Jimmy Thomas

By Kristen Jurcsak

Residence: Galway
Age: 61
Family: Five adult children
Occupation: Owner/operator, Upstate Restoration
Sports: Running, Bicycling, Paddling

Doggie Paddle: Raising Awareness and Money for Vets in Need of Service Dogs

Selfless service. Words that perfectly describe military personnel serving our country. They put their lives on the line to protect our freedom, prioritizing the needs of everyday Americans ahead of their own. An unfortunate consequence of their mission is that many return as veterans with injuries and disabilities. Our wounded warriors who gave so much to us now need our help in overcoming these newfound challenges as they transition back to civilian life. The psychological price they pay is devastating. Veterans have a 50% higher risk of suicide compared to civilians who have never served. Since 2001, more than 114,000 veterans have died by suicide, and 22 is a commonly known number among veterans as the average number of veteran suicides per day.

Selfless devotion. Any human lucky enough to experience the love and loyalty of a dog knows exactly what I’m saying without me saying another word. Our four-legged companions just know things and their presence makes a profound difference in their humans’ lives. I would say military veterans and dogs, especially service dogs, are a partnership that just makes sense. Service dogs provide unconditional support for veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological issues that might spiral them into depression or suicidal thoughts. Sadly, less than 5% of military vets who would benefit from trained service dog companionship are able to have one due to the astronomical expense associated with being matched with a dog. Specialized training for a service dog can exceed $50,000 and Veterans Administration insurance generally does not cover the cost.  

Jimmy Thomas, a 61-year-old United States Army veteran who grew up in Ballston Spa, has embraced the call to selfless service throughout his life. Jimmy enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18 in 1979 and served as a military police officer based in Germany. He is a father of five and worked as a teacher and coach at both Galway and Mohonasen high schools, stepping up to help troubled teens who had experienced trauma. Jimmy himself struggled with stress-induced seizures and other medical issues. A doctor at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany recommended a service dog. In 2018, Jimmy received his golden retriever, Boots, through the Mountains to Miracles Veterans Foundation, a not-for-profit group in Montgomery County that assists veterans. 

Not all dogs can sense oncoming medical events such as seizures. It is an innate ability they are born with. Boots was one of those dogs that could, and he instantly formed an inseparable bond with Jimmy. After Boots was matched with Jimmy, he was then trained through the Woofs for Warriors program based in Warren County, another not-for-profit organization helping vets. When asked what is the greatest gift Boots gave him Jimmy replied, “Boots reduced my stress and could predict my seizures. He gave me my freedom back and a return to normalcy.” Jimmy recognized how incredibly fortunate he was to be paired up with Boots and follow through with his training.

Jimmy wanted to pay it forward and make the dream of service dog companionship a reality for fellow veterans. During his frequent visits to the Stratton VA Medical Center with Boots, he would see veterans with what he felt were greater disabilities than his own. Vets were always sad when he and Boots left. Jimmy knew how much Boots helped him and wanted to help other veterans find a better tomorrow with a service dog so he had an idea. Jimmy decided he would travel, by kayak, from the town of Glenville in Schenectady County, to Key West, Fla., and then return the 4,000 miles to Glenville by bicycle, all to raise money to help veterans overcome the financial obstacles of owning a service dog. He called the idea “Doggie Paddle for Veterans.” 

Jimmy is not a newbie to multiday, endurance fundraisers. He previously completed a 3,500-mile cross-country bike trip from Oregon to Albany in 2019 and paddled a canoe the entire 444-mile length of the Susquehanna River from Cooperstown to Maryland in 2021. Both journeys raised money for Woofs for Warriors.

Tragically and unexpectedly, Doggie Paddle became more poignant and emotional for Jimmy. Boots was diagnosed with cancer, declined rapidly and died at only five years old, just before the start of Jimmy’s paddling send-off. Doggie Paddle for Veterans is dedicated to Boots’ memory.

Logistics for the trip were organized through the Glenville Rotary Club. The Rotary helped get the word out, plan fundraising events, and route stops. Jimmy was supported by a schedule and people who knew where he was going to be. “I knew where I had to be each night and could always find people eager to help if plans changed.” The fundraiser was supported by fellow Rotaries and non-profit organizations, who all helped raise money and participated in networking events along the way. 

Jimmy departed on September 25, 2022 during the Glenville Oktoberfest and paddled a stretch of the Mohawk, down the Hudson River to New York Harbor, and entered the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway. Over the next few months, he paddled the Intracoastal Waterway the rest of the way to Florida. His paddle was not without peril. A ferry boat hit Jimmy’s kayak and he was caught in the vessel’s wake in Cape May, N.J; an alligator came off the shore and rammed his boat in Homestead, Fla.; he battled four-foot waves during a storm in Titusville, Fla.; and sharks surrounded him in Key Largo. He also dealt with the aftermath hurricanes, including massive runoff and extreme tides. I asked Jimmy about his biggest challenge. He said, “It isn’t the physical challenge. It’s the mental challenge, doing it by yourself. You quickly find out what you’re made of when you are faced with unexpected danger and have to rely on yourself and react. It’s the isolation during the journey.” 

Once he was out of the Keys, Jimmy’s bike route home took him up Route A1A to Route 17 where he rode his bike along the coast until he reached North Carolina, where he veered slightly inland. Jimmy remarked, “I know the bike route from Charleston well – I’ve ridden it several times before.” Jimmy returned to Glenville, on February 4, 2023, on an absolutely frigid winter day.  I spoke with him the night before the final leg of his journey and asked him how he felt about riding his bike in extreme sub-zero temperatures. He didn’t seem phased. He said, “I’ve ridden longer distances with temperatures in the 20s. So, I’m not worried about a shorter stretch below zero. I’ll be fine!”

Veterans can start requesting services upon Jimmy’s return through the Doggie Paddle website, at which point the Doggie Paddle for Veterans team can see how much money has been raised and properly budget for it. But the end of his physical journey does not mark the end of fundraising efforts. “As for money, we always need more. But there’s a lot of different ways to donate, it doesn’t always have to be money,” Jimmy said. “Whatever people can think of, they can donate. For example, people have donated dogs, veterinarians have donated their time for veterans who have a service dog, and even pet store donations make a difference. If someone offered to donate service dog training, that would be considerable non-monetary donation understanding the expense and time commitment involved.”  

I asked Jimmy what was next and he said his big hope is to have Doggie Paddle fundraising events in Rotaries across the country. He’s hoping they see how helping veterans in need pair with service dogs makes communities stronger. He’s also looking forward to planning smaller, community, family-oriented events. Jimmy will be receiving a new service dog this spring. “Boots was an amazing dog. He made such a difference in my life. I could live again. I want other veterans to know what that feels like.”

To learn more about Doggie Paddle for Veterans, make a donation, or if you are a veteran in need of services, please visit: doggiepaddle.org.

Kristen Jurcsak (kmjurcsak@alum.rpi.edu) lives a balanced, healthy lifestyle in Queensbury. As a true “Up North Girl,” she enjoys getting outdoors and experiencing all our beautiful region has to offer. Downhill skiing, hiking, and fly fishing are a few of her favorites. Her weekly fitness routine includes strength training with kettlebells, swimming with Glens Falls Masters, and yoga.