[Music] come on come on there you go okay good
come on come on there you go okay good
come on come on there you go okay good alright just how to get him settled
alright just how to get him settled
alright just how to get him settled close your eyes go ahead no one’s gonna
close your eyes go ahead no one’s gonna
close your eyes go ahead no one’s gonna hurt you now imagine that you and your
hurt you now imagine that you and your
hurt you now imagine that you and your partner are United States Marines
partner are United States Marines
partner are United States Marines deployed to Iraq you both just got back
deployed to Iraq you both just got back
deployed to Iraq you both just got back safe inside base camp
safe inside base camp
safe inside base camp after a foot patrol searching for IEDs
after a foot patrol searching for IEDs
after a foot patrol searching for IEDs or improvised explosive devices you’re
or improvised explosive devices you’re
or improvised explosive devices you’re hot sweaty covered in a layer of dust
hot sweaty covered in a layer of dust
hot sweaty covered in a layer of dust and are dreaming of a cool shower and a
and are dreaming of a cool shower and a
and are dreaming of a cool shower and a soft bed your partner’s a few yards
soft bed your partner’s a few yards
soft bed your partner’s a few yards behind you you turn back in your eyes
behind you you turn back in your eyes
behind you you turn back in your eyes lock you can almost read his mind that
lock you can almost read his mind that
lock you can almost read his mind that he’s saying you’d done good kid you go
he’s saying you’d done good kid you go
he’s saying you’d done good kid you go back to walking towards your room as
back to walking towards your room as
back to walking towards your room as your body is thrown to the ground you
your body is thrown to the ground you
your body is thrown to the ground you can feel pieces of shrapnel hitting and
can feel pieces of shrapnel hitting and
can feel pieces of shrapnel hitting and puncturing your skin you try to get up
puncturing your skin you try to get up
puncturing your skin you try to get up but you can’t and after the dust settles
but you can’t and after the dust settles
but you can’t and after the dust settles you realize that you and your partner
you realize that you and your partner
you realize that you and your partner were hit by indirect fire from an RPG
were hit by indirect fire from an RPG
were hit by indirect fire from an RPG a rocket-propelled grenade that exploded
a rocket-propelled grenade that exploded
a rocket-propelled grenade that exploded inside base camp you’re bruised and
inside base camp you’re bruised and
inside base camp you’re bruised and bloodied and when you can’t catch a
bloodied and when you can’t catch a
bloodied and when you can’t catch a partner to respond with calls you crawl
partner to respond with calls you crawl
partner to respond with calls you crawl over to him and use your small body to
over to him and use your small body to
over to him and use your small body to protect him please open your eyes
protect him please open your eyes
protect him please open your eyes this was the sad reality from Marine
this was the sad reality from Marine
this was the sad reality from Marine corporal Dustin Lee and his military
corporal Dustin Lee and his military
corporal Dustin Lee and his military working dog Lex Lex was the one that
working dog Lex Lex was the one that
working dog Lex Lex was the one that crawled over and used his small body to
crawled over and used his small body to
crawled over and used his small body to protect Dustin tragically Dustin was
protect Dustin tragically Dustin was
protect Dustin tragically Dustin was mortally wounded Lex would survive and
mortally wounded Lex would survive and
mortally wounded Lex would survive and go on to endure 12 weeks of rehab back
go on to endure 12 weeks of rehab back
go on to endure 12 weeks of rehab back stateside ultimately Dustin’s family
stateside ultimately Dustin’s family
stateside ultimately Dustin’s family successfully petitioned to have Lex
successfully petitioned to have Lex
successfully petitioned to have Lex retired and adopted with the help of
retired and adopted with the help of
retired and adopted with the help of congressman Jones of North Carolina
congressman Jones of North Carolina
congressman Jones of North Carolina Lex’s adoption marked a huge milestone
Lex’s adoption marked a huge milestone
Lex’s adoption marked a huge milestone he was the first dog of working capacity
he was the first dog of working capacity
he was the first dog of working capacity to be retired
to be retired
to be retired early and adopted out to the fallen
early and adopted out to the fallen
early and adopted out to the fallen military members family the importance
military members family the importance
military members family the importance of military working dogs cannot and must
of military working dogs cannot and must
of military working dogs cannot and must not be overlooked they go beyond to make
not be overlooked they go beyond to make
not be overlooked they go beyond to make sure our military members and our nation
sure our military members and our nation
sure our military members and our nation are safe and all for a pat on the head
