Jethro is the fourth Isanders dog; America's Vet Dogs also has puppies training with The Jets and The Mets!
Hear how Jethro helps Russ with his ptsd and so much more!
To learn about America's Vet Dogs and all they do, including how to donate: VETDOGS.ORG.
Episode Transcript
It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea on
iHeart Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
And with me today is Russ Fincher, who is a
retired FBI agent, a US Coast Guard veteran, and an
AVD graduate, which is America's Vet Dogs graduate. So, Russ,
did I get it all correct?
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Yes, you did so. I am a Coastguard veteran and
I'm also a first responder retired, a volunteer firefighter and
a current paramedic. So I wow, I fall into that
category of America's Vet Dogs. I'm a veteran and a
first responder.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Wow, that's that's a lot.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
So tell me about your background and how you came
to be in touch and be part of Vet Dogs.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Well, after forty years of emergency service work in the
military and that the FBI and other things, I just
I discovered that you end up taking some of this
stuff home with you over the years, and in my case,
it slowly started to rear its head in the form
of PTSD. And so I was working with my clinicians
(01:18):
with PTSD and with my family and doing all of
those things, and one of my clinicians said, hey, guys,
and guys like you do well with service animals, and
there's one of the best to share on Long Island
in America's vetdogs. And so I started doing my research
and I like what they do and how they do it.
(01:41):
And I drugged my feet a little bit and applying,
but finally I applied, and a year later I was
paired with an awesome service dog, Jethro.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And I think it's probably just human nature because you
said you drag your feet, you know, it's just like
something new like kind of gave that hesitation.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I guess, well, the hesitation they think on my part.
And and I've shared my story with other veter first responders,
and that is a service dog is such a finite resource.
It's really for other people, not for me. It's for
people that are in worse shape than me. And so
I'm like, I'm not gonna apply because then that takes
that dog away from a veteran or first responder whose
(02:21):
mobility impaired or has lost their site or get here.
And so that's why I hesitated, because you know, I'm
not rising to that occasion where I really feel, you know.
And when I spoke to America's Vet Dogs about that.
They were fantastic. They said, you know, that's not your call.
We pair the dogs at their skills with the veterans.
(02:45):
And really they took that hesitation. They just took that
off my plate and said, you're going to work with
us and we're going to find the dog that matches you.
And I said, okay, let's do it.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Sure, I mean, and I'm sure, and I understand why
you hesitated, but I'm sure that PTSD and situations is
just as crippling, say as someone who lost who lost
the leg.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
It is it is, it is. It's just different.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Uh huh, I get it.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
You know. And you know I had I had veterans
in my class who had both of those issues and
they had you know, America's Vet Dogs trained amazing dogs,
you know, custom trained for those veterans, and those are
just those are very special animals. They can handle maybe
somebody whose site impaired and has PTSD at the same time.
(03:39):
It's that's really amazing what they do out there.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Well, it's costing their dogs, and we love dogs and
they are amazing, right they are.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
And you know, all the dogs are custom trained for
the veterans. Then we go out. The training for the
dogs takes about two years. We go to Smithtown for
two weeks, we lived there and they train us and
and I say, the training continues. We work with them
every month. For the first year. We have a whole
(04:06):
group that we communicate with and talk with about about
challenges and changes. But I will tell you I've had
Jethro for six months and it's been more of Jethro
training me.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
So let's talk about Jethro. So he is I believe,
part of Puppy with a Purpose program. And he's the
fourth Islander dog correct with vedogs, that is correct.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
So Jethro is part of the Puppy with a Purpose program.
He was sponsored by the New York Islanders. He was
named after named by the fans after Clark Gillies. Jethro
was Clark Gilly's.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Nickname, right right, and.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Just just an amazing story there. So he was socialized
with the team. He was in ubs arena, he went
home with players. And for somebody like me who's a sportsman,
who his family is sports fans, sure, being in an
arena or at a baseball game, it was extremely stressful. Yes,
(05:08):
it's loud, you're surrounded by lots of people you can't
get out. It became very stressful, of course, and Jethro
is perfectly comfortable in that.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Environment, right, I know, right, amazing, amazing.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
He's very chill. He's like, oh yeah, there's ten, fifteen,
thirty thousand people here. He doesn't care. He just wants
to visit all of them. But he sticks right with me,
and he knows if I'm getting stressed, and he knows
how to soothe that, and we just keep rolling.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Wow, it's amazing, Right, it's just amazing.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
It's you know, and I try to explain this to people,
is work is difficult. You know, he does everything he
was trained to do right. You know, he follows all
of his commands. He you know, he does all of
his obedience things expertly. And when I actually get the
command wrong, he looks at me like, really, come.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
On, it's really funny.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
But there's this intangible of where there's this intangible like
dog magic, spiritual thing that happens between you and your dog.
