photography by LA Daily News Photographer Hans Gutknecht

Blaze wears sun glasses as he sticks his head out of the window of Sam Simon Foundation Assistance Dog Program Instructor Lori Ramey’s vehicle in Thousand oaks, Ca. Blaze was rescued from a Ventura County animal shelter to be trained as a psychiatric service dog for US Army Iraqi War veteran Tracey Cooper-Harris who suffers from PTSD. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)
To see more photos and videos of the 10-months I spent following Blaze click here

Michele Wytko's hound dog Orion dressed as Elvis during the Sam Simon Foundation's annual Howl-O-Ween event at the Malibu foundation. A costume contest was held along with games and training tips for those who attended the event. The Sam Simon Foundation rescues dogs from animal shelters and humane societies and trains them to become Hearing Dogs for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)