This is a story about connection, friendship, healing and love.

I’d like to introduce you to my new friends – Jacob and Ares. I say new, and I feel very fortunate even with social distancing, to have the opportunity to become friends with Jake and Ares. Covid-19 has left many of us feeling disconnected, isolated and missing family and friends. It’s taken the world out of our routine, our habitual schedules that also double as a security blanket. I’m no different, I’ve had my moments of struggle, but I’ve also found myself connecting with nature and people in different ways that I might have overlooked if my routine wasn’t so disrupted. It’s a reminder that we’re all still connected, just in different ways.

I’ve watched Jacob with admiration, working extremely hard with Ares day after day, all day long. From my office I often hear the pitter patter of Ares feet and the squeak toy. They work about 80 yards away from me and I watch as he teaches him new commands and plays with him for hours on end. I’ve never seen a more playful yet responsive puppy. He follows Jacob and listens to everything he says.

I didn’t know Jake’s full story when I asked him if I could take some photos of him and Ares to write a blog about them. His responses were unexpected and I’m truly honored that he trusted me with sharing his story.

Here is our Q&A:

What breed is Ares?

Ares is a Belgian Malinois.

Can you tell me more about his breed?

His breed has some unique characteristics, never mind his bloodline itself. This breed stands out to a lot of government and paramilitary groups because the Belgian Malinois was the breed of dog that tracked and subdued Osama bin Laden.

Also bred mainly for shepherding, protection of the land, livestock, and their handler. They have become an icon in the working canine industry. Used for many things, including but not limited to schutzhund, IPO, French Ring, detection work meaning smelling the scent of narcotics, explosives, accelerants, tracking humans, search and rescue, and of course they are used for Patrol units.

How old is Ares?

Ares was born on the same day I was admitted to the Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, January 26, 2020. I was admitted because I was a victim of random gang violence. I don’t remember too much of what happened. I woke up hogtied, stabbed multiple times in the neck, back and the back of my skull was split open from blunt force trauma. I feel as if he was meant to truly be my working and personal loving lifelong companion.

Ares is being trained as a service dog. Can you tell me more about that?

Ares is a registered working and service dog for my traumatic brain injury. Due to my TBI I have seizures and I’m pretty forgetful. Ares daily tasks from a working aspect include seizure detection, head protection if I fall down, he prevents me from causing self-harm during seizure like activity, holding things for me either in his mouth or on his person; service vest, or some type of harness. He does much more and we are training every day to reach our end goal.

How much will Ares weigh once he is full grown?

Ares should be around 100-115 pounds when he’s fully grown. The Belgian Malinois is only supposed to get up to 75 pounds maximum. Ares is running a bit bigger due to his bloodline and genetic background. His father has an awesome pedigree himself but even prior to his birth Delta, Ares Dad is part of a patrol unit for Saint Petersburg, Florida coming from a long genetic trait line of military in paramilitary work. His mother is a show dog for pedigree, making him a great candidate for show and working needs. From his genetic making he has what a lot of people want in these dogs, the “On/Off” switch.

What is the hardest part of training Ares?

I’d have to say the hardest part of training and Ares is having someone around that tries to train but does not follow the procedure on how to. In other words, it’s kind of like mild manipulation and it’s not good for brain stimulation. I did luck out because I buckle down and I worked him hard during a critical time in his puppy development stages but we still have so much more work to do. Ares is receiving obedience one and two and Schwartz hound one from me before he goes to service training for seizure detection and other parts of his actual service/assistance dog training.

How has Ares changed your life?

Ares has changed my life in many ways. He has shown me what the meaning of unconditional love is, and he has allowed me to trust others again. He helps me in an emotional aspect beyond belief but yet he is also there for me physically. To a lot of people even working dogs are still dogs. Ares is not a dog, he is a part of my pack, he is a part of my family, he is the family. Having Ares around helps me on a daily basis. He reminds me to wake up in the morning to get my daily exercise. He keeps me on a set routine and schedule which helps me maintain my sanity in a world that often feels very messed up to me.

What activities are you looking forward to doing with Ares in the future?

I would like to see Ares complete and pass with highest honors in his service class. He’ll learn canine sports such as schutzhund and hunting. I plan on breeding Ares when he is done with training and has finished developing mentally and physically. In the meantime, while he is in school and we train to perfection, I intend to enroll myself in college soon. I want to achieve my Associates degree in canine development in service dog training. That way when I’m done with school and Aries is done with his schooling I would be able to train service dogs out of the litters that I’ve bred myself. I want to help disabled people receive the canine companions they truly deserve.

I hope you enjoyed this blog! A BIG thank you to Jacob and Ares for sharing with the world.

Please let us know new ways that you find yourself connecting with nature and people during this epic pandemic. We'd love to hear your stories!

Best,

Ann Marie