“Taylor is my service dog. Basically, he’s kept me alive. He can dial 911, open and close doors, turn lights off and on. He’s a real companion, too.

“I have no family, so he’s my family on four legs. He’ll lay with me at night until he knows I’m comfortable, and then he’ll turn around and go lay by the return in the hallway. But if I moan or cough, he’s back in there on top of me. It’s tough right now because he’s battling cancer and so am I.”

Bill received Taylor in 2009 from Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs to people with disabilities. He helps raise funds to provide service dogs to other veterans.

— Bill Callahan

Related:

• He works to provide service dogs for veterans

The post Longtime service dog ‘my family on four legs’ appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’m an auctioneer. I tour the United States raising money for soldiers to be able to go get their service dogs. A lot of people can’t afford them, and the VA does not help at all.

“I’m also involved in other benefits to help veterans and special needs kids. Everything I do is absolutely free. How do you charge somebody who’s already down on their luck?”

Why are you so involved in these activities?
“After what I’ve been through, I feel like it’s important for me to help others. My son died of leukemia when he was 5 years old. I lost my daughter eight years ago to a drunk driver. Those are the greatest kinds of losses you could ever experience. Somebody said to me if God came down and asked me right now what I wanted, what would it be? That’s easy. I want my kids back.”

— Bill Callahan

Related:

• Longtime service dog ‘my family on four legs’

The post He works to provide service dogs for veterans appeared first on The Baytown Project.