Bill Campbell and Pax.

I started Lively Licks thinking that it would be a lot of fun to do amusing profiles of people and their dogs. After all, my family spends half their time talking about and laughing at our dogs. It's actually kind of shocking, but I guess it's better than talking about ourselves. What I didn't expect from Lively Licks is the constant revelation of just how much dogs give to us humans. I have been inspired and moved by one story after another, but never as much as I am by the story of Bill Campbell and Pax. What I find particularly moving is that, because of a program started by Puppies Behind Bars called "Dog Tags: Service Dogs For Those Who Have Served Us," Bill has been able to re-enter life, largely due to the constant presence of his service dog, Pax. Pax was first socialized and trained by Laurie Kellog, an inmate at the maximum security Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women (Laurie appears in the New York Times video that accompanies Bill's profile). So a dog, initially loved and trained by a woman who has lost her freedom, but wants to give back to society, is enabling the life of a veteran of the Iraq war who was imprisoned by his disabling injuries. The story speaks for itself.

Bill in his hooch in Iraq with the First Cavalry Combat patch on his shoulder.

Bill on duty in Iraq.

You may be wondering about my experiences in Iraq. I volunteered to go by re-enlisting when my former National Guard unit of 10 years was mobilized. I felt I owed something to the military after they had done so much for me. Also, I felt that being an older, more experienced veteran, I might be able to bring home somebody who might not otherwise come home. I deployed in 2004 to Baghdad with 1-161 Infantry as a Cavalry Scout. I did many things while there such as convoy escorts, patrols, checkpoints, etc. My primary duty was to be one of four men responsible for the security of Forward Operating Base in the center of the city. Our base was located between the Green Zone and an Iraqi National Guard facility, so we were a favorite target for insurgent attacks. Car bombs and firefights were frequent.

Pax

Bill hasn't been to the library in years. Pax made it possible for him to be there.

Pax loves to chase down sticks.

Bill's wife Domenica, his daughter Zoe, his youngest son William, and Pax.

Pax loves this stuffed Mallard.

Going to the movies for the first time.

GC: What would be his favorite movie?
BC: I guess I would say Crank. In the movie Chev Chelios played by Jason Statham, is poisoned and remains alive hyped up on adrenaline. Pax would love it because if he’s not sleeping, it’s the way he prefers to be, hyped up. He would really identify with Chev.

GC: If he were a famous person, who would he be?
BC: George Clooney, because he’s the best looking guy I can think of.

GC: Where does he sleep?
BC: He has a big pillow next to my bed. I appreciate him being close by when I have nightmares. In my dreams I hear terrifying sounds of combat, explosions and gunfire that are so amazingly loud it feels as though they are right next to me. When this happens it causes me to bolt up, breathing hard, frantically looking around. Then I see Pax. He’s calmly lying on his pillow sleeping. If there was an explosion or gunshot, Pax wouldn’t be lying down. I know instantly it was all in my mind and I begin to calm. Before, it would take me much longer to gain control of myself. It’s a small thing, but an amazing gift to me.

It’s fun to wake up in the morning and see him staring at me over the edge of the bed. Sometimes if I don’t wake up in time and he can’t wake me up he’ll walk over and lick my wife as if to say, “Will you wake that guy up?” Then he darts back over to my side of the bed and waits for her to wake me up. He’s so smart.

With the Olympic Mountains in the background, Bill sits with his oldest son Tony.

GC: What is your favorite thing to do with Pax?
BC: I like to get him all worked up so he runs around like some sort of kangaroo or something. He sort of squashes his body up when he’s running and then when he gets close to you he launches himself into the air right at you. He loves it if at the last minute you dodge out of the way. It’s just fuel for his fire. It gets him all the more worked up and he starts circling the yard at full speed.

GC: What is it about you that makes Pax most proud?
BC: I don’t really know. I keep asking him but he just stares at me with those big dark eyes he has. It’s like he’s purposefully not telling me. But if I had to guess, I’d say the loving commitment I have, and demonstrate, to my family, including Pax. If it’s within my means, I’d do anything for them if it’s in their best interest. Unfortunately, sometimes my kids' idea of what’s in their best interest isn’t exactly the same as mine. But, in their hearts, they know that. Pax doesn’t really care. Whatever he is doing at that moment is the best thing he’s ever done in his life. As long as you love on him, take him everywhere you go, play with him, take him out to go potty, and feed him, he’s the happiest pup on the planet.

Occasionally, I pick-up my daughter in front of her school at the end of the day. Imagine Pax going to some kind of doggy school, and at the end of the day I go to pick him up. When I pull up, I see him standing in front of the school with all his buddies shooting the breeze. I can’t hear what they're talking about but what I don’t know is, Pax is puffing up his chest and saying with pride, “That’s my dad.”

GC: What is it about Pax that makes you most proud?
BC: He’s such a good dog. Since getting him people tell me all kinds of stories about their own dogs and I have come to realize just how great a dog he is. I am just proud to know him and have him in my life.

GC: Is there a question you would like to ask Pax?
BC: He’s been moved around so much in his life, I’d like to know if he realizes that this is his home forever. I think he does, but I’d like to ask him and to reassure him if needed.

Bill taking pictures with Pax.

Pax was raised at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for women in New York. Since he was raised in this type of facility, it was important to make sure Pax could properly interact with the outside world. Although the woman that raised Pax did an absolutely amazing job with him, volunteers were used for socialization. These volunteers took him to places like the mall, restaurants, the post office, the park, or wherever they felt might be helpful for his development. Pax was also taken to West Point for socialization and training. All volunteers gave progress reports to Puppies Behind Bars. As you can imagine, Pax might start to wonder where he was supposed to call home.

GC: What do you think is Pax's idea of perfect happiness?
BC: Perfect happiness for Pax is that brief moment when his meal is being prepared and he’s drooling on the floor, to the time when he’s finished eating.

GC: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
BC: This is a profoundly difficult question. My first thought was to truly BE in the present. Not living in the past or the future, but living in the here and now. But then I thought no, I lived that way out of necessity in Iraq much of the time and it was far from perfect happiness.

I guess I would say being with those you love most.

Bill and Pax relaxing at home. OK, they're not really relaxing, they're posing.