Where did you serve and what did you do?
I served with the 41st Special Troops Battalion as an AGR for 13 years and was medically retired in 2014. I served in Iraq in 2009-2010.
Tell us how your dog is helping you continue #StillServing in your community.
My service dog Cowboy is such a blessing for me. He allows me to go places that I would not normally go on my own. He helps me get out of my comfort zone and talk to others and do things I would never have done without him by my side. He allows me to live my life to the fullest for my family. He comes with me to all my VA appointments and other doctor appointments and they love to see him. He also has helped me volunteer at my son’s elementary school to read to kindergarteners. Cowboy gets me out and walking and I know he needs it just as much as I do. He brings so much joy to others as we are a team. We love to be able to volunteer where we can in our community with fundraisers or bringing awareness to what service dogs do for their partners and for others.
Why do you do it?
I love having a partner by my side at all times. We fly, drive, train, boat, walk, and where ever we go we bring smiles. That makes me happy that we can make people smile and have a little bit of joy. We visit with other veterans at different functions and the smiles that he brings to their faces are awesome. When I volunteer at the VA he brings happiness to the veterans and the staff. They love to watch him work pushing the button for the door to open or getting things off the ground for me. Cowboy is my lifesaver and he brings joy to all that cross our path.