Rosie’s Story

A Short Tale of a Long Journey
It was a funny day. In the San Juan Valley of Colorado, not too far back from the New Mexico border, we came upon a little black-haired girl with a cardboard box full of puppies. My kids had to have a look, and when the little girl told them that she had to sell the puppies or her dad was going to put them in a horse trough — I don’t know if it was a sales pitch or that’s just how tough life is out on the ranch — they cried and asked me to pitch in some money and let them buy a pup. So I took up a little collection and let them buy one. They picked out the little golden one. All the others were dark blue. She was a roly poly little thing, looked like a polar bear with a little tint of henna in her fur. She didn’t seem to know how to walk or that she had permission to walk. Her preferred mode of travel was being carried in peoples’ hoods. She was very observant and took in all the sights. I tried to give her to my teenage daughter when we got home, but the pup had already bonded to me hardcore, which is a typical trait of her breed. We came to find out that she was a rare Lilac Heeler, similar in color to an albino raccoon. Well, as Rosie grew, she became friends with my son’s blue heeler that rode a motorcycle. Rosie and I participated in some training, and she became my service dog when she was at a young age and expressed her desire to ride a motorcycle, sometimes blocking me and biting my tire until I picked her up and put her in my hoodie. After awhile, I cut holes for her front legs to stick out and she learned to balance on the gas tank. Slowly, I squirrel-proofed her and trained her not to get too reactive to wildlife. She learned on her own at highway speeds how to make her head aerodynamic and not to quickly look from side to side but to surf the wind and brace herself against me. Accordingly, we got lots of attention everywhere we went. She loved riding anywhere, but her favorite was the Mississippi valley, along the river and up on the high bluffs, like Buena Vista. A point in my life came when I was ashamed of my drinking and felt like a burden to my family and friends and really lost the will to keep on going in life. I loved Rosie and I knew that she liked to watch TV, so I thought it would be nice to make her a video with my Go Pro so she could see herself and me riding and remember the good times we had. My daughter-in-law and my son helped edit the footage and put it up on YouTube, where it got noticed by a motorcycle company, Rumble On. A representative asked us to bring Rosie to Sturges motorcycle rally to be a guest of honor. There, we got so much attention and met lots of people, some in despair. I noticed Rosie turning them around, putting hope in their heart and driving out self-destruction and despair. And I realized she had done the same for me, that it was something a dog has the power to do: to save not only people but their loved ones. So, having seen the ripple effects of depression, PtSD and substance abuse on families and society, and knowing that we could help, we had to start a charity. Because of my own struggles, I didn’t get her out to as much stuff as I should have, but I always promised her I would take her to Sturges every year she lived. And she lived to the ripe old ago of 18, and I kept my word. Now, I ride with her grandson, who is such as carbon copy of her — even the computer can’t tell the difference. Even through Rosie’s passing, she knew how to perpetuate her energy to benefit me and and those lost souls. But her energy can branch out to the future. She took her last ride on her birthday to an event at a Harley-Davidson dealer in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

Rosie’s list. This has been my pet project for me ever since I begin this charity. Looking to help people who need service dogs or would like to ride motorcycle with there service dog, both industries I’m afraid to say, seem to have something to sell or they compete for donations and monetary gain, not everyone but to many and they should be ashamed of their selves. I believe all charities wanting to help people with p t s d, veterans. First responders trauma survivors. . Etc. Should look at themselves as part of a coalition. Every one of us has a passion to save lives, and contribute back to improving. the quality of lives. we need to work together like a coalition. Together, we can make an impact on the 22 a day Statistic of veterans we lose and the blue collar Demographic which is rapidly approaching that number .In the spirit of my service dog who was loyal and loving tell her last breath, I want to put this list together, for people, who feeldeeply and share that common passion and the ones I don’t put on the list, well, those will be the ones that I don’t feel are genuinely. Passionately seeking to help people as their main purpose. It’s sad. but they are out there, and they are many, and I hope that they someday want to be on the list. It’s exhausting enough to look for help to get a service dog. Hopefully, this list will help so that people don’t have to weed out. The scammers. And the salesman of the movement disguised as charities. I’ll do my best to be a good Stewart to this list and hopefully. People will come to use it as a trusted resource if they need a service dog or need advocate or know someone who does, or if they’d like to safely ride with their service dog. Not to say all charities. not on the list are bad, because I can’t check them all out, but if I do hear of a bad one, I won’t bash them, but I will invite them publicly to. Show some transparency and respond to people’s concerns. When they arrise after all, there’s only one side one team. One long term goal we all have to pull together evenly, yoked or we risk. Falling short