Dennis and Henley's Story

Placement | July 2019

Dennis and his service dog Henley were officially placed together in July of 2019. Henley performs tasks to assist Dennis with both psychiatric and physical mobility.

 

After placement, Dennis was able to reconnect with Henley's puppy raisers, Cyndi and Ella. They have formed a wonderful friendship. He also had the opportunity to meet Bobby Henline, Henley's namesake.

Dennis' Story

My name is Dennis Rigel. I was drafted into the military and went to Fort Dodge where I ended up in the Army. Then I went to Fort Bliss, Texas for basic training. I went to Fort Huachuca in Arizona and that's where I took my AIT – what you do after basic training. I was there for, I don't know how long, and then I was sent to Fort Lee, Viginia and I lived in Hopewell, Virginia with my first wife. After my son was born, I was shipped to Vietnam in March of 1969. I was sent to a site and stationed at Qui Nhon, where I never worked my MOS. Then I was put with one of the guys from 101^st Airborne and worked with him on security, flying on a transport helicopter and running into villages around us looking for the enemy. I fixed lights on the perimeter, got shot at and we did a lot of traveling by jeep. Never went to safer places; turns out none of them were safe. One of the villages we went to – next day it was wiped out.

Life after military

It was rough with my first wife, we ended up divorcing. Raised 3 boys by myself, then I met my second wife. We had a girl together. Times were tough because I went back to school and it was tough to do school with some of the effects that I had. But I knew I had to do it to better myself. I was kind of a loner because I did everything mostly alone, by choice because I had depression, but with my wife helped a lot with that. In 2005 I had surgery for cancer and was treated afterward for 10 years because they didn't get it all. The treatments ended up doing more harm than good. In February of 2016, we sold our house to my daughter and remodeled everything. We lived in the lower level for two weeks and then my wife passed away. After that, my depression was very evident. I've never been checked for PTSD but a friend of mine who has it… we have a lot of the same symptoms.

RFI

I met [a RFI trainer] at Rydell Chevrolet buying a car and we talked and he told me to come up to RFI. I starting coming up regularly in January 2018 and went through 4 classes. I started by volunteering to take professional photos of the students and their dogs. I have learned a lot through the classes. I came to try to see what the dogs can do for me. I tried 3 different dogs before they matched me up with a special one.

This dog has done a lot for me; he's a lover. I see that he's making me happier. He gives me a feeling that a change in life can happen. I can see myself having a better life than what I do now. One of the best things that happened here after being matched with him was meeting his namesake and sitting and talking with him for about an hour. I found that other veterans really can understand what's going on in each other's lives.

On Veteran's Day 2018 I had the chance to meet members of the Columbus High School Class of 1968. For their class reunion, they decided to raise and donate money to Retrieving Freedom in honor of Dave Hartogh, their classmate who was sent to Vietnam and KIA shortly after his 19^th birthday. After getting to talk with them, we made many connections. They donated $900 toward my goal of raising money for Retrieving Freedom. I'd like to raise more to give back to the organization who is providing me with such a loving, helpful dog.

Henley's Journey

Hello, my name is Henley. I am a Labrador/Golden Retriever mix. I am proud to have been selected to enter into the Retrieving Freedom training program.  My parents are "Annie" who is originally from Kerrybrook Labradors and is now fostered by the Card family, and "Banks" who is from Golden Rule Retrievers. During this stage of training I will be spending approximately 8 months with my new volunteer fosters, the Canney family. 

I was named after Army veteran Bobby Henline.

Throughout my first stage of training, I will learn the basics obedience, public behavior, and a lot of socialization. I understand that it takes a very special dog to complete the program as there is a high standard to become an Service Dog. I am aware that I may be one of the dogs whose purpose is outside of service work so I will be updating my profile on a monthly basis for all that would like to follow my journey through the program. 

November 2017 - 2 months old

  

I have entered my foster home with the Canney's! First I will work on learning my name, potty training, crate training, and how to walk on a leash. Once I've mastered all of those, I will begin task training.

December 2017 - 3 months old

 

Merry Christmas! I learn from the other role models in my foster home. Here, Sunny is teaching me how to hold a "place" command.