And and if far exceeds all the other training combined
and all of my expectations, you know, he really is
(06:23):
like you know, an alter ego. He's my shadow. He's
always with me all the time. He's always got my back,
like he he You know, I've been married for thirty years,
so you know, I have a a wonderful a wonderful
wife and and so. But it's different with your dogs,
you know, of course. And and it's that intangible thing
(06:44):
that I wish I could figure out how to bottle
it and give it to people I know, but it
it's dog magic. Yeah, And for veterans with PTSD, that's
the only thing I could say is dog magic. And
you know, don't delay and reching out and doing something
like this.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
I mean I feel like, you know, for someone like you,
he kind of he gives you, he gave you your life
back to do all the things that you love to do.
I mean, you said, you know you love sports and
everything and the hesitation because of the PTSD. But with Jethro,
it's like it's more comfortable for you now and you
can enjoy life like you did well exactly.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Is speaking on behalf of myself and other veterterors that
I've talked to. You know, one of the one of
the issues of PTSD is you start to self isolate
because at some point we annoy people and and and
they find us annoying, right, And so you there's this
slow but sure self isolation that that takes place, and
(07:44):
that self isolation for people like me that love people
sure becomes becomes very stressful. And so but when I'm
around people, I'm annoying and I and I and I
don't function as well as I write as I should.
And you know, you you react, you overreact, You're hypervigilant,
you're watching everything, sure, and so to avoid that, you
(08:06):
just you just your world becomes smaller.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah, no, I get that.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
And with with Jethrow in the mix, all that melts
away and you find yourself just totally comfortable somewhere. And
if you're not, he knows right, Well.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
That's what's amazing, right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
He distracts you. He gets your attention. He's like, yo,
you're focus on me?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
What exactly? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Yeah, and it's it's they do amazing job out their
training dogs like him to do that.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
No, they are an amazing organization and they haven't for
years and they continue to be. It makes me sad
to hear you know that you would isolate because people
would find you annoying.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
And I just I don't.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Really understand that, and I is it from people not
being patient, or not having empathy, or just ignorance.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I guess I think it's I think, frankly, I think
we're annoying because we're we come back. I say we,
I speak for myself. You come back from working overseas
or working critical incidents, and your ability to turn off
that persona and become a husband and a father and
a friend again becomes much harder, of course, And so
(09:16):
you're on all the time, and so your decision making
is always in crisis mode. Your conversations are always in
crisis mode. And I think that that's the part that
really rubs normal people in normal circumstances the wrong way.
They're like that, dude is really intense, right right. I
think that's what's happening. And you know, they really don't
know my story. And it's really not their fault that
(09:40):
they don't know my story.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
I understand.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yeah, it just is what it is, you know, It's
just it's just the confession that we start operating our
lives like we're in a command post in a war zone.
And I can tell you that that doing that and
trying to help your children with their homework doesn't work
so well.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Yeah, of course, and that's constant stress on you. No, sure,
I mean I would think the stress and the pressure
of trying to have a normal life, but you can't
because you have the PTSD.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
I'm sure. Is it's overwhelming.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
It's hard, it is, and you there's lots of ways
where you try and remedy that, you know, working out
and running and all the things. I was an avid
runner and I and I really I ran myself into
a torn Achilles.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Oh boy.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
And because that was the way I distressed, of course,
the way I you know, and and so I became
an avid walker after that.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Yeah, no, I get it.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
But still it wasn't the same as having Jethrow No, and.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Having jet throw. Those walks are so much more fun,
so much more relaxing, And those and those folks that
with that half service dogs will tell you we find
ourselves talking to our dogs walks, I'm sure. And it's
quite comical. When it first starts happening, You're like, wait
a minute, am I losing I'm just talking to this
dog as I'm walking down the road. But it becomes
so much fun, is therapeutic and it's like, you stay english,
(11:01):
I want to know what he's thinking. You know, It's
it becomes sort of comical and therapeutic at the same
time as you're walking along talking to your dog.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Yeah, and he's probably saying, I hear you, I understand you, Russ.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I do.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
He knows, he absolutely knows.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I'm sure.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
So of all the all the things in your life
that Jethro has given you back, is there one thing
that stands out? I mean, I'm sure it's everything, but
is there one thing that your life is so very
different now because of Jethro.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
I would say that there was lots of things struck me,
but the one thing that really struck me was I
found myself smiling more, be happier more, and interacting peep
with people in a much more fun way. I found
myself smiling so much that like my face hurts ah
and I realized, I realized, man, I really haven't smiled
(11:57):
like this in a long time, you know. And I
think when you're in PTSD world, you're so focused on
trying to do things the right way and not messed
up and not overreact, that you become that serious man.
