Your Dog Is Different

-Your Dog Is Different-

WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF

My co-trainer, The Networker, and I lie perfectly still in our cold cement cell as our prison puppy, The Fantastic Mr. Finn, performs his early-morning ROOSTER routine.

For some strange reason, Finn finds it 100% necessary to wake up OUR ENTIRE HALLWAY at 4:45am EVERY SINGLE MORNING.

Being the official trainer of the puppy that acts like an unwelcomed alarm clock does NOT win me a ton of friends in federal prison. By the time correctional officers call our first 10-minute move of the day at 5:30am, most of my heavily tattooed neighbors have unfortunately already been “woken up” and give me some glaring stares as I walk Finn out to the potty yard.

Training a high-energy puppy like Mr. Finn is NOT easy… but it’s 100% worth it.

The Fantastic Mr. Finn has been one of my “cellies” for about 45 days, and I feel so blessed to be this little furball’s prison puppy trainer.

This little guy with big floppy black ears is SMART.
I’m talking NEXT-LEVEL SMART.

Finn is progressing in his training at an unprecedented pace, and our entire puppy program is starting to take notice.

Last week, during our all-team meeting, I finally found out WHY Finn’s “new-found” ability is the talk of the town among trainers. Apparently, before Finn ever arrived in federal prison, he was professionally assessed and labeled THE MOST DIFFICULT DOG OF THE ENTIRE GROUP.
😂😂😂

Because The Fantastic Mr. Finn is unique and VERY high energy, he was counted out by other trainers before his quest to become a service dog ever even began.

Like I wrote in my previous letter, it was NO ACCIDENT OR COINCIDENCE that God placed me, The Networker, and Finn in the same cell. We were meant to be the prison puppy trainers for this INCREDIBLE pup with big black floppy ears.

The Networker and I are both very hands-on fathers, currently separated by barbwire from our beautiful children. Instead of sulking in our own self-inflicted sorrow, we decided to take all of our suppressed SUPER DAD energy and pour EVERY BIT OF IT into our uniquely gifted pup.

When other trainers said Finn was finished, The Networker and I knew that over time, our loving-father approach would unlock The Fantastic Mr. Finn’s TRUE potential.

Our one-of-a-kind training style was doubted by other dog trainers. Day after day, we were bluntly told how poorly Finn was doing and scolded for “failing” him.

BUT…

The Networker and I knew Finn was built different.

So we stood our ground against the over-opinionated and skeptical trainers living in our hallway. I’m so glad we trusted our HIGHLY REFINED DAD INSTINCTS, because WE WERE RIGHT.

From DAY ONE, The Networker and I could see that Finn operated WAY differently than the other dogs. If we were going to guide him toward his destiny of becoming a service dog, we would need to be intentional in EVERY part of his life.

EVERY walk.
EVERY training session.
EVERY puppy playdate.
EVERY trip to the potty yard.

Each moment needed a detailed plan with measurable goals.

Finn deserves 100% of our undivided attention, because his forever family is out there — desperately in need of a miracle — and Finn is the answer to their prayers.

Executing this detailed puppy plan inside federal prison has NOT been easy…
but man-oh-man, it has been SO WORTH IT.

Watching the absolute SHOCK on every trainer’s face when Finn demonstrates his superior skills during all-team meetings is priceless.

The puppy everyone once scoffed at is now setting the standard for excellence.

I’m so proud of you, my friend, Mr. Finn!!!

You are destined for greatness BECAUSE you are different!!

Your uniqueness is NOT a weakness — it is your greatest strength.

The Networker and I believe in you, buddy.

We are blessed to be your prison puppy trainers.

Thank you, Mr. Finn, for helping heal our hurting dad hearts.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Sincerely,
Brett
(The Fantastic Mr. Finn’s Biggest Super Fan)

P.S. Getting to train my floppy-eared friend has reminded me that dads have this special, God-given ability to see and bring out the untapped potential in the people they love.

Being away from my cherished children has been absolutely brutal on my soul. However, I truly believe prison is turning me into the father my kids deserve, and I’m determined to make them proud while I’m here.

Cambria, Willow, Lula, and Zion — I can’t wait until I’m home and we get to train our first puppy together as a family.

Love, love, love you!!!!!

---

-A Note From Noél-

Ugghhhh… this letter is causing me to FEEL ALL THE FEELS today!!!

On one hand, my heart is overflowing with gratitude that Brett was sent to a federal prison with a puppy training program. I can see how God is using it to preserve his heart, his purpose, and his identity as a father.
But the other half of my heart is shattered when I think about the reality that Brett has not seen or hugged our children—Cambria, Willow, Lula, and Zion—in almost a year.

That pain doesn’t dull. It doesn’t soften.
It just sits there… heavy and constant.

I know my husband aches to hold our kids, to smell their hair, to hear their voices up close instead of through a phone. I know his arms physically ache for them. And mine ache right alongside his.

When Brett was a free man, he was one of the most hands-on, present, intentional fathers you would ever meet. He didn’t just “help” with the kids—he showed up fully. He jumped at the chance to change dirty diapers, cooked his “signature” meals for all of us, played pretend Barbies without hesitation, and proudly captained the chaos of nightly bath time.

Brett is—and always will be—a SUPER DAD.
And I desperately miss doing life with him.

He is my forever person.
My co-pilot.
My safe place.

And I will advocate for him with everything in me until he is back home where he belongs—with his people.

I’m going to be really raw for a moment.
Trying to navigate life without my co-pilot has been absolutely brutal. This season has taken a serious toll on my body, my mind, and my spirit. There are days when it feels like I’m barely keeping my head above water—days when the grief feels so heavy it presses on my chest and steals my breath.

Some days, it honestly feels like I’m sinking into a dark abyss of desperation.

And yet… somehow… our GREAT and MERCIFUL GOD keeps meeting me there.

He has surrounded our family with people who show up when we are too tired to ask, who love us when we feel broken, who remind us we are not invisible. I truly do not have the words to express my gratitude for every single person who has stepped in to love Brett, me, Cambria, Willow, Lula, and Zion in this season.

THANK YOU for seeing us.
THANK YOU for holding us up.
THANK YOU for loving us when we feel like we are barely standing.

Reading Brett’s letter unlocked a flood of memories for me. I can see him so clearly—pouring every ounce of his bottled-up SUPER DAD energy into his uniquely gifted pup, Mr. Finn. And the reason I can picture it so vividly is because I’ve watched him pour that same love, patience, protection, and belief into our four children every single day of their lives.

Brett has a rare, God-given ability to see what others miss. Where most people see weakness, he sees potential. Where others give up, he leans in. He has always had a way of calling out the very best in people—even when they couldn’t see it in themselves.

He has done that for me.
For Cambria.
For Willow.
For Lula.
For Zion.

And now, I’m watching him do the exact same thing for The Fantastic Mr. Finn.

I am so proud of you, my love. More proud than words could ever explain. And I cannot wait for the day you’re home—when you’ll teach all of us your prison puppy trainer techniques and wrap us in those arms we’ve been longing for.

“God, please give me the strength to endure Brett’s lengthy prison sentence. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can survive this season of separation from the man I love. Thank You for Your grace on the days I feel like I can’t take another step. We love You, Lord, and we will praise You—even in piercing pain.”

The Bartletts are standing on full faith that our great and redeeming God will turn this mess into a beautiful, healing miracle.

WE’VE GOT THIS—BECAUSE GOD IS WITH US.

God willing, I will keep fighting for our family with everything I have.

I’m a Bartlett.
And WE NEVER GIVE UP.

Love all of you,
Noél
(A prison wife feeling everything today—hurting, hopeful, and holding on)