What an incredible story behind an incredible organization. One of the grimm realities of war are the psychological issues veterans face when they come home. Dave Sharpe is one of those veterans and almost let PTSD get the best of him by holding a loaded gun in his mouth and was ready to pull the trigger when his 6 month old pit bull named Cheyenne came to his rescue. Dave refrained from pulling the trigger and has since put his energy into helping other veterans dealing with PTSD by providing pets through his organization called Pets 2 Vets. Read and watch the full story below.
For too many veterans, the battles don’t end when they come home from war. Combat stress has no easy cure. But one vet found peace was a lot closer than he thought and now he’s helping others find it, too. CBS News correspondent Chip Reid has his story.
Dave Sharpe calls his pit bull Cheyenne his savior, and that’s no exaggeration. When she was just a puppy, she saved his life
Sharpe served with the U.S. Air Force security forces in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. After two near-death experiences, he returned home with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Before I met her, I was a wreck,” said Sharpe. “I was out of control, I would start fights for no reason.”
Deeply depressed and filled with rage, he decided to end his misery with his pistol.
“[I] cocked it back, put it right in my mouth and I sat there and cried for about a minute or two,” Sharpe recalled. “I was this close to pulling the trigger.”
That’s when Cheyenne, who was then six months old, came to his rescue.
In a press conference Monday morning, the Montgomery Police Department announced that they took in $1.15 million in cash, found in the cargo of an 18-wheeler along Interstate 65. It’s the largest cash seizure on record in the City of Montgomery.
A patrol unit pulled over the tractor trailer for an illegal lane change near the interchange on Interstate 65.
A canine unit, Daisey, is credited for the discovery of the money, that was hidden inside the trailer.
Officers say the driver willingly allowed them to search his truck, but because it’s an open investigation, MPD is keeping most of the details close to the vest.
The police department will be able to keep about 80% of the money, but it has to be used for crime enforcement.
Daisey, the dog who helped find the cash, was also purchased with illegal drug money, seized off the streets of Montgomery.
Ultimate recognition for a police dog that was critically injured in the line of duty. This dog saved his partners life, unfortunately at the cost of losing use of his hind legs. Please help in recognizing this brave police dog’s efforts by leaving a thank you comment to Major below.
Major the police dog and his handler have another award to add to their growing collection.
Major was presented a Medal of Valor from the Minneapolis Canine Unit last night.
The Roseville K-9 was stabbed during a burglary back in November and lost the use of his hind legs.
Since then, officer John Jorgensen has helped get a law passed to increase the penalty for people who injure police dogs.
The award ceremony was part of the United States Police Canine Association’s police dog trials. The Minneapolis Police Department has 12 dog-teams competing.
A great story about a great organization called Helping Hounds located in Pennsylvania. Most of the breeds being used as service dogs and therapy dogs have been Labradors and Retrievers, it’s great to see an English Springer Spaniel being used. To make it even better, it is a rescue dog. Great job by Helping Hounds, please read and share stories like these to help spread the great work rescue dogs can be in helping our veterans!
Service dog ‘saved life’ of Mechanicsburg veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder
When Douglas Maugans is plagued by nightmares of war, he can always count on Tanner to wake him up.
The 5-year-old English springer spaniel presses the touch pad on Maugans’ nightstand with his nose to turn the light on, gets up on his master’s chest and lies there for as long as he’s needed.
Douglas Maugans of Mechanicsburg, who has post-traumatic stress disorder, worked in air traffic control with the Army National Guard. He has a special bond with Tanner, whom he taught to be a service dog with training from Helping Hounds.(Beth Anne Heesen, The Patriot-News)
Two years ago, Tanner became a medical service dog through Helping Hounds, a program sponsored by the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance of Mechanicsburg, which works out of an airplane hanger at the Capital City Airport in Fairview Township.
Volunteers teach veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to train their dogs.
Maugans saved Tanner from a rescue shelter in New Orleans four years ago, and now Tanner was ready to save his master.
