11/09/2024
On this day that as a nation we think about the people who lost their lives for our nation i want to tell you Summer's Dogs story, but it doesn't start with me it starts with my father Airman Garry King. If I'm anything I'm like my dad. All my life, and especially since he passed away, I have had people tell me that I came out his ass right into his Pocket.
My dad grew up with a few different mutts, but one dog was from an old English police German shepherd who changed everything. I don't know much about Bozo but all the stories from my dad and his old time friends are the same. Bozo was huge, protective, incredibly smart, and the one of the best dogs to grow up with. My dad had a few other great German shepherds that just enforced my dad's love and passion for the breed, and set the standards higher and higher for the next dog. Before my father went into the military he had great dogs, but after coming home the true passion for having not only a great pet, but also the most obedient companion, only increased.
Then King Man came along. King Man was the definition of a man’s best friend, but also this little girl's. It's King Man who set the path towards Summer's Dogs. He is my foundation, but I also became his. King Man knew he had a brand new job from the minute he met me on my first day home. While 6 is already old for a German shepherd both those dogs knew their new life was just starting.Not only did King produce numerous puppies that would go on to be police dogs; have his own very successful working life for volunteer police efforts; he was also the most gentle dog for a little girl. All that is thanks to my dad. Everything I know about dog training is based on playing with King and learning from my dad.
My memories are filled with that great dog. The confidence gained with walking 2 twice my size dogs started too young for everyone's own good. My confidence to be stubborn but patience started with these well behaved but slow moving dogs.
Unfortunately time takes us all. In my life I only saw my dad cry 3 times. The 1st time I was 8 years old and it was the day we had to put down King when he was 13 years old. The 2nd time was when I was dropped off for college. The 3rd was the day he knew the VA hospital was going to let him die.
My dad was a disabled veteran before he even met my mom. I didn't grow up in a military family, I grew up in a VA hospital family. Getting care could be hard, but the care he got he always praised. The VA was his Charity of choice to donate too. That was until it was life or death. I had hundreds of volunteer hours at the VA before they let my dad down. I grew up knowing vets put their life's in danger to save others. Vets all made the selfless act to protect the people of our nation
I always saw the good and funny from these vets, even on the hard days for them. I learned early how just the presence of something that makes you smile can be healing. Those vets stuck in hospital beds, who might not have any family to come see them, would light up when I walked in with the craft and treat cart. When my dad laid in those same beds, forgotten; it struck me twice as hard. How many of those people I visited were facing the same thing as my dad?
While my view on the VA is diminished now, all those hours of volunteering and just being there with my dad for doctor visits set my need to help others and the want to help the selfless veterans. I help now with visiting the VA nursing home with my German shepherd therapy dogs to listen to their stories and with Service dogs for PTSD.
Summer was my first dog and not just a family dog. She is who the program is named after and guided me the rest of the way to my passion. Summer came into my life at a horrible time, but it turned out to be just right. For a year Summer was just a pet dog who was very obedient who I only saw when I was home from college, which was a lot that year. Then my senior year she came to college to be an Emotional support dog. My health continued to decline, my mental health even more. That started her service dog training. That started my service dog training.
I found it easy, fun, and meaningful. After Summer was trained I helped friends train pets, then made service dog friends who I also helped train. It just grew. I saw the issue that plagues the disability world. People with disabilities normally don't make a lot of money, yet everything they need costs thousands of dollars. I didn't have money to help people, but I had time and knowledge. I have high hopes and goals for this program, but we cant grow without help. My path might have been hard, it is hard, but it has gotten me here. I still struggle with the grief of a life I had planned,and with losing my dad but it has brought me here.
Thank you military members and their families for your sacrifice. I learned from the best.
