I Didn't Know I Needed a Service Dog

Without Gunner and Pawsibilities Unleashed I don't know if I would still be alive.

My shitzu had just passed away. My friend Lee Anne West came to my home with her therapy dogs and brought them in to comfort me. At the time, I had no idea it would be one of the best days of my life. Instead I was pretty sure it was a painfully challenging visit after all my dog was gone. She proceeded to tell me how I needed another dog. I was listening but was sure I did not need another dog, after all I had just been declared physically disabled after 30 years of nursing. She says I have a friend Liz Norris that is a dog trainer she agrees you need a dog.

Fast forward two months.

I decide I want a big dog but have no clue where to start. Lee Anne says give Liz time she will find you a dog. I am like yeah right whatever. Not knowing that Liz is a Master Trainer that dogs love to work for her and she is someone who truly cares about not only the dogs, but helping people that need service dogs.

My phone rings, it’s Lee Anne. She says Liz has a dog for you, he is big and house broken and trained but you have to do the program in order to know what he knows and get him to work for you.

So January 11, 2011 I met Gunner, my new dog, and Liz. I had no idea how my life would change that day. I started classes and cried a lot. Gunner loved Liz and would work for her and yet would look at me like I had two heads. For a full year I just knew that he hated me. Liz reassured me that he did love me. She encouraged me beyond measure in every little step I made in progress. She also called me out when I messed up now that was tough to take yet she was right.

Gunner was taught to heel at my side to help me with balance after my neck surgeries, to retrieve items for me, to go get help for me if I fell, to pick up items I dropped, get my phone (especially if I fell and couldn’t reach it)! My life became insurmountably easier because Gunner was able help me feel like I wasn't disabled.

Then my heart rate and blood pressure were dropping dangerously low so Liz helped me teach him to warn me before a change, even in the car. I got my life back.

Gunner became my service dog, something I never dreamed I could have, and Liz became a life long friend that has seen me through several life and death situations each time critiquing and fine tuning Gunner to help me.

He alerts to changes in my blood pressure heart rate pain level and assists with my mobility as well as keeps me moving when I feel I can't do another thing.

Gunner is near retirement, and now Liz has matched me with the perfect poodle, Miss Ali Grace. So the journey begins of team work of Liz, me and Ali training in class and every place I go. Training is always in progress because we, like the dogs, have the opportunity to learn something new everyday.

I am not proficient at writing, yet please know without Liz and Gunner I might not be alive and I sure would not have the quality of life I have now. I would be depressed and homebound if Liz has not found the dog for me.

Liz is a GEM.

Written by Judy Puckett Bolig