Four Legged Guardian Angels Are Making Life Easier For Their Owners

Linda Lorie doubts she’d be alive today had it not been for the quick action of her service dog, Grant. Lorie was going up a set of concrete steps that had metal edges when she lost her balance, missed the handrail, and toppled backward. In a split second, Grant rushed beneath her and braced her fall.

“He saved my life that day,” said Lorie. “I wound up with a cast on my ankle for a while, but I literally wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for him.”

Bred and trained by Guardian Angel Medical Service Dogs (GAMSD) in Williston, Grant received the organization’s “Hero of the Year” award in 2014 for his act of heroism.

At the time of Lorie’s fall, Grant was almost two years old and had recently completed his training. Lorie was paired with him because she suffered from balance issues and from post-traumatic stress disorder related to severe physical and mental abuse when she was a child. Now 72, Lorie said her German shepherd service dog has saved her life several more times when he alerted her to heart and blood pressure problems, and again when his alert led to a diagnosis of cancer.

“These dogs are trained to hone in on those things,” Lorie said. “The trainers teach you to listen to your dog because almost everything they do is a communication of some kind.”

GAMSD is a 501(c) (3) organization founded in May 2010 by Carol Borden, an award winner in her own right, having been named WIPIN (Women in the Pet Industry Network) Corporate Woman of the Year in 2018.

Since its beginning, the organization has paired more than 380 dogs with recipients, said Mary Jo Brandt, chief operations officer for GAMSD, adding that training the animal costs an average of $25,000, but the recipient receives the dog free of charge.

“That’s where donations come in,” said Brandt. “Donors sponsor the dogs and that’s how we’re able to donate them to the recipients.”

For long-distance recipients, donations also help to cover airfare, rental cars, and hotel charges for 10 days, so they can work with their dog before taking the animal home, Brandt said.

GAMSD breeds German shepherds of Czech descent; however, the trainers also take on rescue dogs of different breeds that show an ability to work with people. Brandt noted that a lot of police departments use German shepherds, “Because they have an incredibly high work ethic and they’re always on the alert, even when they look like they’re sleeping,” she said.

“(German shepherds) mature very quickly,” Brandt added. “We start training at about four weeks old, and in about a year-and-a-half they are able to be paired off and start working. A full mobility dog can open and close doors, turn lights on and off, pick up dropped items and get food out of the refrigerator for you.”

The majority of the organization’s recipients suffer from PTSD, Brandt said. Dogs are trained to respond to a variety of physiological needs as well, including diabetic issues, seizures, and mobility/balance problems. GAMSD does not train guide dogs.

“I’m just so passionate over what we do here,” said Brandt. “For me, it’s because my father was paired with a service dog and I was able to see an immediate change in his personality and life. To be able to see that as a volunteer, and now as a staff member, I get to see the work that we do makes a difference.”

Currently, the Williston campus pairs dog with recipients in 30 states and the District of Columbia. The purchase of 102 acres near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has allowed for the construction of a second campus, Brandt said. In addition to federal criteria that require the recipient to be declared permanently disabled, the organization also requires that dog owners be physically, cognitively, and financially able to care for their animals.

There are many opportunities for volunteers to get involved, from office work to grounds keeping, to fundraising, said Brandt. A favorite among volunteers is Saturday’s “Puppy Huggers,” when adults and children come out and socialize with the dogs.

Staff member Chris Weber can personally relate to people who receive a service dog. A traumatic brain injury survivor, Weber was injured in a car accident about six years ago. He couldn’t return to his former job but found a new purpose when he came to work at GAMSD.

“What helps me the most at my work is knowing what our recipients are going through,” said Weber. “Not everyone is blessed to the level I have, but knowing what I’m doing that day or that week, somebody is going to have their life turned around.”

As GAMSD’s development project administrator, Weber also helps with fundraising and public speaking events. But during his first demonstration with a service dog, he suddenly had an anxiety attack.

“I was having heart palpitations,” Weber recalled. “The dog was actually alerting to me. He came up to me, whining, and he sat next to my side. He put all his weight against my leg and kept nudging my hand. The crowd couldn’t tell, but I knew it.”

The actual pairing of recipients with a service dog usually falls to Maranda Jacob, the organization’s national recipient relations director.

Currently more than 100 Florida recipients have GAMSD service dogs, Jacob said, adding that the application process involves personal and professional references, a background check, and sometimes a home visit. Veterans and first responders must provide proof of service and discharge or retirement. There’s also a $50 non-refundable application fee.

Applicants ultimately meet with the trainers and staff to make sure they are paired with the right dog.

“It’s not an exact science, but it works very well,” said Jacob. “Every now and then we get one that doesn’t match. We have dogs in various stages of training. Sometimes a dog might look right for a person but he’s not ready yet. We try to make it right with a Plan B dog.”

