Hi Guys, thank you for visiting Gizmo’s Gift! I am so excited to introduce myself, and our BOD members to you. I’m a Yankee with Southern blood who was the first of my generation to join the military. My great-grandfather served in the Army durin World War I. Both of my grandfathers served in World War II. My maternal grandfather served in the Army Air Corp and was a Prisoner of War in Stalag XVII(17)-B for 13 months., and my uncle served in the Army and was stationed in Germany during the Cold War.
I joined the United States Army on May 18, 2001, and served as a veterinary technician for almost 5 years before being medically discharged. While on active duty as a veterinary technician I saw first hand the wonderful treatment our Military Working Dogs received. I also learned when their service is terminated, which is always for medical reasons, the country no longer has any responsibility for these heroes because they were then considered excess equipment.
A few years ago I was given an assignment in college to write about something near and dear to me. I wrote about the financial burden on families who adopt retired Military Working Dogs. My professor Jennifer Riske, encouraged me to take the essay to Congress. With help from manny, to include a Gold Star Mom, a Vietnam Dog Handler, and my friends and family, I was able to get bi-partisan, bicameral support for the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act. It is because of the legislation that Gizmo’s Gift was formed to help with expenses incurred after adopting a retired Military Working Dog. In 2005 I had the honor and privilege of adopting Gizmo A085 when he was retired due to kidney failur. Gizmos was also a Military Working Dog whom I treated and medically cared for while we were both on active duty. Gizmo’s Gift is named in honor of Gizmo, who passed away in 2006.
