My humans call me Snouticus. This is my life.
This is my legacy…
How it all began…
Steadfast Service Dogs was founded on the shoulders of one incredible dog... Snouticus.
Snouticus was intended to be the Sadowski family pet and “farm dog.” However, Andre and Gwen soon realized that Snouticus had a fascinating "depth" to his personality. Andre trained Snouticus as his PTSD/diabetes service dog, and he quickly realized the change this dog was making in his life. Andre credits Snouticus with saving his marriage, altering his life, and making him a “better human being.”
Andre felt compelled to breed Snouticus to see if his depth and seemingly natural aptitude for service dog work carried through to his puppies, and this leap of faith began the family’s mission as they realized their dogs were truly life-altering.
Initially, these amazing dogs were donated to service dog organizations and survivors of the “Parkland Shooting,” a traumatic event that occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018. However, it became glaringly obvious that there was an immense need for service dogs for various applications, and an even greater need for training from beginning to end if that need were to be properly addressed. Following two surviving student suicides in Parkland, Florida in March of 2019, Andre and Gwen decided to form Steadfast Service Dogs, a nonprofit organization that would help those in need of life-altering service dogs.
This decision spun the Sadowski family in a completely different direction and reality. Building a nonprofit organization has taken extreme dedication, a willingness to make sacrifices in terms of lifestyle and financial means, and a love for their dogs and the people each of their service dogs helps. This change in direction has allowed Steadfast Service Dogs to raise, neurologically stimulate, socialize, and train their service dogs from birth through their dogs’ entire service lives.
Snouticus passed in November of 2022, but his legacy lives on through his sons, daughters, and grandchildren by walking in the very steps that Snouticus forged and continuing the mission of Steadfast Service Dogs and Snouticus. They are Steadfast.
Coming Soon!
Snouticus The Massive German Shepherd starring in his very own book, Different is Awesome!
A book cover titled, Snouticus The Massive German Shepherd- Different is Awesome Written by Andre Sadowski and illustrated by Kayla Kelly. Snouticus is smiling at the camera.
Voices of the Blue | The Massive German Shepherd
Steadfast Service Dogs (Previously Steadfast Old World Shepherds), located in Fayetteville, North Carolina is a breeder and trainer of life- altering Service Dogs. There we met the owner and former Virginia Police Officer Andre Sadowski and his service dog Snouticus, known in these parts as “The Massive German Shepherd”. Eddie Richardson, the Peer Support Coordinator for The Wounded Blue, was on hand for a surprise he will remember forever. Hosted by Lieutenant Randy Sutton (Ret.) Produced, Directed, Edited, & Written by Jason Harney A Lightning Digital Entertainment Production