Saint Francis Service Dogs 2025 Annual Report

A Powerful Connection continued from cover

After easily integrating Gizmo into his full and busy professional and personal life, that initial connection has become even more powerful. “We are really close. It’s just a boy and his dog. We spend all of our time together. He travels with me all across the country, and he is always very closely connected to me. We rely on each other. He relies on me to get him through crowded situations, and I rely on him for the help he provides me,” says Jamie. Because of the highly specialized training Gizmo received at Saint Francis, Jamie knows his partner is always there to give him the physical support he needs. That sense of safety has in turn given Jamie more confidence and independence while navigating everyday life with a disability. “I have seizures. Part of his response to a seizure is that he can go get help for me either through the ‘Help’ command or he will bark until someone comes to assist me,” says Jamie. “He also can put pressure on me with his paws or be right next to me so I have something to hold and ground me through the seizure and the recovery after.” It is that constant connection - the power of their partnership - that has made the biggest impact. “I was very reliant on people to be around me to help me when I needed it. Gizmo is now that person. He is my person. He is there. He is always there,” Jamie says. In their time together as a team, the feeling of budding friendship he noticed at their first meeting has become a fixture in Jamie’s life. Gizmo, whom Jamie describes as incredibly smart and capable, can also be quite the goofball. He brings laughter and a sense of ease to the people he interacts with, making life for Jamie just that much more fun. Jamie says, “He brings a ton of joy into our lives. There is always a smile on my daughter’s face when he is around.” With each step forward together, Jamie and Gizmo’s connection deepens - building on the commitment, trust, and hope that have been part of their journey from the start. Looking ahead to the future, it is filled with possibility and the quiet certainty that they are stronger side by side.

“We are a team. There are so many challenges that I don’t understand that I am sure I will face. But, Gizmo will be there with me, and I am confident that we will be able to work through any challenges together.”

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