'Guided by Gilbert' litter carries on Hortmans' legacy through service dogs

It’s been one year since the killing of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their golden retriever, Gilbert.Gilbert started out as a service dog in training through Helping Paws, the Eden Prairie nonprofit that trains assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities, veterans and first responders living with PTSD. But Gilbert was ultimately deemed a little too friendly for the job, and the Hortmans adopted him as their own.In the months following their deaths, thousands of people donated to Helping Paws in their memory. That support helped create the Hortman Heroes Fund, which will train future service dogs for veterans and first responders with PTSD.MPR News host Nina Moini got a tour of the Helping Paws facility from executive director Alyssa Golob.