CALLED TO SERVE
Saving Dogs to Save People
by STEPHEN WRIGHT , MD
As full-time retirement approached , I began looking for something to do that would merge several of my interests . I served as a Navy officer for 13 years in the U . S . Navy Reserve and for 11 years as a reserve deputy commander in the Jefferson County Sheriff ’ s Office . Dogs have been a large part of most of my life . So , when I learned about Dogs Helping Heroes ( DHH ), I saw it as the perfect blending of three of my favorite nonmedical interests .
DHH is a local , 501 ( c )( 3 ) non-for-profit organization that “ rescues dogs to rescue people .”
“ In 2013 , DHH began with a trained service dog given to an Iraqi War veteran injured by an improvised explosive device ( IED ) during combat . The veteran experienced post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) symptoms that induced crippling anxiety and panic , restricting his activity away from home . These symptoms also had a significant effect on the entire family . The custom-trained service dog , a Labrador Retriever named Major , grounded him and calmed his anxiety , changing his life . The emotional and physical support of the service dog enabled the restoration of lost freedoms for one of our nation ’ s heroes .” 1
DHH co-founder , David Benson , had 13 years of professional dog training experience , and took a chance with Major . He provided special training to enable Major to alert , protect , support and soothe his hero at home and out in public . David was then witness to an amazing transformation brought by the emotional and physical support of a service dog , thus forming the idea for DHH .” 1
There are scores of veterans , first responders and gold star families in our service area ( 200-mile radius ). Like the Iraqi war veteran , many suffer in silence from the events experienced and witnessed in service to their community and nation . Their stories pierce the heart and tearstain the eyes .
8 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE