TOMORROW’S GUIDE DOGS HAVE A HOME WITH THIS VETERAN

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Nathan Gardner. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

When Nathan Gardner applied for a service dog from the Guide Dog Foundation/America’s Vet Dogs, he had no idea that the experience would transform his life.

As a former member of the Air Force, Nathan spent years working at a nuclear weapons facility. Every day, he wore full battle gear, including a plated vest, two weapons, ammunition and several other heavy items. While he loved the role, the job was incredibly taxing on his body. He suffered two herniated discs, sciatic nerve damage and an atrophied calf muscle. He was also diagnosed with cancer about a year after separating from the military. Despite waking up in pain every day, he didn’t qualify for reconstructive surgery, and feared he would suffer in silence for the rest of his life.

While studying at Suffolk Community College, Nathan visited the school’s office for veterans’ services and discovered a pamphlet from the Guide Dog Foundation/America’s Vet Dogs. The Guide Dog Foundation works to improve the quality of life for people who are blind, have low vision or have other disabilities, while their sister organization, America’s Vet Dogs, provides enhanced mobility and renewed independence to United States veterans, active-duty service members and first responders with disabilities through their service dog program. Depressed and in significant pain, Nathan realized a service dog could help him. In 2022, he was paired with Kenzo, a Yellow Labrador Retriever, and never looked back.

“Kenzo personally changed my whole life and perspective on life from where I was at,” says Nathan.

When he heard the Guide Dog Foundation was looking for volunteers to care for breeder dogs, he jumped at the chance. Harpo, a Black Labrador Retriever, came to live with Kenzo, Nathan, and his family, who are responsible for keeping the pup in pristine health and giving her a loving home as she breeds the service dogs of tomorrow.

But Nathan’s volunteer work doesn’t stop there. As a volunteer public speaker for the organization, he represents the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s Vet Dogs at various conferences across the country.

A couple years back at a Student Veterans of America conference, Nathan shared his journey with the crowd.

“It was the first time that an individual with a service dog spoke to fellow veterans at the Student Veterans of America conference,” says Mike Rosen, chief marketing officer at the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s Vet Dogs. Nathan’s speech was so influential that the organization had two new individuals come through their doors and get service dogs. “He not only volunteers his time as a breeder caretaker, but he also volunteers his time as an ambassador to help encourage other veterans who may see their own story and Nathan’s story to get the help that they’ve earned and that a service dog from America’s Vet Dogs can provide to them.”

Nathan says seeing things come full circle is the most rewarding aspect of his volunteer work. After Harpo gave birth to her first litter, one of the puppies was paired with a veteran who needed assistance.

“When you get to see that come to fruition, it’s hard to put into words. It’s such a great feeling knowing that this is what I got involved in,” says Nathan.

Eternally grateful for the gifts that his service dog has given him, Nathan is steadfast in his belief that doing volunteer work helped reintegrate him into society. By caring for a breeder dog and sharing his experience as a veteran, volunteering connects him with people.

“It is something that has made my life better and given me more joy, more positivity and all the things that I was kind of lacking before,” says Nathan. “It’s all because of volunteerism.”

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Nathan? Find local volunteer opportunities.