Great interview with Jennifer Lund, the President and Founder of Hero Dogs-”Service Dogs for America’s Heroes.” This organization is doing a great job in providing service dogs to our veterans.
Amazing report bringing awareness of how Pit Bulls can help veterans cope with PTSD. Pit Bulls tend to have a bad reputation when it comes to their temperament but that is only if they are trained incorrectly. They can be incredible companions just like any other breed. Thank you Pit Bulls 4 Patriots for providing such a valuable service to our troops!
Great story on how someone who hasn’t served in the military but would like to support the troops by training some therapy dogs to help veterans who suffer from PTSD and other psychological issues.
It’s great to see major publications like TIME bring awareness to the powerful impact dogs can have in helping Veterans cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
When we did a story last year on what a boon dogs are becoming for troops coming home from the wars with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Luis Carlos Montalvan was one of the soldiers we interviewed. He served as an Army captain in Iraq, where he garnered the Combat Action Badge, two Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart — as well as a case of PTSD. As often happens, our conversation ended up on the cutting room floor. But Montalvan gets the last word: he has just published Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him. Here’s a recent email exchange between Montalvan and Battleland:
Why did you write this book?
Until Tuesday was written because, after having been in the darkest depths of PTSD — where I wasn’t quite suicidal but often felt death would be a relief — I know how valuable information is. In those days, it was often internet-based stories and messages from other suffering veterans that helped me through. With Until Tuesday, I wanted other veterans to understand that their symptoms are real; their struggles are shared; and that there is help and hope—even if the VA is letting them down over and over again. I also wanted the family members of veterans better understand that their loved ones are dealing with. There are 18 suicides a day among veterans. I’d do anything to help prevent that tragedy. The book also, in the end, turned out to be very effective therapy for me—even though it was the most difficult and painful therapy I’ve ever endured.
How does Tuesday help with your daily life?
He helps me with daily physical tasks, like picking things up and balancing on stairs, but more importantly he is my constant companion. I was very prone to panic-attacks, agoraphobia, flashbacks, and “gray outs” where I would lose track of where I was or what I was doing.
Tuesday keeps me in the moment. He is trained to monitor my breathing and heart rate, so he can nudge me back to reality before a situation starts. I was also prone to hyper-vigilance; now, I can put my hand on Tuesday and feel calmness returning to me mind. That may not sound like much, but for the two years before I adopted Tuesday, I was too paranoid and withdrawn to leave my apartment. I lived like a hermit, cut off even from my family. Tuesday has helped me reconnect with the world.
How do dogs help vets with PTSD and other problems?
Many veterans have serious physical problems, and their service dogs help them function. My friend, Mary, for instance, had both arms blown off above the elbow by an IED; her dog Remy performs many of her daily tasks. But for all veterans, I think, the companionship and unwavering support mean the most. So many veterans are isolated and withdrawn when they return. A dog is a way to reconnect, without fear of judgment or misunderstanding.
Are dogs being used widely enough to help troops such as yourself? Why or why not?
I wish more trained dogs were being used to help veterans, because I know they save and transform lives. With so many suicides, not to mention divorces, alcohol problems, and wrecked lives, how can we say we are doing enough of anything for our veterans? Information about dogs like Tuesday is a big problem—one I hope the book helps correct—but money is another. It’s expensive to train a service dog, and dedicated people like Lu Picard at ECAD [Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities] (who trained Tuesday) need more resources and support.
I guess “Teddy” is a popular name for therapy dogs, yesterday I added a post about a service dog named Teddy helping veterans here in the states, today’s post is a photo of a therapy dog named Teddy helping troops overseas. It’s amazing how much value they bring just being around. Photo credit is Capt. Stephanie Vanneman, June 29th, 2011-Task Force 44 medical Brigade
Maj. Susan Snow, the 528 Combat Stress Control Detachment Commander, congratulates Maj. Timmy on his promotion as his handler, Capt. Christine Beck looks on. Timmy is the therapy dog at the Freedom Restoration Center on Bagram Airbase. He also celebrated his third birthday
