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A Veterans Story of Her Service Dog

A Veterans Story of Her Service Dog

admin 2 December 7, 2016
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Veteran and Her Service DogΒ 

Spirit is Wendy Clouser’s partner, as well as her pet. As a service dog, he helps the vet deal with PTSD and the effects of injuries. She relies on a wheelchair much of the time.

Clouser is a long-time dog lover, but she didn’t see a place in her life for a service dog. That all changed five years ago when she met two people who explained how much they relied on their dogs. Once she saw how the dogs made life easier, she decided to give it a try.

She teamed up with a nonprofit that trains dogs for wounded vets.

Argus Made the DifferenceΒ 

Argus Service Dog Foundation made the process simple for Wendy, without long waits or large fees. The team at Argus trains service dogs to handle complicated tasks for their owners, from retrieving household objects to opening doors and safely navigating public areas.

Argus founders Brandon McMillan, Eric Brotman and Mike Herstik are on a mission to make the lives of disabled vets easier. The foundation provides a full spectrum of help, from matching the service dog to each vet, training both and providing follow-up.

β€œGive Lives Back” 

Argus and Spirit have changed things for the better for Clouser. She says simply, β€œThey give lives back to people.”

She now feels comfortable in social situations. Before she went through the motions, but didn’t feel connected or genuinely happy with others. With the aptly named Spirit in her life, she feels comfortable going out and meeting people.

ThisΒ short videoΒ shows Clouser and Spirit together. β€˜β€™

Service Dogs: a Critical ContributionΒ 

According toΒ Stars and Stripes,the Veteran’s Administration is conducting a major, $10 million study to quantify the emotional help that support dogs offer vets.

But veterans who currently rely on the dogs have already decided. Said one, β€œMy dog did more for me than any psychologist could in a lifetime.”

Clouser points out that she is more social and more willing to try new things because of Spirit. With the dog’s help, she is now kayaking, downhill skiing and rock climbing.

Service dogs keep vets independent, physically active and engaged in everyday life.

The Argus Approach

Argus started several years ago when Herstik and McMillan decided to help a vet who lost both legs in Afghanistan. At Walter Reed for the final phase of the training, they encountered several other vets who wanted a service dog too. That was the inspiration for Argus.

There are many organizations that train service dogs for vets and the disabled. But they often have long waiting lists, so getting a dog can take months and even years. Most charge for their services, making it financially impossible for a large number of vets.

Argus has a different approach. It is set up to match vets and dogs quickly. The foundation uses volunteers for the training and never charges for its work.

The founders are well matched for the job they do. Mike Herstik is a canine trainer and instructor with an international reputation. He has worked with Navy SEALS and IDF K9. Brandon McMillan has served as an animal trainer for movies and television. He stars inΒ Lucky DogΒ on CBS, and has a long history of rescuing dogs from death row and training them as service dogs. Eric Brotman is a psychologist. His program Life Skills helps the developmentally disabled with behavior difficulties.

2 Replies to “A Veterans Story of Her Service Dog”

  1. Hello, I am a war veteran with PTSD and other medical condition. I have a German Shepherd that needs to be register as a Service companion but the VA does do that anymore. Where or if possible, can you guide me on how to register my German Sheppard as a service dog. She is going through German Sheppard training and is the only thing that keeps me calm.

  2. Hi I was wondering if someone could help me and my son or help us find someone who can help us ..
    My son is a sergent in the Marines active duty station in VA .he’s going thru a divorce and has to move back to the barrecks and I’m sure you know dogs aren’t allowed ..he has hand gunny. Since he was born. He is now 2 he trained very well has some separation anxiety we have no where for him to go he is a Shep/husky mix excellent with babies ,kids other dogs he’s a great dog and I really don’t want him going to a shelter he will never survive there my son has till Saturday to get out if his apartment so in begging to find some help for him
    My phone number is
    570+982-2949
    My son is SGT Anthony Ayr
    540-229-5992

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