up twice from a terrifyingly vivid nightmare. Larry faithfully remained by Mark’s side day and night, and, within a few weeks, they had bonded so strongly that Larry began to anticipate Mark’s seizures well in advance, becoming agitated and barking or whining to give Mark and his family a chance to prepare. How does a strong, independent-minded Marine learn to listen to a dog? “I had to humble myself,” Mark says. “I quickly learned to understand Larry’s body language and trust him because he’s rarely wrong.” Mark’s seizures range in intensity from mild and brief to lasting for hours and causing him to wake up believing he is still in combat. These days, each time Mark comes out of a seizure, the first thing he sees is a furry bundle of love greeting him as if he has just come home. Not only is this comforting for Mark, it is a relief for CeCe, who used to worry constantly when she was working away from home. With Larry looking out for Mark, CeCe is relieved of the stressful role of sole caregiver and worrier. While Mark and CeCe were thrilled that Larry could predict Mark’s seizures, they were amazed at the impact Larry had in other aspects of their lives as well. Veterans suffering from PTSD often struggle with alienation,
14 Northern Virginia Dog
| Spring 2010
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I quickly learned to understand Larry’s body language and trust him, because he’s rarely wrong.
”
—Master Sergeant Mark Gwathmey loneliness, and anger, which not only hurts the individual, but also wreaks havoc on the entire family. With Larry there to mediate some of Mark’s emotional swings, life is a lot better at the Gwathmey house. “Larry has given us our lives back,” CeCe says, “and we have fallen in love with him.”
Answering the Call VetDog trainers work directly with veterans and their family members to identify the skills required to meet an individual’s unique needs. “Our guide and service dogs are living tools the veterans can use to help themselves regain their independence,” says Mike Sergeant, VetDog’s chief training officer. For a veteran with an amputated limb who
has issues with balance and stability, the dog is taught to brace and assist the handler in getting up and down from a chair, handling stairs, or transferring to and from a wheelchair. A veteran with a traumatic brain injury may need the dog to function much like a guide dog for a blind person, identifying and avoiding potential dangers to keep its handler safe when navigating busy streets. The dogs can also be trained to retrieve specific objects, such as a wallet or set of keys. Other dogs, like Larry, are trained to alert the family when a seizure occurs and provide support throughout the often frightening process. Veterans are not the only individuals who benefit from these extraordinary animals. Since December 2007, VetDogs has deployed combat stress relief dogs to war zones in Iraq to provide emotional support and psychological stress relief to military personnel serving on the front lines. Puppy raisers often visit airports around the country with their charges, bringing smiles to the faces of soldiers who are returning home on leave. Other service dogs are trained to work alongside rehabilitation professionals, providing physical therapy assistance at military hospitals where wounded soldiers are treated.