They fight for our freedoms, but often struggle to live their lives freely because of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Approximately 7% of all US service veterans have PTSD, with symptoms such as severe anxiety, sleep disturbances and agoraphobia.
For some struggling vets, a service dog will be invaluable.
“He’s completely changed my life,” said Tarik Griggs, whose Labrador golden retriever Walter helps him deal with insomnia, anxiety, depression and more. Meet him and three other vets and their dedicated dogs.
Tarik Griggs, US Army veteran
Growing up in Philly, Griggs had big plans for himself. Since money was tight, he enlisted in the army on his 18th birthday instead of going to college.
“Back then, you were expected to give to your country,” Griggs, 53, told The Post from his home in Somerville, N.J.
He served during the first Gulf War and emerged a changed man.
“The saying in the military was, ‘suck it up and move on,'” he said. “Put down all your emotions and deal with it later.”
After re-entering civilian life in his 20s, he went on to earn an MBA and work for various major financial firms, including JP Morgan and Vanguard.
But his PTSD haunted him and various medical conditions, including diabetes, made the pain worse.
“It was extremely difficult and it still is,” he said.
Four years ago, he joined Walter through Canine Companions, a national organization that provides trained service dogs for those with disabilities.
The highly skilled pup knows more than 40 professional commands, including turning lights on and off, creating space in a crowded public environment, stopping anxious behavior, and anxiety terminations.
“There’s an emotional comfort and reassurance that he’s always there, no matter what happens,” Griggs said. “If war breaks out or there’s a car accident, your service dog is there. I am so grateful – he is my gift from God.”
Dick St. Clair, US Navy veteran
The 40-year-old joined the Navy shortly after 9/11, fulfilling a childhood dream to serve his country. He spent 20 years in the service as a flight boat’s mate, dedicated to aviation and surface warfare, and was deployed five times, to the Persian Gulf and elsewhere.
“Military relationships help you bond as a family,” said St. Clair. “You go through trauma – you look for your friend next to you.”
In 2022, he was honorably discharged after being found to have “incurable” chronic PTSD following a breakdown during pandemic lockdowns.
The consequences of two decades of intensive service have been many.
“I definitely have challenges every day,” he said of his end-stage arthritis in both his knees and mental health, including problems with crowds.
In 2023, he applied to Northwest Battle Buddies, a Washington-based organization that provides service dogs to vets with PTSD.
He was paired with Ivy, a black English lab, who hasn’t left his side since. “We’re two peas in a pod,” said the vet. “Now I can sit and do whatever I want and not have to constantly look around… I never realized how much I missed the chaos going on in my brain.
This past summer, the Long Island native was able to attend a Chicago Cubs game, something he never would have been able to do without Ivy.
“She’s my battle buddy to the end,” said St. Clair. “I knew I had a problem and I didn’t want to be a statistic.”
He urges fellow vets to get help — and to know there are alternatives, like service dogs, to getting medication.
“Don’t bury problems that won’t go away on their own,” he said. “Pick up the phone.”
Cortney, a US Navy veteran
She grew up “an army kid” with many family members in the service and always knew she wanted to follow in their footsteps.
“I wanted to go places, see things and protect people back home,” the 39-year-old said of her motivation to enlist at 17 with her parents’ consent.
She served about two years before being honorably discharged in 2005. But her time in the Navy was marred by sexual assaults that have left scars, both physical and emotional. During one attack, she fell down a flight of stairs and suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Now, with a trigger at every step, she said that she “cannot enter public places [herself].” Here agoraphobia it makes even basic tasks like grocery shopping traumatic because of the crowds.
She also suffers from migraines, nightmares and chronic muscle tension due to her PTSD.
“It’s a lifelong condition — it doesn’t go away,” said Courtney, who also has hearing loss from her TBI.
Last year, she reached out to Guardian Revival, an organization that strives to revive and preserve the mental health and well-being of veterans and first responders.
In January, she was paired with Everest, a golden labradoodle retriever, through the Guardian’s Boots & Paws program.
“Before Everest I was afraid to go out in public,” said the Dutchess County mother of five. Now, “all things are possible.”
This past summer, she was excited to attend a Yankees game with her service dog.
“He’ll tell me if someone comes after me… He never judges, never walks away from me,” she said of her beloved service dog. “With Everest, I feel confident – just his presence makes all the difference… I feel like I can take over the world now… It’s a match made in heaven.”
Mychal Watts, US Navy veteran
Growing up in Woodside, Queens, Watts, 68, was always fascinated by the Marines and their magnificent uniforms. He enlisted secretly at the age of 18, without telling his mother first.
“I had to prove something to myself,” he said.
For five years, he lived his dream, rising to the rank of sergeant and spending more than a year in Japan.
But the toll of overseas service and “fighting demons” was overwhelming. “I had trouble focusing – I just wanted to lie down and sleep, but I had nightmares.”
Watts, who now works as a Getty photographer and lives in Harlem, suffered in silence for nearly two decades. “It took me almost 20 years before I could talk about it,” he said.
Two years ago, he turned to Operation Warrior Shield. The Brooklyn-based organization provides support to vets and first responders and helped Watts get his service dog, Connie.
“It was love at first sight – the first thing she did was roll over on her stomach,” said the former A-class sailor of the fox-red Labrador retriever. “She won’t take her eyes off me.”
After a severe episode where Watts was “close to passing out” and in a cold sweat, Watts said his “smart” best friend saved the day.
“She licked me until I came out of her,” he recalls.
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Image Source : nypost.com