are safe and all for a pat on the head
are safe and all for a pat on the head or a belly rub military working dogs are
or a belly rub military working dogs are
or a belly rub military working dogs are trained at the Holland dog Center
trained at the Holland dog Center
trained at the Holland dog Center located on Lackland Air Force Base in
located on Lackland Air Force Base in
located on Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas they endure extreme
San Antonio Texas they endure extreme
San Antonio Texas they endure extreme amounts of training to make sure they’re
amounts of training to make sure they’re
amounts of training to make sure they’re not only ready physically but also
not only ready physically but also
not only ready physically but also mentally making sure they aren’t gun shy
mentally making sure they aren’t gun shy
mentally making sure they aren’t gun shy can take down an assailant and detect
can take down an assailant and detect
can take down an assailant and detect narcotics or explosives military working
narcotics or explosives military working
narcotics or explosives military working dogs are part of the reason why we enjoy
dogs are part of the reason why we enjoy
dogs are part of the reason why we enjoy the freedoms we have today they are
the freedoms we have today they are
the freedoms we have today they are trained to be the first one in a
trained to be the first one in a
trained to be the first one in a building to clear it they put their
building to clear it they put their
building to clear it they put their lives on the line when going into war
lives on the line when going into war
lives on the line when going into war they risk being shot or stabbed well in
they risk being shot or stabbed well in
they risk being shot or stabbed well in a foot patrol and all again for the love
a foot patrol and all again for the love
a foot patrol and all again for the love of their partner military working dogs
of their partner military working dogs
of their partner military working dogs don’t have a choice to re-enlist they
don’t have a choice to re-enlist they
don’t have a choice to re-enlist they are used by the military typically until
are used by the military typically until
are used by the military typically until there’s a medical reason that prevents
there’s a medical reason that prevents
there’s a medical reason that prevents them from doing their job as humans who
them from doing their job as humans who
them from doing their job as humans who are being protected by these brave
are being protected by these brave
are being protected by these brave four-legged heroes by whatever means we
four-legged heroes by whatever means we
four-legged heroes by whatever means we were able we should honor them in
were able we should honor them in
were able we should honor them in retirement and show them our gratitude
retirement and show them our gratitude
retirement and show them our gratitude as they have honoured us with their
as they have honoured us with their
as they have honoured us with their service now by a show of hands who’s a
service now by a show of hands who’s a
service now by a show of hands who’s a dog owner in here
dog owner in here
dog owner in here come on raise them up awesome I’m
come on raise them up awesome I’m
come on raise them up awesome I’m awesome a dog owner and would like to
awesome a dog owner and would like to
awesome a dog owner and would like to introduce you to my personal hero
introduce you to my personal hero
introduce you to my personal hero sergeant Rambo thank you
sergeant Rambo thank you
sergeant Rambo thank you Rambo served in the Marines as an
Rambo served in the Marines as an
Rambo served in the Marines as an explosive detection patrol certified
explosive detection patrol certified
explosive detection patrol certified military working dog for about 16 months
military working dog for about 16 months
military working dog for about 16 months until he was medically retired due to a
until he was medically retired due to a
until he was medically retired due to a severe shoulder injury now being patrol
severe shoulder injury now being patrol
severe shoulder injury now being patrol certified means that the dog is able to
certified means that the dog is able to
certified means that the dog is able to attack and take down an assailant giving
attack and take down an assailant giving
attack and take down an assailant giving a specific situation and command well
a specific situation and command well
a specific situation and command well one day when Rambo was doing routine
one day when Rambo was doing routine
one day when Rambo was doing routine proficiency work to keep up that patrol
proficiency work to keep up that patrol
proficiency work to keep up that patrol certification
certification
certification he ended up severely injuring his
he ended up severely injuring his
he ended up severely injuring his shoulder on the by trap a small piece of
shoulder on the by trap a small piece of
shoulder on the by trap a small piece of bone chipped off in his shoulder and
bone chipped off in his shoulder and
bone chipped off in his shoulder and this bone fragment was floating around
this bone fragment was floating around
