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Wet Nose Blog
Home › Dog tales › Pint-sized Captain steers veteran through PTSD recovery

Pint-sized Captain steers veteran through PTSD recovery

February 19, 2013Dog tales, Mental health

Larry and Captain poolside

Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, were no match for one little dog who gave his adopted veteran a new leash on life – and a fresh start decades after the Vietnam war.

Oh Captain, my Captain!

Life has an interesting way of bringing joy into our lives when we least expect it. Some might call it serendipity, a type of happy accident, such as seeing a old dear friend you haven’t seen in years at the grocery store.

Take, for instance, the story of an Ohio man and a foster dog. While visiting his cousin, Larry – an Army veteran from the Vietnam War – was introduced to a spunky terrier named Captain, but who everyone called Capi.

Larry’s cousin had been caring for Capi through a foster program at Paws and Prayers, an Akron animal welfare organization that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes unwanted dogs and cats.

While in the back yard enjoying the summer barbeque, Capi decided to make himself comfortable on Larry’s lap – unprompted and uninvited – where he fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. Larry and Captain poolside

“I could really like this dog,” Larry recalls telling his cousin.

Not knowing that an adoption for Capi was already in the works, Larry asked his cousin if he could adopt Capi. It had been 10 years since Larry and his wife had owned a dog, so naturally when they met Capi they knew it was time to open their hearts and lives to the possibility of adopting him.

Saddened by the news Capi was going to be adopted by another family, the Vietnam veteran asked his cousin to let him know if anything were to change.

Fate rears its fluffy little head

As luck would have it, a few days after the barbeque, Capi’s adoption fell through. Lawrence and his wife were going to be able to adopt Capi through Paws and Prayers and their partnership with Pets for Patriots.

As a member of Pets for Patriots, Larry received a 50% discount off the adoption fee at Paws and Prayers. In addition, Larry enjoys an ongoing 10% discount for Capi’s medical care through Pets for Patriots’ veterinary partners, Lifetime Pet Wellness Center and Buckeye Veterinary Clinic. Together with other program benefits, these incentives help make pet adoption more affordable for Larry and other veterans like him.

Nearly six months after the barbecue that changed everything, Larry and his wife are in love with their new addition. By all accounts, Capi is pretty happy with his chosen forever family as well.

“He is a joy, he listens well and loves to play,” Larry says. Larry and Captain play ball

Life is good with Captain at the helm

Recently, Larry was diagnosed with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of his experiences in Vietnam. He still has a lot of painful and scary memories to work through during his therapy sessions, but credits Capi with helping him move past them.

Simply put, the hapless little dog’s hugs make Larry smile from ear to ear.

“My little dog brightens even my worst days,” the Vietnam veteran says.

Larry realizes that he’s not unique in benefiting from the unconditional love of a companion pet, and believes other veterans could alleviate their pain through pet adoption.

“I want to tell any veteran who might be suffering from depression or having a rough time to get a rescue dog, it will change your life,” says Larry, with the full confidence of a man who knows about what he speaks.

How did fate bring your pet into your life?

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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
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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
You know it's love when your new Marine Corps dad You know it's love when your new Marine Corps dad gives up his armchair for you. ❤️

Congratulations to nearly 9 year-old Holly Belle who's already made herself at home. She met Chuck through our partners @fredspca - which waives adoption fees for veterans we serve...oorah!

#olddogsrule #seniordogsofinstagram #adoptaseniordog #adoptaseniorpet #olddogsofinstagram #cutedogs #weratedogs #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #iserved #iadopted #petsforvets
Wishing all of our Jewish friends around the world Wishing all of our Jewish friends around the world a sweet New Year, especially the men and women of the U.S. military who serve in all corners of the world in defense of our freedoms, including the freedom to practice (or not) the faith of our choosing.

L'shana tovah!

#lshanatova #lshanahtovah #roshhashana #roshhashanah #happynewyear #jewishnewyear #freedom #freedomofreligion #sweetnewyear
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* Andre is an Army National Guardsman with a heart for older pets. He met 11 year-old Camo (great name!) through our partners @nfsaws in Connecticut, which offers our veterans 50% off adoption fees.

#cats_of_instagram #adoptasheltercat #adoptashelterpet #adoptdontshop #nalacat #whitecat #calicocat #seniorpetsofig #adoptaseniorcat #armylife #army #army #armynationalguard #petsforvets #realmenlovecats
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* James is an Iraq war veteran who needed the comfort of a 4-legged battle buddy. Three year-old Nami fit the bill after being in the care of our partners @lollypopfarm!

* Jacob is active duty Army and met Charlemagne at @jeffcospca where this stunning Shepherd-Retriever mix just fetched a new home!

Thanks to all of our shelter partners mentioned in this post - and across the country - who help us place animals in need with our nation's heroes.

#adoptdontshop #armyveteran #army #armystrong #houndsofinstagram #muttsrule #petsforvets #femaleveteran #iraqwar #militaryfamily #militaryfamilies #battlebuddies
Jeff has always believed in doing the right thing Jeff has always believed in doing the right thing as his guiding philosophy. Eventually that attitude led the Marine Corps veteran to save a shelter dog who would forever change his perspective on adoption.

Click the link in our bio to read this truly inspirational tale!

#usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #usmarines #marinecorpsveteran #iraqwar #combatveteran #militaryfamily #cutedogsofinstagram #weratedogs #adoptdontshop #petsforvets #muttsrule
22 years after the 9/11 terror attacks we continue 22 years after the 9/11 terror attacks we continue to honor the lives of thousands of souls lost that day and in the years that followed, including two as yet unnamed victims identified within the last few days.

May they all rest in heavenly repose with the knowledge that we will never waiver, we will always stand on the side of freedom, and we will never, ever forget.

#september11 #neverforget #neverforgotten #nineeleven #911 #worldtradecenter #marines #army #coastguard #navy #airforce #fdny #nypd #rip #waronterror #freedom #freedomisntfree #shanksville #pentagon
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