Member Log In

Pets for Patriots

Companion pet adoption for United States military veterans and service members

  • Adopt a pet
    • How it works
    • Veteran benefits
    • Program availability
    • Proof of service
    • Eligible pets
    • Pre-qual application
  • Be a veterinary partner
    • How it works
    • Benefits
    • Criteria & eligibility
    • Application
  • Be a shelter partner
    • How it works
    • Benefits
    • Eligible pets
    • Criteria & eligibility
    • Application
  • Donate Now
    • Donate online
    • Ways to give
    • Spread the word
  • More
    • About us
      • Vision
      • Mission
      • Our team
      • Board of Directors
      • Financial accountability
      • Year in review
      • Program availability
    • Making an impact
      • Forget Me Not
      • The Wet Nose Blog
      • Partner News
      • Donor News
      • Home at last
      • Welcome Home
      • Hotel to Home
    • Friends & Partners
      • Veterinarian partners
      • Shelter partners
      • Sponsors
      • Banfield
      • VIP Petcare
      • Community partners
    • Resources
      • Donor FAQ
      • Veteran FAQ
      • Shelter FAQ
      • Veterinarian FAQ
      • Other resources
    • Connect with us
      • In the news
      • Free wallpaper
      • Contact us
Wet Nose Blog
Home › Dog tales › Abandoned dog rescues combat veteran with PTSD

Abandoned dog rescues combat veteran with PTSD

November 19, 2013Dog tales, Mental health, Pet training & health

Justin and Duke

An abandoned dog rescued by an Army combat veteran not only got a new leash on life, but found renewed purpose by saving his veteran from the crushing symptoms of PTSD.

Determined to his join band of brothers in combat

In 2004 Justin decided to see more of the world outside of his hometown of Avery, Texas. He joined the Army on his seventeenth birthday and served in the Army Reserve for four years, including a deployment to Iraq from 2006 to 2007. Currently stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado as a sergeant, he is poised to retire just one month short of celebrating his tenth anniversary in the Army. Of the 60 months he spent on active duty, more than half – 37 months – were spent in Iraq and Afghanistan.

During this time, Justin held the position of personnel clerk, but his heart was with his combat buddies on the field. He begged his command to let him serve in battle, but they denied his request due to the fact he was considered essential personnel. But Justin was determined and would ultimately fulfill his goal. Justin and Duke

As soon as his deployment was over, Justin signed up for active duty and trained as an artillery soldier and cannon crewmember at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was subsequently stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and deployed again to Iraq, and later transferred to Fort Carson, Colorado. In 2010, Justin deployed to Afghanistan for a third and final time.

What Justin has enjoyed most about his Army career is the bonds of brotherhood built with his fellow soldiers. He still keeps in touch with members of his former units. Justin’s last two deployments were spent entirely on patrol bases, where he enjoyed living on the land and going out into the field, “just 22 guys and me.”

Post-deployment PTSD

After his last deployment, Justin experienced nightmares, bad dreams, and difficulties controlling his temper, all symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Aware of the physical and psychological health benefits of companion pets, Justin and his wife decided that it was time to add a dog to their family to relieve his PTSD-related tension and stress.

The Army veteran was no stranger to pets in the home; he grew up with dogs and cats as a child. When he was 14 years old, he left home and moved in with a friend who kept him busy working with horses and herding cattle. Australian Shepherds and Cattle Dogs, known as Heelers, became Justin’s favorite dog breed during this period of his life due to their intelligence, working drive and high energy level while herding cattle.

As luck would have it, Justin and his family found Duke, a then two and one-half year-old mix between an Australian Shepherd and a Blue Heeler at PAWS for Life Animal Welfare & Protection Society in Pueblo, Colorado, a Pets for Patriots pet adoption partner that helps place the most overlooked pets – adult and special needs animals, and large dogs – with military veterans. Duke

Duke was relinquished to the shelter when his previous owner was jailed. As far as anyone could tell, he had been kept a “backyard dog” at his former home; while he was well-mannered, he apparently received little training. In April 2012, Duke was honorably adopted by Justin, his wife and their four children.

