Ranger

In 2019 I walked into the HSNT Keller Regional location looking for my doggy match. The first dog I asked about had been adopted earlier that day. The second? That was Ranger.

The tech warned me he might not fit what I was looking for or needing, since my medical team had recently told me I needed a medical alert service dog. However, I'm stubborn.

So, I met Ranger in the yard. He proceeded to chase a fly around before lying under the awning with me. As he grew comfortable with me, we interacted more until he decided to pull my keys from my purse and drop them at my feet.

I knew he was the one.

After my mom and dad approved and the paperwork was signed, he was officially mine.

He proved that he was the dog for the job immediately. Within days of coming home, I had a flare-up, and even without training, he was amazing through it all. Since then, he went on to complete hours of training with a fantastic trainer and organization, and then graduated to full-time service dog. Through ups and downs, hospital visits, flare-ups, good days and bad ones, he was right next to me. And the best boy.

His focus was always on me.

As he aged, his sight began to fade, and he retired from service dog work in 2023, but that message didn't quite reach him. At home and at pet-friendly places, he was always on duty.

January 29th, 2026, he took his final breaths in my arms.

All of this to say. Thank you for giving me the gift of him. He was and forever will be my best friend. I think this is one for the history books and wanted to share. I will forever be grateful for HSNT Keller and the opportunity to love Ranger for these years. Thank you."

Kelsey M