Maddie with owner Bob Paris

                                                      Maddie with Vest on

                                                       Maddie 

      Walk into Lowes in Martell and chances are that you’ll see a person with their dog on a leash. Carmel California is cashing in on the popularity of dogs. They promote Carmel as a dog friendly city. Dogs are allowed in all restaurants and stores. In restaurants there are separate sitting areas for people who wish to dine with their dogs.

     So when I spotted a service dog at a restaurant in Jackson I knew I had my next story. She was liying proudly with her red, white and blue vest (Identifying her as a service dog) next to Bob Paris a Vietnam War vet with PTSD. Bob stated he was a medic in Vietnam between 1966 and 1968. Anyone who served in Nam could have PTSD but as a medic that alone would qualify a person for a VA disability.

      Maddie is a 13 year old full blood golden retriever. She has been a service dog her whole life. Her mother, Haley, was a service dog that Bob had before Maddie. We did the interview in a restaurant and Maddie throughout this interview lay at Bob’s side.  She would look up to see if Bob was going to give her a piece of pork, her reward for accompanying him.

       Maddie shares her home with Bob in Cameron Park but has frequented Jackson for most of her life.   Maddie became qualified easily as a service dog because of her mother, Haley who had been a service dog for Bob for 16 years. In addition there has to be genetic traits passed on between generations. Bob stated Maddie easily adjusted to the life of a service dog and was certified by the VA as a puppy.

        Service dogs are always at their owner’s side. A characteristic according to Bob is that a service dog be highly intelligent, and very friendly. While we were conducting the interview people would notice her lying down next to the booth and want to come and pet her. Just like any dog Maddie loves to be petted. Bob indicates he takes her to the VA hospital where disabled vets love to see her and she loves to see them. She is a special dog and a dog’s love is good therapy for anyone.

      Maddie loves the same things as other dogs. She loves chasing balls and playing with other dogs and chasing squirrels. Bob has a swimming pool that Maddie loves to use not only for recreation but to cool off on a hot day or in some cases even in the middle of winter to swim. Maddie stays close to Bob sleeping in bed with him, always vigilant, to make sure Bob is ok.

      Maddie loves traveling; she has been all over the US but never out of the country. Bob who does have occasion to travel outside the US doesn’t take Maddie not only because of  the paperwork required but also the dangers of diseases that her immune system isn’t prepared to handle.

      One look at Maddie and a person has to love her. She is very proud to be at Bob’s side and wears her service dog vest proudly. Bob is proud to be a Vietnam vet and she is proud to be a service dog to a Vet. Her vest that indicates she is a service dog displays the stars of the US flag and the patches that say she’s a therapy dog of a Vietnam vet.   Another patch indicates that we must never forget those who were POW’s and MIA’s in every conflict.

        Bob is very proud he served his country in Vietnam and Maddie is happy to aid Bob in his everyday life.

     Anyone interested in featuring your dog in this column Email me at dudseth@volcano.net