You wouldn’t believe it, but this picture is from a concert. Jake Owen to be exact. I had no clue the amount of stress and anxiety this caused Sam (he wore a good mask when it came to PTSD).
After the application was sent to TAV, Sam waited for what seemed like years to get a call, a letter, any type of notification about receiving a service dog. One night, the phone rang, and I guess you could say the rest is history.
Veterans who apply to TAV go through a process of interviews in addition to the application that is filled out. Sure, after applying, we Facebook stalked the puppies on the TAV page. We found our favorite in Memphis…little did we know that this sweet pup (pictured below) was being trained for someone special, and that someone was Sam. After interviews and meeting with the trainers at the facility, the three week trauma resilience training would begin and the class would learn how to work with their dogs, but also how to work with and process their trauma. It is an unbelievable experience (I am told), one that has truly changed Sam’s life. The training is intense, it is more than the service dog, it is a process for healing. If you are a Veteran out there who is curious about a service dog, I encourage you to visit TAV’s website to learn more information. You truly can learn life lessons from a dog…
This Able Veteran: http://www.thisableveteran.org