Andy Vistrand graduated from Panama Central School in 2003, later enlisting in the Marines and serving for five years before being honorably separated and getting a job with CSX Transportation in Bruceton, Tennessee as a freight conductor aboard freight trains. He worked there until the “economic calamity” of 2008 and 2009 when he was laid off.

“My life before Dozer, I thought I had it all figured out, until I didn’t,” Vistrand said. “It wasn’t like me to put all my eggs in one basket, so to speak. I had one mission, becoming a crew member on freight trains was it. There was no secondary plan. I have always been a huge railfan, and I was so convinced that this career was going to work out. Sure, I had heard the horror stories about railroad employment, but I wasn’t going to let that alter my course. You don’t know, if you don’t try. I would rather be sorry I did, as opposed to sorry I didn’t.”

Vistrand said he has always pursued everything that he was interested in with 100% tenacity. The main thing he did not account for was the economy, otherwise having the mental and physical stamina needed for the job, which he said he was overqualified for but loved. Following this job he was laid off for over a year, eventually ending up in the police force in Trenton and later moving to his current hometown of Medina. He served five years in law enforcement before leaving in 2018 for the federal government.

During his time being laid off though, before he met Dozer, Vistrand said he was in a bad place.

Andy Vistrand, his wife Jamie, and Dozer outside their home. Submitted photos

“Right before I found Dozer, I was in some dark headspace,” Vistrand said. “I wasn’t sleeping. When I did sleep, I was having nightmares. I was depressed. I didn’t know anyone, I had no friends in Tennessee. I was becoming more and more reclusive. Socially withdrawn and isolated, these are not ideal places to be. Couple that with nothing but time to sit and be in your own headspace with real world combat experiences, and it’s a recipe for disaster. Twenty two veterans a day are committing suicide for these issues and far less; one is too many.”

He did eventually return to the railroad in 2010, but other “freak acts of nature” like flooding, a lack of work and being low in seniority meant layoffs were on the horizon for him again soon after.

Vistrand found Dozer on Dec 15, 2009 on his way to get his mail in Jackson, Tennessee.

“I left my apartment at 9 p.m. to go get my mail,” Vistrand said. “I was late going, I preferred to go to the mailroom when I knew no one else was there. I met Dozer as soon as I left my apartment. He was standing at the bottom of the stairs looking up at me. I met him at the bottom of the stairs, gave him a pat as I passed him by. I think he knew I was a good risk. He was super friendly. He followed me to the mailroom. I got my mail and he followed me to my apartment. It was cold out and I didn’t know if he had shelter or a family. I just knew that I am a dog person and in good conscience, could not let him stay out all night in the cold. I let him in, he found his way to my master bedroom and fell asleep under the skirt of my bed.”

After entering his apartment that night, Vistrand said Dozer never left his home or his heart, becoming an integral part of his family. He added that while he had not known he needed a dog, God had.

Vistrand wrote his book “Rescued” about his life with Dozer, coming after having to make the decision with his family to put Dozer down in 2022. Vistrand said he had wanted to write a book for a long time, first toying with the idea in 2010, but at the time had no funds or idea how.

“It was only after losing Dozer in December 2022, when our family adopted a rescue puppy from the Jackson Animal Care Center and we were meeting our new veterinarian, that I told the staff my story,” Vistrand said. “One of the staff members told me, ‘you should write a book.’ That’s all it took. The lightbulb lit and I was off on a new mission. It was as if God were steering me again.”

Vistrand began writing in January 2023, ending with a complete manuscript by late March, early April 2023 and signing a contract with HillHelen Group Publishers LLC in April. By Nov 1, 2023 he was holding his very first published book in his hands.

For Vistrand, “Rescued” is more than just an immense moment of pride, self satisfaction or a check off of the bucket list.

“This book is a memorial to my best friend in life,” Vistrand said. “The one being that never let me down, loved unconditionally with no boundaries, always picked me up when I was down and always greeted me with a wagging tail. Dozer did a lot for me, he saved my life. He did more for me than I could ever repay him for. I like to think that this is a small way to pay homage to man’s best friend, my buddy Dozer.”

Something that Vistrand said he realized while writing his book was that dog is God spelled backwards. He added that this was not surprising for him.

“I think God brought man a dog with the expectation that we could learn something from them,” Vistrand said. “Loyalty, unconditional love, versatility, companionship, selfless service, and protection are just some of the many benefits dogs bring to our lives. Dogs truly add value to a troubled world and compassion to a dejected soul.”

“Rescued” should be of interest to people, according to Vistrand, who are affected with a gloomy outlook and can give them a non-critical, no questions asked outlet. Additionally, he said dogs have the ability to help people, weaning them off of medications, extending lives, reducing stress and more.

“Dogs have the ability to help pull us out of our headspace and bring us back to a safe place,” Vistrand said. “By just petting a dog, our brains release dopamine, which is known as the ‘feel good’ hormone. I want to get the word out about therapy dogs, which is what Dozer became to me.”

Vistrand said that there is no shame in asking for help from a canine companion and that plenty of rescue dogs in shelters would love the opportunity to become someone’s companion. He added that if his book touches or even saves just one life it will be worth it.

While his life after Dozer was an adjustment for Vistrand and his family, they ended up adopting two more dogs afterwards. The family adopted Bailey, a rescued Rhodesian Ridgeback on Jan 3, 2023 and fostered to adopt another Black Mouth Cur, Skippy, who they officially adopted on Sept 5, 2023.

For veterans and others who might find themselves in a similar place to where he was before Dozer, Vistrand said do not be afraid to reach out.

“If you need help, do not be afraid to admit you are in over your head,” Vistrand said. “Reach out. If you have a need, or think you might want to try a therapy animal, don’t be bashful. Speak up, therapy dogs and dogs in general are excellent companions, and can really have a positive impact on your health and well-being. Veterans may qualify for a therapy dog through the Department of Veteran Affairs, be sure to ask your primary care provider if a therapy dog can be a good fit for you.”

“Rescued” is a hardcover book, printed on premium paper with pictures included. A review by Ann Linus led to it being awarded a Five Star Readers’ Favorite review. The book is currently entered in the Military Writers Society of America for review and competition. It will soon be available at Good Neighbor Bookstore in Lakewood.