According to Chief Administrative Officer Chris Ann Phillips, recipients receive their dogs free of charge, thanks to federal and state grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. Phillips and her dog, Petro, have joined other staff members for fund-raising demonstrations at businesses, schools, churches, and community events.

“I retired from PNC Bank, one of the largest supporters of Guardian Angels,” said Phillips. “I am a Marine Corps vet with a disability and this is where I need to be.”

Great article about Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs written by Darren Yuvan, and published on Monday, November 8, 2021.

Click Here to read the full article, or see the pdf attached below:

Join host Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, and Event Sponsor PNC Bank for Mutt Strut 2021.

This event is virtual & nationwide and will be live from September 8, 2021 – September 11, 2021.

The dates were chosen on purpose. Sept. 10th is Suicide Awareness Day, and September 11th we will recognize the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks – the single largest reason why this generation of soldiers chose to join our armed forces, and fight for our freedom.

The goal is simple – bring together patriotic Americans who want to help our Veterans, struggling with permanent disabilities that are both visible and invisible. We aim to raise funds for 11 additional service dogs this year, and your participation can help us get there.

Because we never have to share another video like the one below, featuring our friend, Stephanie Hannan. Stephanie is the sister of the late United States Air Force Master Sergeant, Brian Charles Riley. Please help her honor his memory by watching her powerful story below.

Meet the Guardian Angels Ambassadors. Recipients of our Service Dogs, who have volunteered to participate in the Mutt Strut, and offer their perspective on how their dogs have changed their lives.

Guardian Angels are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a VETTY Award in the Suicide Prevention category by the Academy of United States Veterans (AUSV).

On Saturday, July 3, 2021, the AUSV held their Vetty La Vie Awards ceremony. Actor and philanthropist, Casey Affleck presented the award for Outstanding Service to Veterans in the Suicide Prevention Category to Guardian Angels’ Recipient and Advisory Council Member, Chris Cadigan, with Service Dog Brit at his side.

Chris’ moving speech read

“On behalf of our founder, CEO, and tireless advocate Carol Borden, our board, staff, countless volunteers, foster families, donors, and all the Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs Recipients, I would like to thank the Academy of United States Veterans for this recognition of 11 years of amazing work, donating hundreds and hundreds of dogs to recipients in 29 states.

Carol and Guardian Angels, have not lost a single recipient to suicide, and have less than a 2 percent divorce rate; lower than the Disabled Veteran rate of 90 up to percent higher than the national rate of 47 percent. We have one of the only college accredited, paid, service dog training apprentice programs, in the entire US which have been approved by the Veterans Administration under the GI Bill and are also taught to incarcerated Veterans.

Guardian Angels have participated in several notable research studies, reinforcing their program’s success, and has a proprietary 6 life-stage training program based on the mental learning capacity of a dog at various stages which builds self-confidence, the ability to think and make life saving decisions, be desensitized to things that would otherwise be scary, and never present a public safety threat, all through positive reinforcement training. In the last year, Guardian Angels created a Medical Savings plan for all of our service dog teams to further enhance the lives of the dogs. Dogs like Brit, by my side, here tonight ensure that our recipients are alerted to their unique diagnosed disabilities quickly; efficiently allowing them to effectively address an onset of symptoms which in many cases allows them to live their lives more fully.

This week, I attended the memorial service and funeral of two friends who succumbed to their invisible injuries, One a US Navy SEAL, friend, mentor and the other a classmate, fellow Army Officer and the friend that I chose to be my best man at my wedding. They had everything to live for, including a family that loved them, teenage children who excelled academically and athletically…..and long and distinguished careers that they could be proud of. It is unknown if a medical Service Dog could have helped them. Both had met my dog and were considering the application process at the time of their deaths.

Guardian Angels receive up to 40 inquiries each day. There is an average wait of approximately a year for any veteran applicant. Should you have the ability to make a donation to help train and pair an amazing dog like Brit, at MedicalServiceDogs.Org you’ll have a direct impact on helping a veteran and Guardian Angels continue this important work.”

Thank You.

This award represents Guardian Angels’ 2nd VETTY win. We were honored to receive the VETTY Award in the Mental Health Category in 2018. Watch Chris’ fantastic acceptance speech below.

We hope you enjoyed the segment!

To  sponsor a dog, please contact Jeff Dobbertien at: (352) 817-0184 or JDobbertien@MedicalServiceDogs.com

To join in on Florida or Pennsylvania Campus Campaigns, Contact Mary Jo Brandt at: (239) 771-3703 or MJ@MedicalServiceDogs.com

To participate in our Puppy Huggers or Foster Family Programs, Please contact Kelsey Klee at: (352) 789-5016 or KKlee@MedicalServiceDogs.com

Join our Paw Prints Monthly Giving Club: Paw Prints Club

If you are interested in applying for a Service Dog, please visit: Medical Service Dogs