“Every time one of our disabled veterans tells me that he or she doesn’t think he or she could have gone on without knowing that he or she was eventually going to get a service dog from Patriot PAWS, I’m thankful that the veteran hung in there and didn’t become just another statistic in the growing number of veteran suicides in this country every year. The need among our disabled veterans for service dogs and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD-trained dogs is overwhelming.
“I founded Patriot PAWS in 2006 after learning of this need from veterans at the Dallas VA Hospital who asked me to help them train their pet dogs to help them. I had no idea that eight years later, we’d have over 100 veterans on our waiting list.
“Average cost to train the highest-quality service dog: $27,000 and 2 years’ time. Seeing a disabled veteran/service dog team working together for the first time: priceless. I never get tired of watching the bonding process, of seeing person and dog learning to function as one.
“I also never get tired of hearing their stories. I’ve had veterans tell me “this time, I didn’t have to spend the night on the bathroom floor when I fell because my dog went to get help” and “now that I have my dog, people actually look at me and no longer look away.” One dog brought the phone to her veteran after he had suffered a stroke so that he could speed-dial his wife for help. Another dog alerted his veteran’s wife to the fact that he was having a seizure in another room.
“As a nation, we collectively owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of our veterans. North Texas Giving Day, which will be held on September 18, is a wonderful opportunity to give back to those who have given so much for all of us. Donations of $25 or more will be amplified by the funds made possible through the Giving Day bonus funds. Patriot PAWS is proud to be part of this day and to be doing what we can to help our disabled veterans, four paws at a time.”
-By Loris Stevens, Patriot PAWS Service Dogs Founder/Executive Director
* Photos provided by Patriot PAWS