3/28/2024 0 Comments Mover helper wingman![]() ![]() Someone saw my post and connected me with Northwest Battle Buddies. A friend of mine had a litter of pitbull puppies and gave me one, so I went online and found a pitbull service dog page on Facebook and posted that I was looking for help in training this puppy. I was so desperate for a service dog that I decided to find and train one myself. ![]() I applied for dogs with a few groups, but for whatever reasons, I was getting denied. Just the idea of having a service dog in my life, having companionship and a helper to guide me through my worst moments, kept me going. I just knew that something like that could help me. I heard about service dogs for veterans like me and wanted a dog more than anything. It’s been a lot to handle, and I’ve had to do it mostly alone. PTSD has made all of it harder to deal with. After the accident, I was discharged from the Army Air National Guard, so I lost that too, a place where I had community and a sense of meaning. I walk with a limp down, and I can barely wiggle my toes. I was injured pretty badly in a farming accident that took away my ability to run. My marriage got rocky, and my wife and I eventually split up - I’ve been separated from my family and three amazing kids for years. “Since I came home after my service tour, I had some tough times. Then, that heart and feeling is apparent not just on his sleeve, but front and center, in actions and words. ![]() Goose, a yellow English lab, is named after the iconic character in Top Gun, and he more than fills the real-life role as a faithful wingman for Paul.Ī first meeting with Paul might begin with guarded conversation, his self-protective nature shielding his big heart until trust is earned. For Paul, a combat veteran who has PTSD, hope is furry and four-legged - 80 pounds of canine love. Paul’s story is about finding acceptance and love in the midst of heartache - about recognizing the spark of hope, and dedication to making that hope a reality. ![]()
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