January 2018 - 4 months old

 

I have been mastering training in public. I know that when my vest goes on, I'm focused on work. I listen to my handler and wait for the next command. I've been attending college basketball games, and I'm not fazed at all by my loud surroundings!

February 2018 - 5 months old

 

I love snuggling up on the couch with my foster, Ella!

March 2018 - 6 months old

   

I was able to reunite with some of my siblings this month! Here, I'm pictured in the middle of my brothers Chopper and JJ, who are also in training as future service dogs!

April 2018 - 7 months old

 

This month my foster Cyndi and I passed the Canine Good Citizen test! This proves that I am generally well-behaved and able to follow command, and as a 7 month old that is a huge accomplishment!

May 2018 - 8 months old

Look how big and handsome I am becoming!

June 2018 - 9 months old

 

Chopper, JJ, and I were able to get together again! I am in the middle. We are all growing so big and behaving perfectly! Cyndi and I were able to congratulate Adam and his service dog Marley at the Retrieving Freedom graduation this month. Cyndi fostered Marley before I came along. She feels proud to be able to send her past fosters off as service dogs with veterans and children, and I hope to make it to this point of the service program someday!

July 2018 - 10 months old

I'll never grow too big for snuggles with Ella.

August 2018 - 11 months old

  

I am getting ready to transition into the second stage of training at Retrieving Freedom. For now, I'll continue nightly walks with Cyndi. She says even though I am 88 pounds at not even one year old, I'll always be able to snuggle like a puppy. She's begun fostering a new puppy, Maui, so now it's my turn to be a good service dog model for him as Marley was for me.

Stage 2 Introduction

Wahoo!!!  I have officially been entered into stage 2 training, and I am so excited!  Over the past 8 months I have had the opportunity to see the RFI mission first hand, and can’t wait to dig deeper in the mission of changing lives through my training for veterans with disabilities and children with autism. During this Stage, I will work closely with the RFI professional training staff to solidify my understanding of intermediate tasks and the foundation of future commands to help mitigate a disability.  Follow me through this stage learning how I continue to make an impact! 

September 2018 - 1 year old!

  

Happy first birthday to me! I've transitioned into formal training at the Retrieving Freedom facility in Iowa. I continue to go home on weekends with my foster family - they'll always have a special place in my heart.

October 2018 - 13 months old

 

This is how I feel about formal training - lots of smiles and lots of naps. When I'm not working, I'm napping or chewing on a tennis ball.

November 2018 - 14 months old

See what I mean? Never too big for snuggles.

Stage 3 Introduction

With nearly a year and a half of hard work from numerous handlers and myself, I have received notification of my acceptance into the Stage 3 training course! This is the final training stage on my path to becoming a Service Dog for a child with autism. During this stage, I will begin to meet potential recipients, learn final training tasks, finish my role in the Impact Programs, and spend 100 working hours one-on-one with my hopeful recipient. This stage will take 4-6 months to complete, and I understand there is a still a chance I might not make it due to health or performance. I'm excited to share with you all I accomplish during this stage!

December 2018 - 15 months old

 

Merry Christmas! I've begun working with a veteran and at the annual Christmas party for Retrieving Freedom foster families, he was able to meet my amazing foster family.

January 2019 - 16 months old

 

As I continue to go home with the Canney family on the weekends, I am able to hang out with my 'siblings' and meet new puppies. Say hello to Christian! He is their new foster puppy for Retrieving Freedom. I'm not sure how I feel about sharing my napping spot, but he's cute, so it's okay.

February 2019 - 17 months old

   

We had to take advantage of the perfect lighting to get some photos outside.

March 2019 - 18 months old

On the weekends when I'm not working with clients, I am helping train another new puppy named Sailor.

May 2019 - 20 months old

I had to dress up for Cinco de Mayo!

June 2019 - 21 months old

 

As I near my second birthday, my days and weekends have been busy training with clients. I was able to spend a weekend with the Canney family - look how happy we all are!

July 2019 - 22 months old

  

Snuggles with Ella as we enjoy the sunshine. I am very close to being an officially placed service dog, so I'm soaking up all these moments.