I lost my service dog in June, a few days before my birthday. I had to euthanize him because of medical reasons. I felt an immediate void in my heart that only grew every day after I lost him. He physically stopped me from making the ultimate mistake when I was enlisted. He was my everything. My purpose.

My mental health team went into full panic mode and wrote me a letter of recommendation for both an ESA and a new service dog so I could work with some charities that provide service dogs to veterans and legally foster in my no pets allowed home.

My landlord, Garcia Properties, agreed to all this because of what happened. They even wrote me a cute condolences card.

After a bit I decided to foster so I didn't lose myself to the grief. I ended up with this super sweet three legged pit I call Hops, if any of you stick around tower Grove Park you've probably seen us. I've grown aggressively attached to her. She's been a monumental help in my mental health since my loss of Buddy. I started getting scared though. I was going to fall apart without her. But I couldn't keep her. I rent and it's a no dog apartment. I can either have service dog, which I need, or this amazing dog as an ESA. I'm being pulled between emotional support and medical support.

My maintenance guy came today we will call Todd cuz I don't want to dox him. Todd saw how we were around each other while he was working. He told me "I could see how she was looking at you I had a dog that looked at me like that she needs you and you need her."

After he left I just kinda held her and cried because I don't know what to do.

Hours later. Much after he finished work and the office closed, Todd called me. He told me he was in the office and showed everyone the pictures and told them how we were around each other. They decided because I had both an ESA and a service dog letter they would be okay with me having both. One letter for one, the other letter for the other.

I immediately started crying out of happiness and relief.

Thank you Todd. You've done something that was probably incredible small for you but you changed my life. Thank you Garcia Properties for going above and beyond and helping a broken veteran through a crisis

And thank you to this subreddit for suggesting them.

Sincerely,

A once broken man