this bone fragment was floating around from
from
from it’s causing Rambo continuous pain and
it’s causing Rambo continuous pain and
it’s causing Rambo continuous pain and irreversible damage to that joint I was
irreversible damage to that joint I was
irreversible damage to that joint I was able to adopt a rainbow at the young age
able to adopt a rainbow at the young age
able to adopt a rainbow at the young age of four and after I adopted him I saw
of four and after I adopted him I saw
of four and after I adopted him I saw that the daily pain medications he was
that the daily pain medications he was
that the daily pain medications he was on was not were not managing his pain
on was not were not managing his pain
on was not were not managing his pain management and the pain medications had
management and the pain medications had
management and the pain medications had a high chance of causing early kidney
a high chance of causing early kidney
a high chance of causing early kidney failure which unfortunately is what my
failure which unfortunately is what my
failure which unfortunately is what my first military working dog gizmo died
first military working dog gizmo died
first military working dog gizmo died from per the advice some Rambo’s regular
from per the advice some Rambo’s regular
from per the advice some Rambo’s regular veterinarian a board-certified
veterinarian a board-certified
veterinarian a board-certified veterinarian surgeon they both agreed
veterinarian surgeon they both agreed
veterinarian surgeon they both agreed that for Rambo to live a pain-free life
that for Rambo to live a pain-free life
that for Rambo to live a pain-free life and not risk early onset of kidney
and not risk early onset of kidney
and not risk early onset of kidney failure amputations at the shoulder was
failure amputations at the shoulder was
failure amputations at the shoulder was necessary
necessary
necessary now Rambo is by far more active now than
now Rambo is by far more active now than
now Rambo is by far more active now than he was with the forelegs but because
he was with the forelegs but because
he was with the forelegs but because military working dogs don’t receive
military working dogs don’t receive
military working dogs don’t receive medical benefits not every dog has
medical benefits not every dog has
medical benefits not every dog has access to the same quality of care and
access to the same quality of care and
access to the same quality of care and that is the fact that has led me to this
that is the fact that has led me to this
that is the fact that has led me to this most amazing journey I was in the Army
most amazing journey I was in the Army
most amazing journey I was in the Army as a vet tech from 2001 to 2005 taking
as a vet tech from 2001 to 2005 taking
as a vet tech from 2001 to 2005 taking care of our nation’s military working
care of our nation’s military working
care of our nation’s military working dogs gizmo was my first medical
dogs gizmo was my first medical
dogs gizmo was my first medical emergency and he needed round-the-clock
emergency and he needed round-the-clock
emergency and he needed round-the-clock care over a four-day holiday weekend due
care over a four-day holiday weekend due
care over a four-day holiday weekend due to his kidney failure now I love animals
to his kidney failure now I love animals
to his kidney failure now I love animals but I was never a dog person until gizmo
but I was never a dog person until gizmo
but I was never a dog person until gizmo and little did I know the impact of that
and little did I know the impact of that
and little did I know the impact of that sweet working dog in that one weekend
sweet working dog in that one weekend
sweet working dog in that one weekend would have in my life so when I got the
would have in my life so when I got the
would have in my life so when I got the call that gizmo was retired and I could
call that gizmo was retired and I could
call that gizmo was retired and I could adopt him I was through the moon excited
adopt him I was through the moon excited
adopt him I was through the moon excited however reality soon set in I realized I
however reality soon set in I realized I
however reality soon set in I realized I could not afford his extensive vet care
could not afford his extensive vet care
could not afford his extensive vet care on my single military income and I had
on my single military income and I had
on my single military income and I had to get a second job so during this
to get a second job so during this
to get a second job so during this transition of adopting gizmo I was also
transition of adopting gizmo I was also
transition of adopting gizmo I was also getting a medical discharge due to a
getting a medical discharge due to a
getting a medical discharge due to a severe knee injury I didn’t understand
severe knee injury I didn’t understand
severe knee injury I didn’t understand why I was receiving benefits from my
why I was receiving benefits from my
why I was receiving benefits from my nearly five short years of service and
nearly five short years of service and
nearly five short years of service and gizmo was receiving none for his nearly
gizmo was receiving none for his nearly
gizmo was receiving none for his nearly nine long years it was at this time I
