Gilbert the golden retriever leaves a legacy of healing and hope

Gilbert, a golden retriever trained by Helping Paws, was a goofy, slightly “derpy” charmer before a senseless tragedy took his life and that of his owners, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, on June 14.

Too friendly to serve as a working dog, Gilbert’s journey with the Eden Prairie nonprofit still sparked deep community support for veterans with PTSD, said Alyssa Golob, executive director of Helping Paws. His story now fuels hope.

Gilbert’s legacy

Gilbert trained as a service dog candidate at Helping Paws, a nonprofit that supports veterans, first responders, and people with disabilities. But his friendly nature made him better suited for life as a family pet, and he was eventually adopted by the Hortmans, according to Helping Paws.

In 2014, the Hortmans joined Helping Paws through their daughter Sophie’s high school project to train a service dog. When Sophie left for college, Mark Hortman took over and raised a black lab named Minnie, who now aids a veteran with PTSD.

“The Hortmans’ work helped dogs like Minnie transform lives,” said Alyssa Golob, executive director of Helping Paws.

The family later adopted Gilbert, based on their success training Minnie.

Easing devastated hearts

Helping Paws fosters a close-knit community where volunteers bond on outings to Twins games and breweries. The Hortmans embodied that spirit – fostering dogs, attending training classes, and forming deep connections, Golob said.

“Our trainers create a family,” Golob said, lauding the community’s resilience in the wake of Gilbert’s death.

Gilbert was gravely wounded in the attack and was later euthanized, according to media reports.

Though Gilbert died in a politically motivated attack, his personality continues to raise awareness. “We’re humbled by Gilbert’s story,” Golob said, noting a recent increase in applications to train service dogs.

When lawmakers share Melissa Hortman’s story, Gilbert remains part of who she was.

“Gilbert wasn’t a Democrat or a Republican, he was a 4-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever,” she said.

Service dogs learn skills such as switching on lights or soothing veterans in public, acting as a “barrier to the outside world,” according to Helping Paws. One such dog, Minnie, trained by Mark Hortman, alleviated veteran Aric Elsner’s PTSD symptoms, CBS Minnesota reported. “Dogs redirect focus from hypervigilance,” Golob said, underscoring their vital impact.

Gilbert and Helping Paws

The Hortman and Gilbert Memorial Fund will support veterans and first responders. “Gilbert’s legacy raises awareness for those aiding veterans with PTSD,” Golob said. 

Some service dogs in training don’t graduate. Like Gilbert, some simply don’t meet the strict standards. Those dogs go on to find loving homes, as Gilbert did with the Hortmans.

“People learn about Helping Paws through Gilbert,” Golob said, affirming its mission to empower lives through service dogs. 

Gilbert’s warm glow radiates on, his love gently carved into the quiet lineage of the Hortman family dogs. In the face of tragedy, Golob urged those grieving to “focus on heroes, not villains.” Helping Paws, she said, remains “a safe place to support and take responsibility.”