Jonathan Conover, MSW, LCSWA, is an Army Veteran who served for eleven years, with one deployment to Iraq and three to Afghanistan. He is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker employed as an independently contracted outpatient therapist.
Jonathan was paired with his service dog Char in July 2020. “After leaving the Army, I found myself having trouble finding employment, frequently waking from night terrors, becoming very dependent on others, and self-isolating,” said Jonathan.
How Char Has Changed Jonathan’s Life
After meeting a Guardian Angels recipient, Jonathan was intrigued by the amazing things the recipient was accomplishing with their service dog. This prompted Jonathan to begin the journey of getting a service dog of his own through the organization.
“In the two years of having Char, my life has transformed. I’ve completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees and am now working as an Outpatient therapist. I received my first “real job” not long after getting Char,” said Jonathan.
How Char Helps Jonathan in His Daily Life
Char helps Jonathan in a number of ways. Jonathan suffers from a condition called nightmare disorder, which causes repeated frightening and very vivid dreams that can affect the person’s quality of life. Char helps Jonathan by waking him up before his nightmare, allowing him and his wife to get a better night’s rest.
Jonathan also has various mental health symptoms that Char helps him with. He also has a condition called syncope which causes a random loss of consciousness for a short period of time. Jonathan said he does not experience this loss of consciousness often, but Char helps him when an episode occurs.
While Char is considered to be a medical device for Jonathan, he said he also views her as a person and his caregiver.
What Jonathan Wants You to Know About Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs
Jonathan said it is important to highlight the high standards that the organization upholds. He said Guardian Angels has been very supportive of him throughout his journey and beyond. Jonathan also appreciates the rules that are in place at the organization and how they produce high-class dogs for recipients.
Want to Learn More About Our Recipients?
To learn more about Guardian Angels and how our service dogs help those in need, visit Our Recipients page to learn more!
Mrs. Borden’s expertise and accomplishments are acknowledged by numerous national awards from various industries and agencies including the 2018 Corporate Pet Industry Woman of the Year and multiple awards for her organization’s work in mental health and suicide prevention.
She is frequently requested as a Keynote Speaker, and as an Industry Consultant to teach service dog laws to judicial systems, attorneys, and businesses, and to assist in service dog bills in multiple states that were passed into law. In 2020, she started an Institute for Higher Learning and the Borden Veterinary Hospital. Additionally, she has written and teaches college-accredited/VA-approved apprenticeship courses on dog training and service dog training.
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