Hello everyone! I wanted to tell you guys a little about what I'm doing now as a warrior support dog at the University. I've been able to help so many people, but you don't have to just hear it from me! Below are some of the stories from people I've met on campus.

"For someone who struggles with anxiety and fibromyalgia, being able to stop by the Veterans Center and visit with Doc has been an extremely positive experience. Doc is one of the most well-behaved, loving and open dogs I have interacted with. On some of my hardest days, I have gone over to the Veterans Center seeking a quick moment of solace and have found joy in spending time with Doc, whether this is by going on a walk or simply sitting next to him. Visiting with Doc is always special because he brightens up the room and brings people together – I have been able to meet and interact with students I never would have been able to without Doc, because he is the common bond bringing us together. Staff and students alike rely on their visits with Doc as being a special part of their day, and having him join at events also increases the number of participants – people will show up simply because they know Doc will be there. The campus community is so appreciative of being able to welcome Doc as part of the family, and now that he is here, I simply cannot imagine what it would be like if I wasn’t able to stop by each morning to say hi to my special and loving friend. Thank you to those that made this possible; Doc has truly made an everlasting and positive impact."
-Stephanie

"The memories of my past and the stressors of my present can make things, difficult to say the least. I can say that Doc’s presence has absolutely eased some of the burdens that I carry. Doc has a sort of, bomb proof, easy going attitude that calms me down. It is because of Doc and Jay Derrico, the Assistant Director of Veterans Affairs Program, that I have started the process of one day, hopefully soon, getting my own service animal. I can’t mean it enough when I say, Thank you for everything."
-Chris

"I am a senior psychology student and I visit Doc almost every day I attend classes. I am currently doing research in my psychology class and am studying the effects dogs have on students. Just from my personal experience, Doc always helps me relax and reminds me to take a break from my very long school day to enjoy the small things in life...My friend sometimes visits Doc with me as well. She is a survivor from the Route 91 shooting in 2017. After the Borderline Bar shooting last semester, her PTSD was exacerbated. She was nervous attending school in fear that a shooting might occur on campus. She started visiting Doc before class. She told me petting him lessened her anxiety and she was able to focus more in class."
-Makayla

"Since Doc has arrived, I am no longer leaving campus for my five hour break. Now, I stay at school, in the vet center and I end up getting a lot more homework and studying done during the day...I actually have come out of my shell a little bit more to socialize with other veterans. That is just what Doc has done for me personally, but what I see him do for other students is absolutely incredible. There are more people in and out of the vet center, just to see Doc. He will lay with the students while they’re studying, and it seems to really de-stress them. Not only can he be calming, but he is also very lively and playful! He always has energy to drag the multitude of students that come in to walk him around campus, and he is always in the mood to play if you pick up a toy. It brings joy to not only the people playing with Doc, but everyone in the vet center."
-Brianna

"As an eight year veteran going back to school, I was mostly worried about being too old to relate to anyone on campus. I found my way to the Veteran office to try and relate to other Veterans who were dealing with the same issue. I was there for a couple months before Doc the dog showed up. Although I found a few friends at my first semester on CSUCI, I can not tell you how much joy Doc has brought to our tiny community in the Veteran office. We get students from other departments who aren't veterans and instantly we can relate to them because Doc bridges that gap for us older students. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to have another form of support throughout our transitional period from the military!"
-Kyle

"Roger Cara's once stated, "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." It would be easy to say that Doc changed my life, but that would be a hyperbole. Rather, Doc made my everyday parade of boring classes, long work hours, stressful arguments, and overall difficult school days, not only bearable, but enjoyable. Not a day goes by that I am not visiting the Veteran Center to see Doc (even if it is only quickly between classes) because simply seeing him, simply getting a little kiss on my nose, simply being able to hug him for a quick moment, simply seeing him run towards me when I walk through the door makes any crappy (or even good day) not just marginally better, but substantially better (which is not a hyperbole). Doc didn't change my life at CSUCI, but he did make each and everyday here infinitely better and more exciting."
-Paisley

"School tends to add more stress on to an already stressful life and interacting with Doc and the people at the veterans center always cheers me up. I notice several students come by throughout the day looking to spend time with Doc. Doc reminds me to take it easy and enjoy the little things in life. We love having Doc around and hope he stays for a long time and has the opportunity to brighten up the days of other classmates  and staff here at CSUCI for years to come!"
-Ajai

Ahh my last monthly update for all you Doc fans! I have officially graduated. I am now a working Student Support Dog. My new family took me home on October 20th. I met my new family and fell in love with them all. I started work that following Monday the 22nd as a Student Support Dog, mostly working with Veterans. It has been so wonderful here and although I miss my New Life K9s family, I love the job they have entrusted me with. I hope I bring lots of smiles, love and laughter everyday, at work and even off of work. Thank you for all your support throughout my time spent here as a New Life K9s dog. I will miss you all!

Hi folks! Glad you tuned in this month, my time at New Life K9s is coming down to the wire. I have my personality profile in, as do the many handlers who potentially will be my new family. Once New Life K9s has assessed all personalities they will find the one that best matches mine and that will be the person I get to spend the rest of my life with. We will live together and work together! How cool is that! I’ve been getting lots of practice this month working on my therapy skills. New Life K9s has taken me to three events this month where I was able to hang out with the people who attended and give them the much needed feeling of my soft fur. I also have been able to show my sister, another New Life K9s dog, Annie, who I live with, how an ‘almost’ professional dog should act. She is still in the process of becoming a Service Dog but I think with my help she will be an awesome helper to someone with PTSD. So when I am gone make sure to check her out. That’s all for September! Check in with me next month for my last monthly update, you won’t want to miss it!

Happy August NLK9s fans and supporters! I can’t believe it is already August, as kids get ready to go back to school I am getting ready to be placed in my forever home. This whole therapy dog thing is hard work…just kidding, I am loving every minute of it. Currently, my friends here at NLK9s, Nicole, Rosa and Courtney are teaching me how to walk nicely on the leash. Apparently, there is a certain time I am not allowed to smell my own way around town. I am learning to follow their lead and it’s working out because I still get my own time to smell in a different time of the day, they call those walks “Sniffy Walks", my FAVORITE! Now that our time is coming down to the wire I have more play and less work, which I don’t really mind either. I have been a good role model to Geege, she even calls me her Uncle Doc. Well I think that is all for this month! You’ll hear from me in September, it might even be my last month so make sure you tune in!