11/14/2025
We couldn’t be more honored to see Wayne and Wyatt’s story shared this week by the City of Box Elder. 🇺🇸🐾
Wayne is the kind of man who leads with quiet strength, deep humility, and the heart of a servant. And Wyatt…well, he’s the perfect partner. Watching these two work together has been nothing short of inspiring.
From the moment we learned about Wayne’s diagnosis, our team stepped in to make sure Wyatt received the specialized training he needed. Balance work is challenging, and Wayne’s determination through every step of the process is what made Wyatt the dog he is today.
Miranda and our training staff will tell you the same thing:
Wayne showed up with grit. Wyatt showed up with heart. And together, they built something powerful.
Seeing Wayne walk out of the hospital four days after brain surgery with Wyatt…no walker, no hesitation, just trust…well that is a moment our team will never forget.
To Wayne: thank you for your service, your courage, and your example.
To Wyatt: keep doing what you do best — serving with loyalty and love.
To the City of Box Elder: thank you for honoring one of your own and shining a light on the impact of service dogs.
We’re proud of this team.
We’re proud of their bond.
And we’re grateful to be part of their journey.
This week, we’re excited to introduce a dynamic duo you may have seen around City Hall, Wayne our Safety and Risk Manager, and his service dog, Wyatt!
Wayne and Wyatt have been an important part of our city team, and in honor of Veterans Day, this week we wanted to take a moment to share a little more about their story and the incredible bond they share. 🐾
Wyatt joined Wayne’s life when he was just eight weeks old, generously donated by a breeder to be trained as Wayne’s service dog. “Wyatt knows when the days are stressful and will jump right into any conversation to ease that stress," says Wayne. Once Wayne found out about his brain tumor, South Dakota Service Dogs immediately stepped in, and began training Wyatt to help him with his balance.
"His trainer, Miranda, and all the staff made sure I was always safe during training and wouldn’t fall. I can’t say enough about their organization or how quickly they trained Wyatt to be my support," said Wayne.
Even after brain surgery, Wayne’s determination never wavered. He refused to use a walker upon leaving the hospital just four days later instead, Wyatt was right there, serving as both his balance and his strength.
In honor of Veterans Day, Wayne had this to share about his time serving. "One thing from my military experience that has stayed with me is respect and honor. I often had so many additional duties that I sometimes forgot what my ‘real’ job was supposed to be. But I never forgot to respect those around me, regardless of their rank, and I always wanted to honor those who came before me those who paved the way for us to do the work we do today.”
We’re proud to have Wayne and Wyatt as part of our team. Their story reminds us of the power of perseverance and teamwork.
