Hello everyone! My name is Matt and I am a Marketing intern here at Poppy’s Picnic. I am from the United States (Boston to be exact) and am working with the London-based Poppy’s Picnic team while on an exchange programme from Elon University in North Carolina.

Working for Poppy’s Picnic has not only made me miss my pup immensely, but speaking to customers has only highlighted just how special relationships with our four-legged friends can be. With Remembrance Day having just passed, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share the story of my dog, Admiral, who not only is an amazing family pet, but a hardworking service dog 🚔🐶

Back in the States, my dad is a policeman. More explicitly, he is a member of the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad. However, he doesn’t work alone. Admiral is no ordinary pet, he is a bomb-sniffing police K-9. He accompanies my dad every day at work, and some of those days can be very, very long. As some of you may recall, there was a terror attack in 2013 at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. My dad and Admiral were gone for over a week, investigating the crime scene and gathering evidence, which ultimately led to the arrest and prosecution of those who were responsible. In his time as a service dog, Admiral has assisted my dad in discovering hundreds of explosives and other related items, all to protect the public and ensure that those responsible for these crimes are rightfully punished.

When people ask me about Admiral they usually ask if he’s friendly or if he attacks criminals, and at that I usually laugh. My dad always says that if somebody were to break into our home, Admiral would probably start licking them rather than bark or bite them. Admiral is a beautiful black Labrador with long legs and a shiny, sleek coat. He couldn’t hurt a soul and you can usually find him curled up in a ball on the sofa between the hours of 10:00 and 07:00 (he snores a lot too..!).

It is a unique experience living with a service dog because they aren’t always present. It goes without saying, being a bomb-sniffing dog is dangerous. When my dad gets called out, there is always a sense of worry about him and Admiral’s safety. There have been spans of days and weeks where Admiral and my dad have been away, whether at work or training – and it’s times like these when I realise just how much we take our furry friends for granted.

When Admiral is home, the whole dynamic of my family changes, it’s almost as if there is another person there. When someone is sad he can unknowingly make them happy, just by being there, and when we have company, he always proves to be the life of the party. Dogs truly are a man’s best friend, and they deserve the same amount of love and care that they give us.

With all of this in mind, in my short time here so far at Poppy’s Picnic, I have realised how, by feeding a fresh food diet, we are reciprocating the love and loyalty that our dogs give us, by providing them a healthier and happier life – a life that they truly deserve! ❤