Peter + Chip

Hi! I’m Chip! I’m a 1-year-old beagle adopted from Wags & Walks under the red star sponsorship of Chris & Greg Hlavaty!

US Army Veteran Peter first became involved with our program while supporting his wife, US Army Veteran Maria, who attends weekly lessons with her service dog in training, Lennox. While Maria was the one enrolled, Peter often came along, and it didn’t take long for us to notice how naturally he connected with the dogs and how comfortable he felt in the training environment. As we got to know him more, we began to feel that Peter himself could benefit from having a dog by his side.

Peter has spent much of his life in service to others. He served in the Army and later re-enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2016, deploying to the Middle East during Operation Spartan Shield. During that time, he often shared how seeing the military working dogs overseas helped him get through difficult days. Dogs have always played an important role in his life, especially his yellow lab, Sky, whom he lovingly called his “daughter.” Losing her in 2022 left a huge void. Those close to Peter describe him as someone who always puts others first by being patient, empathetic, and dependable. His wife shared that the companionship of a dog has always helped ground him in ways nothing else can.

When we introduced Peter to Chip, one of our ESAs in training, the moment stood out right away. Chip can be shy at first and a little awkward when meeting new people, but once he warms up, he is a silly dog with a huge personality. He has a way of looking at you like he has something very important to say, even though he can’t quite get the words out, and that’s exactly what we love about him. Because Chip usually takes time to open up, we were surprised when he immediately focused on Peter, staying close and choosing to engage with him on his own. Seeing Chip’s interest caught our attention, and it made us feel like they could be the right match.

As they spent more time together, the connection only grew stronger. Peter’s calm, steady presence helped Chip feel comfortable, while Chip’s goofy, expressive personality brought out a lighter side of Peter.

Now, Peter and Chip are officially a team in training. What started as Peter coming to support his wife turned into something we didn’t expect but immediately recognized: a shy, awkward dog choosing his person, and a veteran finding a companion whose big personality reminds him to slow down, be present, and not carry everything alone.