What is a Redford?
Written by: Doug Gresenz
Written by: Doug Gresenz
For those that don’t know me, my name is Doug and I was fortunate enough to be introduced to this breed through an incredible dog named Redford. Redford was everything I needed him to be at that point of my life. To tell you more about Redford, I need to tell you a bit about my best friend, Christopher Harlan. He was as Texan as they come and the best machine gunner I knew. We had a special bond that only grew stronger after our deployment. We spent many days and nights stumbling upon trouble around the coastal bend area of South Texas. That all unfortunately changed on November 22, 2013, a day that weighs heavily on my heart. It’s the day my whole life changed, as I lost my best friend to a fight with PTSD. However, it's also the day I started my own journey of seeking help to make sure I don’t meet the same fate.
Eight years ago I was in the market for a service dog based on the advice of my doctors. During that time, one of my good friends had this lovable and good looking dog, who happened to be a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. While spending time with him, I fell in love with this breed of dog. I went through the WPG National Rescue and remember being contacted by a woman, named Aimee, who was going to help place me with a dog. We thought we had maybe found a potential match for me, but during our discussions that particular dog had suddenly been adopted. About a week and a half later, Aimee called me again and told me that she had a dog that I absolutely needed to meet. This dogs name was Redford and she was certain he was going to be a match made in heaven for me. We ended up meeting at the airport in Houston, which turned out to be an unforgettable experience. I remember sitting on the ground in front of him, talking to him just like I’d talk to someone I’ve known for years. When I finally asked him if he was ready to say ‘Hi’ he perked up so I let him out of the kennel he traveled in. He sniffed me a few times for quality control purposes. After I passed the sniff test, we locked eyes for a solid minute. I was nervous during this minute that I was failing some sort of looks test, but then he lovingly licked my face like he had known me his whole life. That moment changed everything for me. From that day forward when you saw me, you saw my better half, Redford.
Redford and I traveled all over the country together, fishing everywhere we could. Fishing was how I coped with the struggles that I was dealing with, so having Redford captain the ship meant the world to me. That dog touched so many lives and made a lasting impression on everyone who met him. I still have people that reach out today just to say how special of a dog he was and that they’re so grateful to have met us. Unfortunately, on Sept 27th 2020, Redford passed away due to an aggressive form of cancer. During the years I was fortunate enough to care for Redford I said time and time again, “Why aren’t there more of these dogs as service dogs?” Their fierce loyalty and desire to please their handler is unmatched as far as I have seen. Well, fast forward to 2022 and I was approached by some folks who had the logistics of a service dog organization basically in place. I had just started the Redford Ranch Foundation, a 501c3 organization put in place to pay forward the generous support and help I received during my times of struggle. My organization's purpose is to give back to the veterans and first responders of this country, so I was all ears when they approached me about this opportunity. After our talks we are now working to place four Griffons next year with different veterans and first responders in need. I believe in this mission with all of my heart because I am living proof that it works. Veterans have this innate ability to ignore and neglect our own wants and needs. Oftentimes this way of thinking is drilled into you during training because in the military, nobody worries about themselves, you worry about the person to the right and left to you. This way of thinking is why I believe service dogs are so beneficial for struggling veterans. I may be okay with ignoring my own needs, but I could never ignore my dogs needs. I am here to ask for your assistance. We are in great need of funds to help get this program up and running. During the next two years we will be under a probationary period to become recognized as an ADI(Assistance Dogs International) accredited organization. This allows us the opportunity to become eligible for outside funding from public resources such as the VA and other nonprofit organizations. If this sounds like something you believe in like I do, please consider heading over to www.redfordranch.org to make a donation. I know through this program we can get some of these amazingly lovable dogs into the lives of those who need them most. Thank you Griff community!
Eight years ago I was in the market for a service dog based on the advice of my doctors. During that time, one of my good friends had this lovable and good looking dog, who happened to be a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. While spending time with him, I fell in love with this breed of dog. I went through the WPG National Rescue and remember being contacted by a woman, named Aimee, who was going to help place me with a dog. We thought we had maybe found a potential match for me, but during our discussions that particular dog had suddenly been adopted. About a week and a half later, Aimee called me again and told me that she had a dog that I absolutely needed to meet. This dogs name was Redford and she was certain he was going to be a match made in heaven for me. We ended up meeting at the airport in Houston, which turned out to be an unforgettable experience. I remember sitting on the ground in front of him, talking to him just like I’d talk to someone I’ve known for years. When I finally asked him if he was ready to say ‘Hi’ he perked up so I let him out of the kennel he traveled in. He sniffed me a few times for quality control purposes. After I passed the sniff test, we locked eyes for a solid minute. I was nervous during this minute that I was failing some sort of looks test, but then he lovingly licked my face like he had known me his whole life. That moment changed everything for me. From that day forward when you saw me, you saw my better half, Redford.
Redford and I traveled all over the country together, fishing everywhere we could. Fishing was how I coped with the struggles that I was dealing with, so having Redford captain the ship meant the world to me. That dog touched so many lives and made a lasting impression on everyone who met him. I still have people that reach out today just to say how special of a dog he was and that they’re so grateful to have met us. Unfortunately, on Sept 27th 2020, Redford passed away due to an aggressive form of cancer. During the years I was fortunate enough to care for Redford I said time and time again, “Why aren’t there more of these dogs as service dogs?” Their fierce loyalty and desire to please their handler is unmatched as far as I have seen. Well, fast forward to 2022 and I was approached by some folks who had the logistics of a service dog organization basically in place. I had just started the Redford Ranch Foundation, a 501c3 organization put in place to pay forward the generous support and help I received during my times of struggle. My organization's purpose is to give back to the veterans and first responders of this country, so I was all ears when they approached me about this opportunity. After our talks we are now working to place four Griffons next year with different veterans and first responders in need. I believe in this mission with all of my heart because I am living proof that it works. Veterans have this innate ability to ignore and neglect our own wants and needs. Oftentimes this way of thinking is drilled into you during training because in the military, nobody worries about themselves, you worry about the person to the right and left to you. This way of thinking is why I believe service dogs are so beneficial for struggling veterans. I may be okay with ignoring my own needs, but I could never ignore my dogs needs. I am here to ask for your assistance. We are in great need of funds to help get this program up and running. During the next two years we will be under a probationary period to become recognized as an ADI(Assistance Dogs International) accredited organization. This allows us the opportunity to become eligible for outside funding from public resources such as the VA and other nonprofit organizations. If this sounds like something you believe in like I do, please consider heading over to www.redfordranch.org to make a donation. I know through this program we can get some of these amazingly lovable dogs into the lives of those who need them most. Thank you Griff community!