Rescue dog saves his rescuer

After he moved in, it became clear that Duke always wanted to stay close to his humans, especially Justin. The Army combat veteran bought a wooden crate for Duke to sleep in, but Duke chewed out of it the first night. When Justin replaced it with a metal crate, Duke again chewed through his new crate.

“Duke just wanted to lay next to me all the time,” Justin recalls of the dog’s first days in his new home.

Perhaps Duke sensed that he had a purpose, and fulfilling it was incompatible with sleeping in a crate, separated from the man he felt compelled to save.

About the same time, Justin noticed that Duke’s presence eased his PTSD symptoms tremendously. When Justin hits a PTSD low, Duke automatically lays his head on the veteran’s leg to make him feel better.

“Duke looks at me like he knows exactly how I feel,” says Justin. “He’ll make your heart melt just with his eyes and the way he holds his ears.”

As it happens, Duke had some issues of his own, perhaps making him more sensitive to his new owner’s challenges. He suffered from separation anxiety, and Justin started taking the dog with him everywhere he could.

“When I’m out in public with him, I’m totally focused on Duke,” says Justin. “I’m no longer hyper-vigilant out there and nowhere near as reactive as I used to be.”

Inspired by Duke’s calming nature, Justin and his wife looked into service dog training, but all the organizations they contacted turned them down.

“No one would train Duke,” says Justin. “They all said that he wasn’t the right breed, they didn’t have enough of Duke’s history, or gave some other excuse.”

Undeterred, Justin decided he would train Duke himself.

“Duke made it so easy. I hardly had to put any work into it,” says the Army sergeant. “It was like Duke already knew his purpose in life was to rescue me.”

From shelter mutt to PTSD service dog

Justin soon began taking Duke to his visits with his off-post therapist, who immediately noticed Duke’s calming effect on Justin, and wrote a note attesting that Duke’s presence was necessary to allay Justin’s anxiety and other PTSD symptoms.

After receiving his doctor’s note, Justin outfitted Duke with a service dog vest and took Duke to work with him. Justin and Duke coming home

“I told my chain of command that if they want me to come to work at 10:00 pm, 11:00 pm, or 1-2 am – prime PTSD hours – then my dog has to come with me,” says Justin, adding that his battery commander agreed.

Duke’s presence not only calms Justin, but other soldiers and veterans as well. When the dog started attending Justin’s group therapy sessions with him, other members of the group who previously would not speak up opened up when given the chance to pet Duke during therapy.

Unfortunately, Duke was not allowed to attend Justin’s group therapy lessons for long; he was barred from the counseling offices because he was not a certificated service dog. Justin’s wife realized how vital Duke was to her husband’s well-being, and sought help immediately through social media to get Duke certified by taking the public access test he would need to qualify as a service dog. Two trainers responded to her plea and on short notice, administered the public access test to Justin and Duke.

Although Duke had received no formal training, he conformed to every aspect of the test; the two passed with flying colors. 

Accepting life with PTSD

Justin expected Duke to be nothing more than a family pet, but his expectations were set too low.

“Duke has turned out be a hundredfold more than I expected,” he says.

The Army veteran was similarly impressed with the support he received through Pets for Patriots, a nationally operating charity connecting the most at-risk shelter pets with military veterans. In addition to the discounted adoption fee he received from PAWS for Life because he is a Pets for Patriots member, Justin received a generous gift card from the charity’s Veterans’ Pet Food Bank program within days of bringing Duke home, and enjoys an ongoing 10% discount on veterinary care through Westside Animal Hospital – “an amazing place with super-nice staff” and Pets for Patriots veterinary partner. Finally, Justin and his wife appreciate the Pets for Patriots volunteers who called them periodically to make sure Duke was fitting in well with their family.

Before adopting Duke, Justin used to be afraid to tell anyone that he suffers from PTSD. Now, he’ll tell anyone who asks:

“I got PTSD, I have to live with PTSD, but I’m not going to let it stop me from doing what I want.”

With Duke, Justin snowboards, kayaks, and even attends country music concerts.

“When we’re out in public, it’s like Duke is telling me, ‘don’t worry, Daddy, I got your back.’”

How does your pet make you feel secure?