And I actually had a young lady work on time.
She says, you know, Russia's is a serious man, a
serious man, and you got to loosen up. And so
(12:20):
all of a sudden jet throw just that serious man
just melted away. Sure, and life, life is more fun.
People are more fun. Interaction is more fun. People will
say say hi to me walking with Jethrow, and I'll stop,
and I'll just start. I'll just talk to the people
I don't even know, right, and and I would have
never done that before. Yeah, And so it's just to
(12:40):
be able to smile and laugh more is amazing.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
It is amazing, right, and you're you're living your life
to the fullest again, which is really amazing.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I am. And you know, it's it's awesome to talk
to people like you and and and have an audience
and be able to stay on behalf of my class
and other vets who are n't comfortable doing this sort
of thing, you know, get out there, get that clinical
help you need. Apply to America's Vet Dogs. Get a dog.
If you could volunteer, volunteer with America's Vet Dogs. If
(13:12):
you can donate, sure donate to America's Vet Dogs. You know,
each dog pusts about sixty thousand dollars to make for
each veteran a first responder, and we get them free
of charge and all the training is free.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Yeah, which is incredible. Yeah, No, it's an incredible organization.
But you guys deserve to get the dogs for free.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Every time I hear that, I cringe. It's hard, I know, but.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
It's true because you did service.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
And I don't mean to make you cringe, but you
deserve to get the dogs.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Oh no, I think it's just the nature of who
we are as people, right. We're helpers, we're doers. We
always want to help them do and then to be
on the receiving end is a change for sure. Sure,
and to be on the receiving end with such an
incredible blessing of the dog, but also the relationship with
(14:04):
the people at America's at Dogs who just absorb you
into their family of folks there, and it really is
an amazing group of people.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
They're the best. I love them.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
That's why I'm so happy, you know, to talk to
you and learn about you and Jethrow And do you
go to Islander games with him? And is he a
big still a big celebrity when you go?
Speaker 1 (14:28):
He does go to games, and he is definitely a celebrity.
When we go, he has a jersey. He has a
jeth Throw number four jersey.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Huh.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
When we finally make it to our seats, he actually
enjoys watching the game and he watches the puck fly
back and forth up and down the ice, and I
think if given a moment in time where he could
get away, he would be on the ice chasing the puck.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
It's really funny. Well, because right he was there as
a puppy and that's where he learned.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
He would absolutely love to be out there.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Yeah, he's probably he probably would be a pretty good
hockey player. Who do you think about it?
Speaker 1 (14:59):
He isn't rich, and he will go and retrieve and
bring it back to you until he just falls down.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
It's so funny. That's so funny.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
And I'm sure with your family they love him and
they see the big difference with you because of Jethrow.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
It's it's a transformation with my family absolutely. You know,
we've come a long way through. I would say that
dark days of PTSD too, through a lot of healing
with me and the family and those relationships, and then
having Jethrow come in. He just takes it to a
completely different level. Sure, it's been amazing.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Well, I'm so happy for you and I'm so happy
that you have him, and I'm so happy to learn
about you and Jethrow today. And for those who are listening,
and I mean you hear Russ's story, and if you're
in a situation like Russ was in, definitely go to
vetdogs dot org. And like he said, if you can volunteer, definitely,
if you can donate, because you know they are charity
(15:53):
and they need the funds, so vetdogs dot org. Russ,
I really appreciate you and your time and and sharing
your story. And I hope to meet you and Jethro
one day.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
That would be fun, I think.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Yes, And and especially because you are a fan of
Q and O four point three, I think I'm gonna
need to have both of you up here to.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Visit the station.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Absolutely would do it.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
I can't wait.
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