Canine Angels training dogs to help PTSD veterans

Home Service dog guides veteran through PTSD
Your Daily Journal
By Amanda Moss
March 13, 2014

Croghan is giving a life lesson on the importance of canine companionship

The German Shepherd has been at Boot Sessoms’ side since he was a 7-weeks-old pup. It wasn’t until recently that Croghan, now 15 months old, began to take up training as a service dog. Croghan has since helped change Sessoms’ life.

At the beginning of March, Croghan became part of the program known as Canine Angels, a nonprofit organization that aims to rescue dogs from shelters and prepare them to serve disabled veterans and first responders. This is to help lower the numbers of the dogs that are put to death each year. The organization is also willing to take on dogs already owned by the veterans to train them.

“Since he has started his training, it is amazing what he can help me with,” said Sessoms, 46, of Hamlet. “He reminds me to take my medication, he can wake me up from a nightmare, he can get me a bottle of water if I need one and he can also carry notes to my wife, Kathy. Things really have changed for me, and Kathy can tell a difference in my attitude.”

Sessoms served in the U.S. Marines from from March 1987 until 1990, when he suffered a career injury to his back. Since then, Sessoms has had to undergo multiple surgeries while suffering from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
read more here