Hazel the Wonder (Service) Dog: The Girl Who Changed Everything 🐾

There are moments in life when help arrives quietly.

Not with fanfare.
Not with answers.
But with four cute little (perfect beautiful shape, said Memaw) paws, soulful eyes, and an unwavering presence.

That’s how Hazel came into our lives.

Living with Lewy Body Dementia means learning to live with unpredictability. Some days are manageable. Others feel overwhelming, confusing, loud, or just… heavy. Our world became smaller in ways I never expected—carefully planned outings, shorter trips, constant awareness of surroundings, and the unspoken question of “Will today be a good day?”

And then there was Hazel.

A steady presence.

A grounding force.

A calm in moments when anxiety crept in without warning.

She didn’t judge. She didn’t rush. She simply stayed.

From the very beginning, Hazel understood her job wasn’t just to do things—it was to be something.

Hazel learned routines that gave both me AND my love confidence and independence. She learned cues that helped when things felt disorienting or overwhelming. But what she gave us went far beyond tasks or training.

She gave US reassurance.

She gave us comfort in crowded spaces.
She gave us courage to keep moving forward.
She gave us moments of peace when words were hard to find.

She changed the rhythm of our home.

What I didn’t expect—what no one really talks about—is how much she helped me.

When the world felt like it was falling apart, Hazel was there. She sensed the tightness in my chest before I could name it. She leaned in when my emotions were bubbling just beneath the surface. She sat quietly when I needed stillness and nudged me forward when I was stuck. In a season where I was constantly managing someone else’s needs, Hazel helped me manage my own emotions, often without a single cue or command.

Sometimes it was a simple snuggle and “lean in” as I sat on the floor blubbering the “ugly cry” (Claire Danes has nothing on me!), coffee cup in hand. Sometimes it was a gentle sigh as we sat on the deck looking at the sunshine, deer talking past, or the squirrels doing their “squirrel thang” preparing for winter.

She just knew.

She was as intuitive with me as she was with my husband.

Of course, being out in the world with a service dog comes with its own challenges. Curious hands. Well-meaning questions. Children calling out, “Hi doggie!” Treats offered with love but without understanding. Hazel taught us—not through correction, but through example—what it means to respect working dogs, personal space, and invisible disabilities

She became a quiet teacher.

Over time, I realized Hazel’s story wasn’t just our story. It was a story children could understand. A story families could learn from. A story that could gently explain service dogs, caregiving, patience, kindness, and love.

And that’s how Hazel the Wonder (Service) Dog was born.

This book tells Hazel’s journey—from training to teamwork, from playtime to purpose - all through the eyes of a dog who just wants to help her person. It’s written for children, but like most meaningful children’s books, it carries messages for adults too: empathy, respect, and the reminder that help doesn’t always look the way we expect.

We are so excited to announce that Hazel the Wonder (Service) Dog will officially launch on February 12.

This book, a first in a series, is a piece of our heart. It’s for caregivers, grandparents, parents, teachers, and children who are learning about differences, disabilities, and the many ways love shows up in our lives.

Register at www.frazzledcaregiver.com to attend the virtual launch!

Hazel may be a service dog - but to us, she’s been 100% family. She’s proof that even in the most frazzled seasons of life, something beautiful can still unfold … one paw at a time.

Thank you for walking this journey with us.

— Sonya 🐾