Thomas and Jabba
How has your life changed since receiving your service dog?
I have become more active. Not just sitting in the House waiting or wanting to go do something. Now I have someone to get me out and watch over me.
What is one thing you are able to do now that you couldn’t before receiving your dog?
We have attended our First NFL football game, we have been out in larger than normal crowds of people that we don’t know.
Describe your daily life with your service dog?
We take my wife to work, and on our way back we stop at a grocery store and just walk around. Sometimes we pick something up and other times it’s just to walk and look. When we are at the house I am on the computer doing VFW work or something. If he feels I am on here too long he makes sure I am getting a break and take him on a walk in the neighborhood. We pick the wife up from work and sometimes we will have dinner out or go to Costco or Sams for shopping and he will auto cover if there are others in the same isles as us as people get closer he pushes into the back of my legs to make sure I am aware of these people. Jabba is always watching me and what’s around me to make sure I am covered. And if he fells something is not right he is there to tell me. in various ways. In the evenings he will lay at my feet watching TV or eating dinner. to take a shower of use the restroom he is right there laying out side the shower door sometimes trying to bite the water that hits the door. Or trying to stick a paw under the door of the bathroom. He checks on me through out the night while sleeping or in some cases when I can not sleep he will sit at the edge of the bed and look at me or place his front paws on me. Just to reassure me that everything is ok.
What affect has your service dog had on the relationships in your life?
Before I received Jabba. I would only go to VFW events and even then I would take my wife. Now He is getting me out in public with just us. It has lifted a strain on me and my wife. He has given us less stress on our relationship.
What is one thing you would tell a fellow veteran that was considering a service dog?
Get one. It is a true companion that is always looking out for you.