Laura will attest to how pet therapy impacts lives profoundly. Her life was changed through the unconditional love of a dog named Jaxon. This love story is one of ups and downs. In the end there is a canine human relationship that is unbreakable.

Pet therapy is defined by the relationship between Laura and Jaxon.

A love story between them but not without its ups and downs.

Laura has been affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She was diagnosed many years ago and has tried many different things to alleviate her symptoms.

In 2013 Laura and Jaxon found each other. Jaxon was the runt of a litter of pups being sold by a neighbor. Laura essentially saved this little puppy’s life as the owners believed no one would want this skinny little pup. They had not very savory plans for him. It turns out they saved each other.

Jaxon grew into a healthy, strong black beauty. Laura referred to him as “BBD!” Big Black Dog!

There was a lot of new research at this time pointing to how dogs can provide a therapeutic value to those suffering with PTSD. Many service dog organizations were developing new programs to support veterans with PTSD. As the brave veterans were returning to Canada after being in Afghanistan the need to provide support was huge. Medical dogs for PTSD were proving to be the ticket to improved health and wellness for the veterans.

It proved to be a truth for Laura as well. Puppies need lots of care and attention. Laura’s energy turned to making sure Jaxon received early vet care, daily grooming, trips to the professional groomer from time to time, neuter surgery, lots of exploring and walking, playing at the beach and car rides.

As Jaxon grew and grew so did the profound affect this pet therapy had on Laura. A love so deep and mutual. The focus Laura was putting on Jaxon’s well-being as a young puppy, add in the tons of unconditional love from this puppy, an unintentional therapy that outweighed any counselling she had done in the past was taking place. Pet therapy impacts lives profoundly.

There was a lot of new research at this time pointing to how dogs can provide a therapeutic value to those suffering with PTSD. Many service dog organizations were developing new programs to support veterans with PTSD. As the brave veterans were returning to Canada after being in Afghanistan the need to provide support was huge. Medical dogs for PTSD were proving to be the ticket to improved health and wellness for the veterans.

Dogs can help with PTSD by monitoring breathing and heart rate. They interrupt their loved one with a nudge to interrupt panic attack and flashbacks. They wake their human from nightmares and ease the symptoms of people being too close to them by blocking or standing between their human and crowds if the dog is working in public with their person. This requires specialized training. A dog being in close proximity even as a pet provides some of these interventions unintentionally. Pet therapy does not replace the work of a highly trained dog for PTSD but it has been proven to benefit and alleviate symptoms of PTSD. Pet therapy impacts lives profoundly.

Laura started to feel so much better that she was able to return to work. She was offered an opportunity to work for Transport Canada in a remote area in northern Ontario. Accepting this opportunity meant she had to find a new home for her precious dog. To ease her heart, she hoped Jaxon could help someone else the way he had helped her. She began to look for a service dog organization that would train him and place him with a deserving person.

I met Laura and Jaxon as the Program Director of Sweet Charity Medical Assistance Dogs. Laura reminded me of our first meeting in a Tim’s Horton parking lot in Barrie. I felt so sad for her and Jaxon. I cried with her and Jaxon licked my tears. Laura said she knew she had found a place where Jaxon would be cared for.



Jaxon was still a young dog and had puppy energy galore. I felt with his sweet demeanor I could work with him and find a suitable role for him within Sweet Charity.

After trying to place him with a puppy foster it seemed that it would be best for Jaxon to live with me where I had acres of farm field for him to exercise and other dogs around to provide socialization. It also gave me the opportunity to work intensely with him on life skills and fundamental basic training.

Jaxon lived with me for three years. My whole family fell in love with him. We have so many stories to tell about Jaxon. He was a character. His love of life, boundless energy and knack for finding things to get into endeared him to all of us. Jaxon’s presense was like pet therapy that profoundly affected our lives.

Laura suffered a set back with her PTSD symptoms. She loved her work, but the PTSD forced her to come home and take care of herself. Pet therapy changes lives profoundly and her bond with Jaxon had most certainly been a factor to her improved wellness. She missed Jaxon so much but we both knew we had to put Jaxon’s best interest first and take our time with any decisions that would impact him.

With this in mind, we began to do short visits. Laura would visit us at our home where he was in his comfy environment that he had come to know so well.

The first visit was emotional for all of us. Jaxon recognized Laura right away and the excitement and love he still held for her was so evident. It was a reunion that gave me the confidence that we were on the right path to reunite this special team. The reciprocity of this relationship was beautiful.

Laura worked so hard to prepare herself, her home and her life to reunite with her big black beauty.

Our visits at my home slowly turned into visits at Laura’s home. I would take him up and we would explore the neighborhood. Laura’s place is called “Magic Cottage” and it is magical. Georgian Bay and a beautiful beach are right near by. Jaxon always loved to swim so he really had a fun time. His greets were just as enthusiastic and I knew in my heart he belonged with Laura at the “Magic Cottage!”

Day visits turned into sleep overs and finally we all agree that it was time. It was bittersweet for my family. We knew it was meant to be, but our hearts hurt to say goodbye. Laura let Jaxon visit for sleepovers and he was always glad it see us. It never equaled the complete joy that he demonstrated every time he was reunited with his beloved human.

Jaxon continues to heal Laura daily. He is her rock. In times of struggle and the returns of PTSD symptoms he is always there to see her through the worst. His unconditional love for her and non-judgmental attitude is a gift that she is so grateful for. The love story endured the ups and downs, the separations and the reunions. The profound affect of pet therapy.

The intentional preparation of dogs to be therapy dogs in setting to promote wellness, anxiety reduction, to ease depression and comfort the dying in the form of animal assisted therapy is a growing business.

The unintentional therapeutic value of a pet is priceless. Pet therapy Impacts Lives Profoundly.



I am so happy to have been a part of Laura and Jaxon’s story of the unequivocal power of the canine human relationship.