Annette Kirk and Bruno, Gold Star family dog
[Video description for our community of people with vision loss: This video was captured outside of our Student Center on the Southeastern Guide Dogs campus and in a studio with a blue backdrop. The video begins with “What sets Gold Star families apart? The sacrifice they have made and the loved ones they have lost in service to the nation” and an image of a Marine carrying a folded American flag. While Annette speaks about her son, Paul, images of him are shown in his Army fatigues. As the video continues and Annette speaks about her son’s death, images of her speaking are shown. “Annette found the emotional support she needed from Bruno, her Gold Star Family dog from Southeastern Guide Dogs” appears while photos and video of Annette and Bruno, her black Lab, are shown. The video switches back and forth between these clips and then ends with the Southeastern Guide Dogs logo.]
Annette Kirk and Bruno, Gold Star family dog
St. Petersburg, Florida
Annette kneels with Gold Star family dog Bruno. [Pictured: Annette is wearing a red t-shirt and blue jean shorts. Bruno is a black Lab.]
Between active duty and the reserves, Annette spent seven years in the Army in the 80s and 90s. Paul’s dad was in the Army, too, and Paul followed in both their footsteps. Just two weeks before he left for basic training, Paul’s father was killed in a car accident. “He was a strong kid,” Annette said, remembering how her son pushed through the pain to serve his country.
Annette first heard of Southeastern Guide Dogs while at a 9/11 memorial event in St. Petersburg. Recently she met puppy-in-training, Radar, whose puppy raiser also volunteers for the Afghanistan Memorial project. Through our Gold Star Family dog program, she just welcomed home a loving, bubbly black Labrador named Bruno.
“He’s already made a difference,” she says. “I feel a lot better about myself. I feel happier—I think because he’s so happy, he makes me happy. He has such a personality! I’m not a touchy-feely person, but with Bruno I am. I hug on him a lot and he’s always next to me. I almost see him as a person, not a pet. Almost like a child. Paul was the one who really wanted children; it’s really sad. Maybe that’s why I’m really bonding—this is my way of having a grandchild. I’m spoiling him like a grandbaby.”
