The National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) is hosting our third annual Pets and Vets Week from July 13-15. This multi-day community event connects you to resources and animals that are shown to improve quality of life. To deepen our understanding of the positive impact service animals can provide, we are reading “Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond Between a Soldier and His Service Dog.”
Written by a 17-year Veteran of the U.S. Army, Captain Luis Carlos Montalván details the strong bond between a Soldier and his service dog. The book is told from the perspective of Tuesday, Montalván’s golden retriever service dog, and follows Luis and Tuesday on a typical day together. As a service dog, Tuesday started training when he was three days old to eventually help people with disabilities. He knows more than 100 commands that allow him to help Luis every day.
In this book, Tuesday supports Luis in a number of ways including helping him remain calm in stressful situations, walking down stairs, and comforting him. Although Tuesday is a service dog, when his vest is off he gets a break to be a normal dog and play in the park with other dogs. It’s hard work being a service dog, but as Tuesday says, “I know Luis needs me. But he loves me, too. I’ve heard him say, many times, ‘I have been brave in my life, but I’ve been sad, too. I’ve been afraid, and I’ve been alone…but now when Tuesday tucks me in, I’m happy. Because I’m home.’”
