions that he  wasn’t…..so we  pulled over.” Zoltan feeling Jon’s anxiety over the full day… woke up out of his sleep, to find out what was wrong, and what he needed to do to help Jon. Again, Zoltan reverts to licking his cheeks……now a trained *task*.

After passing Canine Good Citizen, the pride in both was evident.  Kim Saks, our Developmental Coordinator, was a part of the testing. After Jon and Zoltan left to go have some reward time along together, Kim’s comments were something like this: “They are so in love, you can just see it. They have hearts for eyes that beat when they look at each other…..little red hearts following them like a cloud….”

Here is a man who’s outside experience lately has been limited to his yard, cutting grass, planting, weeding…..Who is now walking at least 2 miles a day, out in Restaurants, Stores, Parks…all with Zoltan PROUDLY by his side.

Jon, you have thanked all of us a million times, and I appreciate that. But I feel like it is I that needs to thank you. Thank you for letting me witness this magical and wonderful connection…. and experience your journey of trust, faith and love with Zoltan. The timing of your arrival was at a really difficult period, and seeing the two of you together, makes everything worth it! Watching your Courage, seeing this Destiny…..has changed my personal perspective and given me strength.

Jon and Zoltan, you are a prime example of a quality we could all use a little more of…….Courage.