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Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Beloved Dog Joined Minnesota Lawmaker, Husband as They Lay in State
Thousands of people lined up at the Minnesota Capitol to pay tribute to slain lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as they lay in state Friday, ahead of Saturday's funeral. Between Hortman's casket and that of her husband was an urn containing the ashes of the family's golden retriever, Gilbert. A former service-dog-in-training, Gilbert was with Hortman, the Minnesota House speaker, and her husband this month at their home in a Minneapolis suburb when the couple were fatally shot in a case that made national headlines and has left young lawmakers questioning whether politics is too dangerous as a career. Gilbert also received multiple gunshot wounds, and despite attempts to save him, he was euthanized. Vance Boelter, 57, from Green Isle, Minnesota, is facing state and federal murder charges in the June 14 killing. He is also accused of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, who were seriously wounded in what state and federal prosecutors allege was a broader plot to assassinate politicians. On Saturday, a private funeral will take place. Gov. Tim Walz (D) and former vice president Kamala Harris are expected to attend, with Walz delivering a eulogy. Hortman was the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans to lie in state at the Minnesota Capitol. Mark Hortman, meanwhile, was the first Minnesotan to lie in state who was not a public official or a military figure. It also appeared to be the first time a dog received such an honor, according to a list from the Minnesota Historical Society. The Hortmans had volunteered with Helping Paws as foster home trainers, helping to raise and train service dogs, the nonprofit said in a statement after the couple's deaths. The family had trained another dog, who now works with a veteran, but Gilbert had been too friendly to complete his training. He 'eventually career changed and became a cherished member of their family,' the group said. 'She loved Gilbert so much. The day Gilbert didn't graduate doggy school was one of her happiest [days], because that meant Gilbert could stay with her. Gilbert was truly the best dog ever,' fellow Minnesota Rep. Kaohly Vang Her (D) wrote on Facebook. In a post on X on Friday, the Minnesota House of Representatives Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus said: 'We are incredibly touched by the amount of people who are visiting the Capitol today to pay their respects to Melissa, Mark, and their Golden Retriever Gilbert.' The Hortmans' coffins were topped by large flower arrangements, with portraits set beside them. Gilbert's ashes were on a pedestal between them, in a golden urn encircled with paw prints, accompanied by a photo. As mourners came to pay their respects to the Hortmans, some also left tributes to Gilbert, including a box of dog biscuits with a note reading: 'For the best boy, Gilbert.' Another note read: 'Well done, faithful servant.' Alyssa Golob, executive director at Helping Paws, said in a phone interview Saturday that she offered the Hortmans' children, Sophie and Colin, an 'honor guard' of dogs at the funeral, which is something the group offers to members of the community. She said around 20 dogs took up a sentry position for 30 minutes each on Friday, with one patted by former president Joe Biden as he paid his respects. 'For me and my staff, it's been very, very difficult. People in our community just knew them on different levels. I think everyone is still in shock,' she said. Allied Emergency Veterinary Service, which treated Gilbert after the shooting, said its team had worked with several experts 'to fully understand the extent of Gilbert's injuries and explore every possible outcome' and had ensured that he 'received the very best of our knowledge, care, and compassion' before euthanizing him. The group has launched a fundraising drive in Gilbert's memory for police and service dogs in need of emergency care. Sophie and Colin Hortman previously released a statement saying they were 'devastated and heartbroken' by the deaths of their parents. Those who wanted to honor their memory could consider planting a tree, baking food to share with a friend, standing up for justice and peace, or petting a dog, their statement said. 'A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.'
New York Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
A Minnesota Lawmaker and Her Husband Are Lying in State. Next to Them: Their Golden Retriever.
