Service Dog Running For Hero Dog Of The Year
May 11, 2020
Some have four legs, fur, and help veterans.
Meet Nick: Nick was paired with Jody, a veteran of the United States Army and Navy in January 2019. Jody suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Nick, his service dog, helps him mitigate the symptoms.
Nick was raised, trained, and donated by Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, a 501(C)3 located in Williston, Florida.
“Guardian Angels is proud to have two additional service dogs nominated for this year’s American Humane Hero Dog Awards. This award is known in the service dog industry as one of the highest honors available, particularly for an organization like ours which trains these dogs,” said Carol Borden, CEO of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. “Our dogs play a critical role in providing our recipients with a ‘new normal,’ where they are able to reintegrate into society and navigate life with their disabilities in a way that was not possible before their pairings.”
After Nick was paired with Jody, his blood pressure dropped by 80 points and was able to sleep for six consecutive hours, something he hadn’t been able to do in months.
Two months later, Nick was able to get the alert out that Jody was having a heart attack. Then months after that, he alerted medics of an impending stroke.
Since being paired with Nick, Jody has now been able to excel at work, take public transportation, and spend more time with his family.
Nick is up against another Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs dog, Rhino, who is in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Most Recent News
Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life
When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]
Students Get Therapy Dog
When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]
Therapy Dogtor
Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]
Therapy Dog Pups
When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]
Puppy Cams
A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]
Pet Committee
When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]