Pairing Veterans With The Dogs Who Change Their Lives

A North County non-profit is helping veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other problems related to their service by using German Shepherds.

Cricket

K9 Guardians is a relatively new non-profit, but its founder Leisa Grajek said they already have facilities to raise up to 40 service dogs per year.

“Our veterans just mean the world to us at K9 Guardians and we want to show that appreciation in every way we possibly can,” said Grajek.

Oden is a German Shepherd who is learning how to be a service dog for a war hero. It will take 18-months of training to prepare him for adoption.

“I think he’s going to be a really good service dog for veterans with stability issues,” said Grajek.

After 20-years in The Marines, veteran William Tiller needed some support. “If you would have met me ten or 15-years-ago, you probably would not have liked me,” said Tiller.

Tiller applied to K9 Guardians and teamed up with Cricket two months ago.

“She’s learning to wake me up when I’m having nightmares. She’ll get up with me,” he said.

During his interview with CBS News 8, Tiller wore a shirt with the number 22 printed on it. It stands for the number of veterans who commit suicide very day.

He believes K9 Guardians can help bring that number down, and that’s exactly what the group’s founder loves to hear.

To apply for a K9 Guardian service dog, veterans must have an honorable discharge and a disability that the service dog can assist with.

Special thanks to San Diego CBS News 8

When facing a dangerous situation, it is completely natural to be afraid. It is also normal to become upset when something horrible happens to you or a loved one. However, if this fear lasts for weeks or months following the event, then it is possible that you have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Post traumatic stress disorder is a mental health disorder that is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While not all individuals who experience a traumatic event will develop PTSD, it can happen to anyone at any age.

Having a loved one who is struggling from the debilitating symptoms of PTSD can be extremely difficult because you do not want them to be suffering. The good news is that there are steps that you can take to help your loved one cope with the stress brought on by having experienced a traumatic event. If you notice symptoms of PTSD in your loved one, then the best thing that you can do is encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional. A trained mental health professional will be able to assess your loved one to help determine their exact treatment needs and get a treatment plan in place that will help them with recovery. You can also greatly help your loved through supportive listening. Here are some tips to help you be a more supportive listener:

Don’t attempt to “fix” the situation
Be willing to listen, but don’t push
Choose an appropriate place and time to talk
Recognize when to take a break
Get help if suicide comes up in the conversation

Coping with traumatic stress is going to be an ongoing process for your loved one. You may have many conversations with him or her while they process the traumatic event. With professional help, this may take a few weeks to months, but be patient. Continue to offer your support and encourage your loved one to continue with his or her treatment.

1,516 Comments

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *