Michael Padjen

Fynn Michael Padjen

"Fynn, the Reluctant Service Dog" will take you on a journey into the lives of the reluctant, black lab mix, Fynn and his human and sometimes frail, best friend Mike. Fynn, a rescue from the streets of Raleigh, NC, is about as quirky and unique as a dog can get. His issues range from chasing anything with four legs to marking territory like a dog with a bladder five times his size, to stealing food right from under your nose, and finally, having an aversion to kissing anyone but babies. Sometimes these quirks get him into trouble, but most of the time, they endear him to almost everyone he meets. This story is not your typical narrative about the relationship between a dog and his master, but a narrative on wills to survive, while recognizing at the same time, life doesn't often allow for plan-making or your survival based on those plans. Life only promises a series of moments strung together, easily, and sadly missed if you aren't paying attention. Many of the moments are blessings if you allow yourself to see them that way, while some can be downright nasty, as you will see in the pages within. In either case, those moments will give you the opportunity to create an extraordinary story. The story herein will also give you a glimpse of the life of a person with a chronic disease and chronic pain. Often, the person looks well on the outside but is going through hell on the inside. This can be especially true in their brains. It is vital to understand that fact if you want to better understand the relationship between a person and their service animal. Lastly, this is a tale about the role in your life of fate, luck, destiny, God, or whatever you may want to call it. It is about being selected by the universe to perform a vital role, even if you are convinced you are not up to the challenge thrown on you, like taking on the responsibility of being a service dog when most of your existence to that point was only abuse and hiding. Join Fynn and Mike in their journey through their still unfolding destinies.