PreviousNext

10 comments

  1. bethz says:
    February 17, 2019 at 8:54 am

    Shayna, thank you for your service as a military spouse. Our nonprofit has a very specific focus and as you noted, we do not serve family members of veterans or service members. We do hope that you seek out mental health treatment so that you can once again live a normal, healthy life.

  2. Shayna says:
    February 16, 2019 at 11:26 pm

    Great outcome. I just wish that you all would help Veterans wife’s and veterans widows like myself that have P.T.S.D. with anioxity and hypervigalance after watching my hero and husband die over a 5 1/2 year period from a service connected disability. I now only go out for medical appointments and to the store for short 10 minutes at a time to get what I need. I spend most of my time in the bedroom with all the widows and doors locked and closed. And all the lights out in the house. When I do have to go out in public I have sevear panic attack..

  3. Pingback: descargar pou para pc
  4. Pingback: ica-proj.kartografija.hr
  5. Pingback: ultravitacion
  6. Pingback: seo services
  7. Pingback: Air Conditioning Repair in reno
  8. Pingback: Dutch
  9. Pingback: Homemade Wooden Wine Rack plans
  10. Pingback: buy likes for facebook fan page

Comments are closed.

Join the Conversation

  • Cat tales
  • Dog tales
  • Hope for a home
  • Mental health
  • Extra
  • Pet training & health
  • Donor News


Give with Confidence

logo logo logo logo
Make a donation today
email-icon

Did you enjoy this story?
Don’t miss the next one.

Sign up for our newsletter and get stories like these directly in your inbox.


The Dodo and GEICO honor Pets for Patriots adoptions by sharing their heartwarming tales

WATCH THE VIDEOS

Petco Foundation

PetMeds Logo 300x250

Shop 1800PetMeds for all of your pet’s health needs and we’ll get 10% of your purchase!

Shop Bissell Today!

Shop BISSELL for your home cleaning needs and they will donate 10% of your purchase to us!

Join the Conversation

Stay Connected

Join the conversation, read recent adoption stories, view featured pets needing new homes and more.

Twitter

@petsforpatriots

Follow Us

Instagram

@petsforpatriots

Senior pets are among those most overlooked at she Senior pets are among those most overlooked at shelters. But one old dog is living proof that mature pets can breathe new life into their adopted homes.

Click the link in our bio to read the inspiring story of Chuck, a retired Coastie, and his 10 year-old bud Wayne!

Thank you @fairfieldcodog for this amazing match and waiving adoption fees for veterans we serve.

#coastguard #coastguardveterans #coastie #uscg #milspouse #militaryspouse #petsforvets #olddogs #olddogsrule #adoptaseniordog #weratedogs
Lance enlisted in the Marines in 2016 and ever sin Lance enlisted in the Marines in 2016 and ever since he separated from service he longed for the companionship of a rescue dog. 

The Marine Corps veteran met Marty, an adult Pittie mix, through @bmorehumane, which waives fees for veterans in our program.

In a 'freedom ride' message Lance shared with us he introduced Marty as his son - and we wish this new dog dad many happy years together with his new boy!!

#usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #marinecorpsveteran #devildog #pibble #dontbullymybreed #dontbullymybully #loveabully #adoptdontshop #petsforvets
Puppy mills are places of unspeakable cruelty. The Puppy mills are places of unspeakable cruelty. They exist solely because of greed and a callous disregard for the lives of animals.

Thanks to @bissellpets for sharing this informative graphic on how to spot a likely puppy mill. Please share in kind and - needless to say - always adopt, don't shop!

#adoptdontshop #endpuppymills #animalcruelty #animalcrueltyawareness #adoptionistheonlyoption #adoptashelterdog #adoptasheltercat #adoptashelterpet #rescueismyfavoritebreed
Maisie, Hawk, Mosley, Betty White, Annie, Sammy, T Maisie, Hawk, Mosley, Betty White, Annie, Sammy, Talahassee, Juju, Corn, and Pierogi - just some of the long term pets waiting way too long for a hero and a home. Meet all of our Forget Me Not pets and contact the shelters directly to inquire about adoption. Many are available for out-of-state placements; all are amazing creatures in desperate need of a loving home and all deserve no less.

Can't adopt? Share til it hurts!!