nine long years it was at this time I
nine long years it was at this time I realized that military working dogs were
realized that military working dogs were
realized that military working dogs were considered a piece of equipment yes
considered a piece of equipment yes
considered a piece of equipment yes equipment equipment doesn’t bleed
equipment equipment doesn’t bleed
equipment equipment doesn’t bleed equipment can’t feel pain equipment
equipment can’t feel pain equipment
equipment can’t feel pain equipment cannot love and equipment cannot give
cannot love and equipment cannot give
cannot love and equipment cannot give one’s life up for our freedoms
one’s life up for our freedoms
one’s life up for our freedoms I also learned of a startling fact in
I also learned of a startling fact in
I also learned of a startling fact in Vietnam it is estimated that there was
Vietnam it is estimated that there was
Vietnam it is estimated that there was over 4,000 dogs that deployed but only a
over 4,000 dogs that deployed but only a
over 4,000 dogs that deployed but only a few hundred made at home because of that
few hundred made at home because of that
few hundred made at home because of that classification as equipment
classification as equipment
classification as equipment these brave dogs were left to die in
these brave dogs were left to die in
these brave dogs were left to die in Vietnam all alone because there are
Vietnam all alone because there are
Vietnam all alone because there are surplus equipment that the government no
surplus equipment that the government no
surplus equipment that the government no longer had any use for thankfully that
longer had any use for thankfully that
longer had any use for thankfully that is not the case now all military working
is not the case now all military working
is not the case now all military working dogs after her deployment returned with
dogs after her deployment returned with
dogs after her deployment returned with their handler back to their normal
their handler back to their normal
their handler back to their normal duties station so when the time came and
duties station so when the time came and
duties station so when the time came and I had to put gizmo to sleep I made him a
I had to put gizmo to sleep I made him a
I had to put gizmo to sleep I made him a promise I promised to reclassify them
promise I promised to reclassify them
promise I promised to reclassify them and to make an impact in future lives of
and to make an impact in future lives of
and to make an impact in future lives of all military working dogs well many
all military working dogs well many
all military working dogs well many years later and I’m enrolled at
years later and I’m enrolled at
years later and I’m enrolled at northeast Lakeview college and here’s
northeast Lakeview college and here’s
northeast Lakeview college and here’s one of my winks from God for whatever
one of my winks from God for whatever
one of my winks from God for whatever reason my prior English credit didn’t
reason my prior English credit didn’t
reason my prior English credit didn’t transfer and how to retake the course so
transfer and how to retake the course so
transfer and how to retake the course so my English teacher mrs. risky decided to
my English teacher mrs. risky decided to
my English teacher mrs. risky decided to have us write our first English essay on
have us write our first English essay on
have us write our first English essay on whatever we were passionate about so I’m
whatever we were passionate about so I’m
whatever we were passionate about so I’m sure you can guess I chose military
sure you can guess I chose military
sure you can guess I chose military working dogs and why they should receive
working dogs and why they should receive
working dogs and why they should receive benefits well when she handed me the
benefits well when she handed me the
benefits well when she handed me the grade 2 paper back she suggested I send
grade 2 paper back she suggested I send
grade 2 paper back she suggested I send it to Congress that suggestion was the
it to Congress that suggestion was the
it to Congress that suggestion was the push I needed to keep my promise to
push I needed to keep my promise to
push I needed to keep my promise to gizmo and I soon realized that helping
gizmo and I soon realized that helping
gizmo and I soon realized that helping our nation’s four-legged heroes was my
our nation’s four-legged heroes was my
our nation’s four-legged heroes was my why was the reason that God created me
why was the reason that God created me
why was the reason that God created me for eventually with the help of Rachel
for eventually with the help of Rachel
for eventually with the help of Rachel Lee Dustin’s mom we were able to recruit
Lee Dustin’s mom we were able to recruit
Lee Dustin’s mom we were able to recruit her now longtime friend congressman
her now longtime friend congressman
her now longtime friend congressman Jones to bring forth legislation based
Jones to bring forth legislation based
Jones to bring forth legislation based off of that essay the canine members of
off of that essay the canine members of
off of that essay the canine members of the Armed Forces Act was drafted and
