Chris Borden, Chief Officer of Facilities at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, has been with the organization since it began in 2010.
Chris was born and raised in Texas and has a degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has more than 20 years of experience in Sales Management in the Pet Industry. He received multiple awards during his career for Animal Nutrition Education and Sales at both the regional and national levels.
Chris began his career with Guardian Angels by assisting the organization with training, rescues, and behavior rehabilitation. Today, he also oversees all property maintenance and construction projects on our campuses.
Chris’s “Why” for Working with Guardian Angels
Chris said that he and Carol have trained dogs together for 32 years, which included training and titling their personal dogs, as well as teaching hundreds of obedience classes. After that, Carol took it to the next level with service dogs by starting Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, and he continued to assist in every capacity necessary in the startup of the organization.
“What motivates me…I call it magic because it is so hard to explain; it is the fundamental change in the people that receive the dogs,” Chris said.
He went on to give an example. “During a pairing years ago, they had a gentleman who did not speak in full sentences, stuttering to the point that his wife spoke for him. He had a cane and walked with a limp. He also kept his hat pulled down over his eyes. Within three days, he was talking, walking without his cane, and wearing his hat on the back of his head. Chris said this change in this man occurred because of the service dog he was paired with.
He added “You see these amazing changes in a person. So many people have said, ‘I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have my Guardian Angel service dog; this dog has made a difference in my life.’ and they’re different people. We’ve had people go to school, get a job, join a bowling league, etc., and integrate back into their family.”
Chris explained that he has been personally touched by Guardian Angels seeing how the dogs profoundly impact people like his father-in-law. “He had a Guardian Angels service dog. He passed away three years ago, but the last thing he remembered was his dog. As the family and I gathered around him as he was near death, he was unable to recognize that we were even there. But, when his service dog came up and nudged his hand, my father-law-said, ‘Oh, you’re such a good boy.’ It’s incredible the bond that people have with these service dogs and what the dogs are able to do for them.”
What Chris Wants You to Know About Working at Guardian Angels
Chris said that as an organization, we are eyes on with the dog teams at least once a year when we recertify them. Their Recipient Relations department also checks in with each recipient quarterly, providing a lifetime of follow-up support to ensure their needs are met.
“It’s an ongoing thing for the life of the dog and the recipient,” Chris said. He added that they also offer a monthly medical saving program for recipients to ensure 100% of their veterinary care is covered for their service dog.
In addition, we offer excellent benefits, educational opportunities, and career advancement to our employees.
Want to learn more about the programs at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs? Check out our website at medicalservicedogs.org.
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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