It is not every day that a dog lies in state under the dome of a capitol. But Gilbert, a 4-year-old golden retriever who belonged to the family of State Representative Melissa Hortman of Minnesota, was no ordinary dog. Gilbert was killed on June 14 after a man stormed into Ms. Hortman's home and opened gunfire, also killing Ms. Hortman and her husband Mark. It was one of two shootings of state lawmakers that the man, identified by investigators as Vance Boelter, carried out that day, prompting what officials called the state's largest manhunt. On Friday, all three lay in state at the Minnesota Capitol. Ms. Hortman is the first woman in the state to receive the honor, her husband is the first who wasn't a public official or veteran, and Gilbert is the first animal. To understand why Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota saw fit to include Gilbert in a remembrance honor that fewer than 20 state dignitaries have received, it helps to go back to 2014, the beginning of the Hortman family's yearslong passion for training service dogs. The Hortmans' daughter, Sophie, who was then a senior in high school, decided to train a service dog for a school project and brought Minnie, a black Labrador retriever, into the family. Sophie and Mr. Hortman put Minnie through a rigorous training program run by Helping Paws, a nonprofit that provides service dogs to people with disabilities, including veterans and emergency personnel. In July 2016, Minnie was paired with Aric Elsner, an Air Force veteran with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Assassination of Minnesota Lawmaker, Husband Also Claims Life of Couple's Rescue Dog
Assassination of Minnesota Lawmaker, Husband Also Claims Life of Couple's Rescue Dog originally appeared on L.A. Mag. When a gunman stalked lawmaker Melissa Hortman, killing her and her husband, there was a third victim: her golden retriever, Paws is a nonprofit organization outside of Minneapolis that aims to train dogs suitable for assisting people with disabilities, veterans, and first responders. Helping Paws hopes to enhance people's quality of life with their dogs and continues to do so each and every day. Hortman, a Minnesota lawmaker, was first introduced to Helping Paws in 2014 through her daughter's high school service project. After her daughter left for college, Hortman continued her involvement with the program and volunteered to train another dog. In 2021, Hortman adopted Gilbert, the friendly, people-loving golden retriever. While she planned to train him to be a service dog, Gilbert's overwhelming friendliness stood in the way of his career options, leading to his permanent adoption as the Hortman's beloved family pet. In a tragic, politically targeted home attack on Saturday, June 14, against Melissa Hortman, both she and her husband were shot and killed. Gilbert was unfortunately shot and injured alongside his owners. After days of fighting for his life, Gilbert sadly had to be euthanized. Gilbert was a profound part of Melissa's identity and a cherished member of the Hortman family. In a statement, Melissa's children announced that one way they intend to keep their mother's memory alive is by petting dogs daily, ideally golden retrievers. Helping Paws announced on their Facebook that they are currently in the process of creating a fund in honor of the Hortmans that will continue to honor and support their program. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
The Hortmans' beloved dog Gilbert also killed in Saturday shooting
The Hortmans' beloved dog Gilbert also killed in Saturday shooting originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Gilbert, the beloved golden retriever of Melissa and Mark Hortman, was also killed in the attack at their home early Saturday morning. House Rep. Erin Koegel first revealed in a social media post that the Hortmans' children, Sophie and Colin, made the decision to euthanize Gilbert after learning he would not survive the injuries he sustained in the shooting. The news was confirmed Monday by Helping Paws, a nonprofit based in Eden Prairie that breeds, trains, and places service assistance dogs. The dogs are dedicated towards helping those with physical disabilities, as well as first responders and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. The organization says Hortman served as a foster home trainer with the nonprofit, raising Minnie, a Labrador now paired with a veteran. Hortman also helped raise and train Gilbert, a golden retriever, but he was reportedly "too friendly" to be a working dog and was eventually adopted by the family. Helping Paws plans on establishing a fund to honor the Hortman family and Gilbert, with the money raised going towards "placing service dogs with veterans and first responders living with PTSD."This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Service dog training organization flooded with donations following fatal shooting of Rep. Melissa Hortman
Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, who were killed Saturday morning in what Gov. Tim Walz called a politically motivated attack, trained service dogs in their spare time with a working group called Helping Paws. The Hortmans ended up keeping the last dog they trained, Gilbert, after he flunked out because he was too friendly. Gilbert was shot multiple times by the man who is accused of killing the Hortmans. He was injured so severely that the Hortmans' adult children had to put him to sleep. Rep. Melissa Hortman with a golden retriever. Helping Paws, Inc. Gilbert and the Hortmans' story has nearly 400,000 likes on the "We Rate Dogs" Instagram, and Helping Paws has been flooded with unsolicited donations. The organization reached out to the family and got a call back from the Hortman's adult children Sophie and Collin. "They gave us their blessing, and they said, This is what our mom would want, if something good to come out of this. And we love your organization so much, and Gilbert was such a big part of all of our lives for four years. And my mom would bless this. Our mom would bless this," said the Executive Director of Helping Paws Alyssa Golob. At a candlelight vigil for the Hortmans, Helping Paws dogs were out in full force. "A woman came up and said, 'You know, I made a donation to your organization,' and she's like, 'I just needed to put my rage somewhere'," said Golob. Golob says the organization usually gets 50-100 contributions a month. Since the tragedy they have gotten 5,700 individual donations in just days — so many they have not yet totaled the dollar amount. Helping Paws says it wants to work with the family to set up an appropriate memorial to Gilbert and the Hortmans.