the Armed Forces Act was drafted and
the Armed Forces Act was drafted and shortly thereafter we recruited my prior
shortly thereafter we recruited my prior
shortly thereafter we recruited my prior state senator from Connecticut Senator
state senator from Connecticut Senator
state senator from Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal the legislation
Richard Blumenthal the legislation
Richard Blumenthal the legislation received bipartisan bicameral support it
received bipartisan bicameral support it
received bipartisan bicameral support it was passed and signed into law in
was passed and signed into law in
was passed and signed into law in January 2013 so this means both the
January 2013 so this means both the
January 2013 so this means both the house
house
house thank you
so this means both the House and Senate
so this means both the House and Senate Democrats and Republicans all agreed on
Democrats and Republicans all agreed on
Democrats and Republicans all agreed on something yes well we’re still making
something yes well we’re still making
something yes well we’re still making changes to it as an edited version
changes to it as an edited version
changes to it as an edited version passed military working dogs were only
passed military working dogs were only
passed military working dogs were only reclassified in 2014 and most recently
reclassified in 2014 and most recently
reclassified in 2014 and most recently when a military working dog retires
when a military working dog retires
when a military working dog retires overseas and can’t find a suitable home
overseas and can’t find a suitable home
overseas and can’t find a suitable home there they’ll be flown back to Lapland
there they’ll be flown back to Lapland
there they’ll be flown back to Lapland to be adopted out unfortunately the
to be adopted out unfortunately the
to be adopted out unfortunately the government still does not offer medical
government still does not offer medical
government still does not offer medical care to these retired dogs and that is
care to these retired dogs and that is
care to these retired dogs and that is why I established gizmos gift a
why I established gizmos gift a
why I established gizmos gift a nonprofit named in honor of my sweet
nonprofit named in honor of my sweet
nonprofit named in honor of my sweet baby boy gizmo gizmos gift offers free
baby boy gizmo gizmos gift offers free
baby boy gizmo gizmos gift offers free medical care to any active-duty a
medical care to any active-duty a
medical care to any active-duty a retired working dog and also a free ride
retired working dog and also a free ride
retired working dog and also a free ride home so Rambo and I now travel locally
home so Rambo and I now travel locally
home so Rambo and I now travel locally and nationally educating the public on
and nationally educating the public on
and nationally educating the public on the value of military working dogs and
the value of military working dogs and
the value of military working dogs and the great mission of gizmos gift we
the great mission of gizmos gift we
the great mission of gizmos gift we currently support post 240 active duty
currently support post 240 active duty
currently support post 240 active duty and retired working dogs from all walks
and retired working dogs from all walks
and retired working dogs from all walks of law enforcement life this journey has
of law enforcement life this journey has
of law enforcement life this journey has allowed me to use my innate compassion
allowed me to use my innate compassion
allowed me to use my innate compassion for animals a need that wasn’t being met
for animals a need that wasn’t being met
for animals a need that wasn’t being met and to turn my passion into reality and
and to turn my passion into reality and
and to turn my passion into reality and through the journey I have often thought
through the journey I have often thought
through the journey I have often thought of dr. Seuss’s character The Lorax you
of dr. Seuss’s character The Lorax you
of dr. Seuss’s character The Lorax you once said unless someone like you cares
once said unless someone like you cares
once said unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot nothing is gonna get
a whole awful lot nothing is gonna get
a whole awful lot nothing is gonna get better it’s not so I ask each of you
better it’s not so I ask each of you
better it’s not so I ask each of you here today or watching this week’s or
here today or watching this week’s or
here today or watching this week’s or maybe even years later what is your
maybe even years later what is your
maybe even years later what is your passion what is your why what did God
passion what is your why what did God
passion what is your why what did God place in you that makes you uniquely you
place in you that makes you uniquely you
place in you that makes you uniquely you when you find that you’ll find a way to
when you find that you’ll find a way to
when you find that you’ll find a way to make the world a little bit better than
make the world a little bit better than
make the world a little bit better than it was before thank you
it was before thank you
it was before thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment