Petplan Pet Insurance

Although Dennis, a Marine Corps Veteran, left combat long ago, the war never left him. I carried the scars of my combat experience throughout my life, he said. I was diagnosed through the Veterans Administration as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Dennis’ youngest daughter, who he calls his biggest advocate, pushed him to reach out to Alpha Bravo Canine (@alphabravocanine) for help and in 2019, he received his best friend, a black Lab named Oscar. Pr...ior to being paired with Oscar, I seldom left my house, he said. If I did leave, I was always on the alert, very nervous and I avoided crowded areas. But, with Oscar’s support, Dennis grew to feel more comfortable leaving home and mingling with people. He even started receiving thanks for his service from strangers who noticed Oscar by his side. No one knows Dennis quite like Oscar does. When Dennis is lost in thought, Oscar will put his head on Dennis’ lap and look at him (without a command). Once Oscar has Dennis’ attention, Oscar puts his paws around Dennis’ neck as he continues to look into his eyes. Through this, Dennis can focus on the present and escape thoughts of war. Oscar helps with Dennis’ physical disabilities, too he always picks up Dennis’ cane when it’s dropped, and he assists Dennis when walking up and down the stairs. I just want to thank Jennifer Green and her wonderful organization, Alpha Bravo Canine, for rescuing me from myself, Dennis said. My war will always be with me, but as long as my best buddy, Oscar, is by my side, I will survive.

Suffering from combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder made life very closed and lonely for Ray, an Army Veteran. I isolated and stayed home most of the time. Just going food shopping was a stressful undertaking, Ray said. But when Ray talks about life with his Alpha Bravo Canine (@alphabravocanine) service dog Faith, TK breed, his words carry relief. She has been with me exactly 1 year, the 29th of this month, and has been a long overdue God sent, he said. Once F...aith was comfortable and settled in, I started to notice she was making my life a lot less stressful. They’ve got their daily routine down pat Faith wakes Ray up in the morning for her breakfast, then she goes to work making his like happy and stress-free. She keeps my mind off of the troubled times we are living in today, Ray said. Just to see her face every morning and her tail going a mile a minute starts my day with a smile. Things aren’t always so happy-go-lucky, but Ray shared how Faith’s personality and attitude fill his heart: I will honestly say, Faith has put a purpose back into my world.

When Frank’s service as a combat member of the US Marine Corps in the Vietnam War was over, his return to normal civilian life was anything but normal. Home was where his own personal warfare began, as his combat-related trauma (like a brain injury caused by indirect rocket attacks) left him feeling seriously disconnected from people. I was used to feeling like my life can end at any moment from enemy fire, Frank said. Frank was taking all kinds of medications to prevent... depression, to relax himself, to calm the nightmares and to stop his mind from racing. Frank had toyed with getting a service dog but decided against it for financial or personal reasons. That is, until he met Jennifer Green, the founder of the Alpha Bravo Canine program (@alphabravocanine). Jennifer made a huge impact on Frank’s life from the moment they started working together. They spent time together in Frank’s home, so she could learn about his lifestyle. From there, she was able to share all the ways a service dog could help him. It was a great experience meeting people that cared enough to find an alternative handfuls of pills that never really did us any good, Frank said. After Frank’s mental health and medical conditions were established, he was invited to start the training program and actually meet the service dogs. Frank was interested in another dog at first, but Jennifer noticed how a Labrador Retriever named Lydia paid him special attention. The newfound friends graduated from the training program together. Lydia finally was given to me as my service dog, my best friend to live with me for good and help me to start my road to as much recovery as possible, Frank said. And the progress he’s made since Lydia came into his life is insurmountable. Within a year of having her, Frank went back to school to get two college degrees (Lydia attends the classes, too). He felt comfortable enough to take public transportation again and stopped taking almost every pill. Lydia also helps bring fun into his life the pair love running hiking trails together. I would not be where I am without Alpha Bravo Canine, Jennifer Green and her whole network that gets these dogs to much needed veterans, Frank said.

After completing his service, Adam, an Army Veteran, struggled with mental health issues to the point that it caused tension within his family. He suffered from several symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) like paranoia, panic attacks and depression, among many others. Adam silently coped with medication (which made him feel numb) and spent time at a mental health facility, but neither improved his quality of life. At my worst, I had convinced myself that I was...n't worth anything to society anymore, Adam said. Every morning, I used to wake up dreading the day. Feeling hopeless and alone in my fight. I wanted someone to just sit with me, in silence. An unwavering partner is just what Adam would find through the Alpha Bravo Canine (@alphabravocanine) program. He was partnered with a Labrador Retriever, Charlie, and their bond was immediate. Your service dog becomes your best friend, Adam said. Charlie wakes me up every morning by snuggling with me, showing me he cares about me every day. He is a part of me now, an extension of my consciousness. Before, Adam found it hard to fall asleep, but Charlie helped him develop a routine. He waits at the foot of the bed for Adam to get settled. Then he crawls onto Adam’s chest to alleviate anxiety and pain. Even Abby, Adam’s wife, has seen him get better since Charlie came into their lives, Charlie has been a breath of fresh air for my veteran when he was suffocating, she said. Charlie also helps Adam feel a sense of purpose and optimism. A service dog is an opportunity to develop a working relationship, Adam said. [Charlie has given me] a chance to be human again. And that invitation is worth the time for me. Don't give up the fight, you are worth it.

My entire time growing up, I always knew I wanted to serve my country, Mike, a US Marine Corps Veteran, said. He wanted to be just like his grandfather, who was a jet pilot. Unfortunately, he never got a chance to hear his idol and hero tell tales of his service, but Mike knew what an honor it was. Mike was deployed to Iraq only shortly after graduating high school. He served for 6 years in Iraq and then worked as a security contractor at the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanist...an, until he knew he needed to come home. Experiencing what I had in Iraq, and then in Afghanistan as well. I felt I could no longer do the job, and I came stateside for good, Mike said. Home presented a whole new set of challenges for Mike as he battled with worsening post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its symptoms, like addiction. I was, for the first time, completely and utterly on my own. My PTSD really began to show its colors, Mike said. It was Cooper, a black Labrador Retriever service dog from the Alpha Bravo Canine program (@alphabravocanine), that changed Mike’s life for the better. Mike was introduced to the founder, Jennifer Green, and around a year later met Cooper. Cooper helps me to mitigate my symptoms and assists me in getting through the day without five to seven anxiety attacks and flashbacks, which made life almost unlivable, Mike said. The pair help each other out and have developed what Mike calls a symbiotic relationship. They go on long walks together and have developed a structure that helps Mike with his PTSD. Since being introduced to the program, Mike has even become a veteran outreach coordinator. If I can help Jenn and ABC change just one veteran’s life, it’ll all be worth it, Mike said. Only I know that ABC changes every life it touches.