07/21/2026
Szva Kodiak Pride Haus von Leerburg: My companion ~ My BFF ~ My 1st Responder Service Dog ~ Therapy Dog ~ Lover of People with a heart bigger than Texasā¦ I spent the day loving and petting Szva today, but at the end of the day, It is with great sadness and a huge, broken heart that I inform you, I walked Szva to the Rainbow Bridge tonight and I stayed with her as she crossed overā¦ This was fulfilling part of a promise I made the day I got her, I would never leave her side. The pain with hip and spine issues; loss of the control of her bowels; just barely able to walk; and she had cut her eating to almost nothing and I had to spoon feed her thatā¦was just too much and I could not stand by and watch her suffer after all that she has done for me. Proverbs 12:10 states, āā¦A righteous man regards the life of his animalā¦,ā (NKJV)
Szva, 09/18/2014 ā 07/20/2026, was obtained to assist me with anxiety & panic from PTSD. After being with me for 6 months, she discovered that I was a diabetic, never having been diagnosed before. Since 2018, Szva saved my life four (4) times by early alerting me to my dropping blood sugar level.
Szva also had two additional jobs: 1) Of being my āhelper dogā at the training Facility that I opened as a non-profit to train obedience classes to the general public and to train and donate dogs to disabled veterans. Over 400 dogs a year went through our training programs and Szva attended every class to help me. 2) Her next job was to become a Therapy Dog; visiting hospitals, nursing homes, rehab facilities, schools, and serving our 1st Responders. Szva was on the Crisis Response Team that deployed and served a week in Kerrville, Texas, in 2025 during the July 4th floods; and she returned for four days, 2 weeks ago for Memorial events.
She loved people; she felt their pain and emotions; and went to them to offer Godās comfort, peace, joy and love whenever she could. Szva had received her American Kennel Club (AKC) Therapy Dog Supreme rating by making 600+ visits, and she received the Canines for Christ Royal Ambassador rating by passing the 1,000+ visit mark. During her years as a Therapy Dog, Szva completed 1,140 visits.
I have had nine (9) GSDs in my life ~ I have owned 4 and had 5 in the military. Szva, without a doubt, was the very best for what I needed in my life. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal~ Love leaves a memory no one can steal. There will never be another Szva; she can NOT be replacedā¦ she will live on in my heart and memory until I pass. God blessed me beyond measure when HE brought her into my life; for all that she gave and did for me and for the joy and happiness she shared with all that she met. Rest in Peace, Szva girlā¦ you were the best friend I ever had, along with being a good and faithful servant. You did your job to the best of your ability and that was very well.
To ALL of the facilities listed below, Thank You, for allowing Szva to visit you and your Staff/Residents. YOU helped to fulfill her purpose in life to bring happiness and comfort to others. To MANY of you that met Szva, either through a training class; a Therapy visit; or perhaps through our friendship, You, too, helped Szva be a happy girl, as she was able to share with you.
Following are a few of the 1000s of photos I have of Szva āworkingā and with me that I hope you will enjoy viewing.
Hospice - Community Healthcare of Texas