Click the link in our bio to meet them all.

#forgetmenot #weratedogs #weratecats #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterpet #adoptashelterdog #adoptasheltercat #cutedogs #cutedogsofinstagram #cutecats
Meet our recent "K" adopters, m'kay? * Kricket is Meet our recent "K" adopters, m'kay?

* Kricket is retired Navy and recently visited our partners @kitsaphumanesociety where she adopted not one, not two, but THREE petite pups! Reina pictured here is @petsforpatriots eligible, as is Remy (not pictured). But Kricket wasn't done saving lives because she threw yet another lifeline to Dior to round out her perfect petite pupper family! Thanks to @kitsaphumanesociety for giving our veterans 50% off adoption fees...anchors aweigh! 

* Konner served in the Air Force and together with his beautiful partner welcomed 4 year-old Hammer into their home. Formerly named Lucretia, Hammer is a beneficiary of our hero fund for veterinary care to help with the initial costs of prescriptions to ease pain from patellar luxation (a fancy way of saying: knee problems)! Another great fee-waived adoption through @dekalbanimals - part of the trio of @lifelineanimal shelters that participate in our program. 

Every animal saved from a shelter makes room for another animal in need to be rescued. It's estimated that only 25% of dogs and 29% of cats are adopted through shelters, numbers that are frankly pathetic. Please continue to advocate for adoption as the only option!

#adoptdontshop #adoptdontbuy #adoptashelterpet #adoptashelterdog #pitbulllove #loveabully #dontbullymybreed #cutepup #weratedogs #navyveteran #navy #airforceveteran #airforce #usaf #femaleveteran
The impacts of serving in the Gulf War left John w The impacts of serving in the Gulf War left John with crippling, severe anxiety. A spirited hound who needed a home would be just what the Army veteran needed to regain his life.

Click the link in our bio to read their tale, and thanks once again to @bmorehumane for another lifesaving match!

#army #armyveteran #milspouse #militaryspouse #ptsd #ptsdrecovery #ptsdawareness #anxiety #anxietyawareness #gulfwar #gulfwarveteran #petsforvets #houndsofinstagram #cutedogs #weratedogs #yourarenotalone
Clark retired from the Marines after more than 20 Clark retired from the Marines after more than 20 years of service to our nation. And in 2012 he was one of our early adopters - literally and figuratively - when he rescued then 2 year-old Ellie.

Ellie is now 13 and the pint-sized pup is still living large with Clark and his family, who recently gave us this heartfelt shoutout:

"Wanted to thank you for the many years of support your team has provided! It has helped out immensely over the years! Thank you all for what you have done and for what you continue to do."

Sounds like a mission accomplished to us!

Thanks to our partners @ranchocoastal - one of our earliest shelter partners - for this enduring match, and for continuing to waive adoption fees for veterans in our program.

#gotchadayanniversary #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterdog #adoptashelterpet #militaryfamily #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #usmarines #usmarinecorps #petsforvets
Ahoy, mate! Noah retired from the Navy and just th Ahoy, mate! Noah retired from the Navy and just threw a lifeline to Kali, a stunning Cane Corso mix. This big, beautiful girl was in the care of our partners @norfolkanimals which gives veterans we serve 50% off adoption fees.

Click to the next photo to see their freedom ride pic!

#canecorsoofinstagram #canecorso #bigdogs #bigdogsofinstagram #bigdogstrong #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterpet #adoptashelterdog #weratedogs #navyveteran #navy #usn #usnavy #norfolkva
CJ is a disabled Marine veteran who finds joy in t CJ is a disabled Marine veteran who finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, including the addition of an older cat who joined her after the loss of a beloved pet.

Click the link in our bio to read their tale!

Thanks @sdhumanesociety for helping us make this purr-fect story possible and for waiving adoption fees for veterans in our program. ❤️

#sdhumanesociety #femaleveteran #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #cats_of_instagram #cutecat #cutecats #cutecatsofinstagram #nalacat #adoptasheltercat #adoptaseniorpet #oldcatsofinstagram #oldcats #twoisbetterthanone
Follow Us

© 2023 Pets for Patriots, Inc. | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Contact us

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.