"When Charlie Service came home from Vietnam, he tried to leave the war behind. "In Vietnam, it was definitely combat," he said. "And there was a lot of things in there that we did that we shouldn't do, or things that I don't even talk about today." The retired Army veteran earned three Purple Hearts for his service. But medals didn't ease the invisible wounds he carried - flashbacks, anger and sleepless nights that would last decades."
"Service and Chance trained at Freedom Dogs, a San Diego nonprofit that pairs specially trained service dogs with veterans and active-duty service members coping with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. At a training center in Oceanside, veterans practice real-world situations - like going to restaurants and visiting public spaces - with their dogs by their side. For many, it's the first time they've felt safe enough to rejoin the world outside."
"But, the organization may soon lose its largest source of funding. "We had a grant this past year for about $247,000. That was 42% of our operating budget," said Peggy Poore, the nonprofit's executive director. "So it's a significant impact." The grant comes from the Department of Defense, which funds similar service-dog programs across the country. But this year, that funding is stuck in Congress's annual defense bill negotiations."
Charlie Service returned from Vietnam with severe PTSD, carrying flashbacks, anger and decades of sleepless nights despite earning three Purple Hearts. A Department of Veterans Affairs psychiatrist recommended a service dog, leading to Service meeting Chance, a yellow Labrador who became a constant companion. Service and Chance trained at Freedom Dogs in San Diego, where veterans practice real-world situations such as restaurants and public spaces to rebuild safety and social connection. Freedom Dogs currently supports about 25 veterans and service members, but a Department of Defense grant of about $247,000—42% of the operating budget—is stalled in congressional defense bill negotiations, threatening program capacity.
Read at Kqed
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]