Marine Corps Veteran and professional service dog trainer Natalee Marick knows a thing or two about rigorous training, so teaching her 4-month-old foster kitten, Sir Biscuits, to walk on a leash was no problem. Marick handpicked Sir Biscuits from Palmetto Animal League’s no kill adoption center for a special mission.

“By fostering Sir Biscuits, I’m giving a shelter kitten an extraordinary life, assisting me to train service dogs to help disabled veterans,” explains Marick.

Before Sir Biscuits entered the picture, there was Chinook, the dog Marick is training to become a medical alert and PTSD service dog for Operation Saving Jake, a Beaufort County non-profit that provides service dogs for veterans.

Marick is teaching Chinook important skills, including giving medication reminders, waking a vet from night terrors, retrieving items and creating a safe zone for a veteran while in public. When Marick noticed Chinook had a heightened interest in cats, she contacted PAL President Amy Campanini in search of the perfect service-dog-training-sidekick!  

“I waited almost 2 months for a foster cat with the right energy and personality to help teach Chinook how to be calm, cool and collected around cats,” says Marick.

After introducing Sir Biscuits and Chinook, Marick knew right away the dog’s interest in cats was pure and simple adoration.

“It was apparent within the first 5 minutes that Chinook and Sir Biscuits shared a special bond,” Marick recounts. “Chinook immediately took to grooming the grateful kitten and before I knew it, Sir Biscuits was covered in dog slobber!”  

The two are quite the pair. They share toys, a water bowl and even Chinook’s beloved dog bed, but their favorite activity is taking walks together.  

“Sir Biscuits mastered his leash skills within two weeks of coming to live with us,” says Marick. “He waits for vehicles to pass and if I stop to talk to someone, he lays down with Chinook and waits.”   

Soon, Chinook will go to live with his veteran as a professionally trained psychiatric and medical alert service dog.

“This little kitten played an integral role in training an 85-pound dog,” describes Marick. “It’s nothing short of amazing and it’s all thanks to the supportive folks at Palmetto Animal League.”

As for Sir Biscuits, Marick says he was originally supposed to be a 6-month foster, but within a few days of bringing him home from PAL, she knew she would adopt him.

“Sir Biscuits was brought into my life for a reason,” reflects Marick. “I think God sent him to fill the void I know I will feel when Chinook leaves and to help me train more dogs for veterans in need.”

Lindsay Perry, Palmetto Animal League Marketing Coordinator

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