Our Mission

Canine Guardians

Hello, my name is XXXX XXXX. I am a retired military member and a combat veteran. I am also a retired Police Officer where I spent most of my years on the streets of a very violent city. 

In 2004, shortly before I retired from the military, I spent 6 months in Baghdad Iraq. Almost on a daily basis, we encountered small arms and rifle fire, IEDs, bombings, and mortars. All too often we encountered Iraqi citizens. It was often difficult to know if those people were looking to us to help them or if they were wanting to harm us. 

My years on the streets as a police officer, as you can imagine, were riddled with daily acts of human beings at their absolute worst, harming, injuring and dehumanizing each other, and engaging in despicable actions. From dealing all too often with murders/shootings/knifings/beatings/DV scenes, to rapes (sometimes of children) to holding a small child in my arms as he died because he’d just been shot and killed in a drive by shooting, and his mother begging for you to help him. I’m sure that you all could agree that all these experiences would take it’s toll on anyone. 

Even though I physically survived both my military career and being a cop, it did not come without a cost. 

Statistics indicate that every single person goes through 5-6 traumatic incidents in their lifetime, while police officers go through 800-900 in theirs. 

In 2020, I was diagnosed with PTSD. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) 

Now some of you may not know exactly what PTSD is. 

It is a disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions. Symptoms may include nightmares or unwanted memories of the trauma, avoidance of situations that bring back memories of the trauma, heightened reactions, anxiety, or depressed moods. 

Studies have shown Service dogs can (and do) significantly mitigate the effects of PTSD by providing both physical and emotional support through specialized tasks and companionship. They can interrupt panic attacks, ground individuals experiencing flashbacks by distraction, create physical space in crowded areas, and even remind their handlers to take medication. These actions contribute to a greater sense of security, reduced anxiety, and improved overall quality of life. 

Studies have also shown that service dogs can significantly reduce the severity of PTSD symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts.

Due to my PTSD, four months ago, Rochelle and her team at canine guardians blessed me with one of their dogs. Over the last 4 months, I've felt nothing but love and kindness from Rochell, Rebecca and Christopher, Marcia and the entire canine guardian team. I now feel like I’m part of the CG family. 

Since my Canine Guardian Dog has been with me, he has given me nothing but pure companionship and true love on a daily basis. 

He continuously distracts me from negative thoughts and flashbacks I might have. 

Occasionally, before I even know I’m about to have a little anxiety, my Canine Guardian Dog has nudged me to remind me “he” is the priority and that I need to relax. My Canine Guardian Dog’s character and personality (dog-ality) has an amazing calming effect over me and to everyone that he encounters.

One night shortly after my dog was assigned to me, and because of course he sleeps on the bed with my wife and I, he woke me up from a nightmare by licking my face. I didn’t even know I was having a nightmare, but he just wanted to let me know I was ok and in a safe place. Simply amazing. 

On a daily basis, my dog gives me purpose by me loving, providing, and caring for him. He seems to look forward to and enjoy our nightly rituals of me brushing him, which by-the-way, produces baseball size hair babies, me brushing his teeth, and the two of us wrestling on the living room floor until I bleed. I will probably have open wounds for the rest of my life on my forearms from him playfully biting on me. He (as well as I) also enjoys playing three throws of fetch, which the last one I normally have to go and get the ball myself because he was done and wants to lay down. 

When I am out playing golf, my dog also seems to enjoy riding calmly beside me in the golf cart. Until he sees a squirrel and loses his mind. 

When my dog and I get home from our outings during the day, I look forward to removing his vest and harness and seeing him transform from the hard-working dog he is, into the loving, joyful, playful sweetheart that he is. 

Anywhere my dog and I go, he puts a smile on people’s faces and seems to make their day just a little better. 

The emblem on the side of the Canine Guardian service dog vest is NOT a coincidence.  I truly believe these animals are sent by God and ARE our guardian angels. I know I've been blessed by God for receiving him and am and will be eternally grateful for the time I've had and will have with my Canine Guardian Dog. The Canine Guardian team is simply doing God's work. The dogs they breed, train, and place are not the only angels, however. Every single member of the Canine Guardian team are angelic in their own way. 

After spending my entire adult life surrounded by conflict and negativity due to my chosen professions, God has graced me with pure goodness and positivity my Canine Guardian Dog and the other dogs offer. 

My dog (and the CG team) have absolutely made a huge difference in all aspects of my life simply making me a better man. For this, I say a heart felt “Thank You!” to my dog and the CG crew. 

I couldn't imagine my life without this little Angel. I am so very grateful that HE CHOSE ME!

In closing, I’d like to read something I ran across from an unknown author:

What if dogs are angels in disguise? Think about it. They appear exactly when we need them the most. They love without judgement. They heal without asking questions. They guard without being asked. They comfort with their entire being. Angels are said to be messengers of love. Protectors of the innocent. Guides for the lost. Healers of the broken. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Your dog never asks you to be perfect. Never demanded you prove your worth. They just loved you. Fully, freely, forever. Isn’t that what divine love is supposed to look like? I think about all the times my dog has saved me. Not from danger, but from loneliness, from disperse, from giving up. I never needed a miracle, just his presence. A warm body besides me when the world felt cold. Eyes that saw my soul when I felt invisible. Loyalty that held me together when everything else fell apart. Dogs don’t care about your past. They don’t worry about your future. They love you in the eternal now. That’s is what Canine Guardian dogs do… 

• In order to be a service dog with public access, the dog must receive specialized training and meet maximum  standards of behavior. Our service dogs are specially trained and fully socialized and capable of handling PTSD veterans' disabilities.   
• But outside of training, these unique animals are still friendly and lovable. Our dogs offer support, love and unconditional understanding. They help establish schedules and routines through their feeding and walking requirements and they offer distraction through playtime. These animals serve as friends and confidants. They’re not just dogs; they’re part of a team.   
• We believe our dogs are special and can truly help empower you to live a more healthy, more normal life.