PALMETTO, Fla.-A service dog is life-changing for the person they are paired with. That’s why Former President George H. W. Bush is having his service dog Sully return to service.
America's Vet Dogs, which helped place him with the president, says Sully will return to the facility at Smithtown, New York for a temporary stay during the holidays.
He'll then go to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's Facility Dog Program, where he'll work along with fellow vet dogs who assist with physical and occupational therapy to wounded soldiers and active duty personnel while recovering in Bethesda.
America's Vet Dogs puts dogs in military medical centers to help service members adapt and work with their prosthetics. His handler could be one of the active duty corpsman and medics.
Closer to home, Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto has matched 3,100 guide dogs and service dogs teams since it started in 1982.
A black Labrador named 'Fezzi' is having a life-changing impact on a USF student named Zoe Garcia.
"Fezzi is a great dog. Without her, I’d still be in my house," Garcia said. "Fezz is more than a companion she’s my eyes and ears,” says Zoe.
What does Zoe expect from Fezzi?
"Give me more confidence, and just emotionally and physically help me," Garcia said. "I can do a lot of things I didn’t do by myself, I go by myself out more. I explore more, I have to walk her every day.”
“There’s a lot of people who don’t understand your condition even though you are just a normal person,” Zoe added. “I was born with this condition, I didn’t feel different growing up, except for the bullying and stuff.”
Zoe’s future plans include graduating from college. “My goal is to finish school with [Fezzi], get my masters and Ph.D., and have her by my side all the time.”
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10 News app now.
Have a news tip? Email tips@wtsp.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
