The Freedom Dogs Program teams wounded warriors with specialty service dogs on a short term, intermittent or permanent basis.
Specialty service dogs are a non-judgmental source of love and companionship.
Specialty service dog, Andy, accompanies a Marine during a trip to the bank.
Freedom HEROES FOR Dogs HEROES BY SHARON PFLAUMER Photos courtesy of Freedom Dogs
M
elissa Ramirez was a Navy Corpsman, who served on the front lines as a Medic in a Shock Trauma Platoon. “We did damage control on the wounded before they were sent on to a higher echelon of care,” she says. After three tours of duty, Ramirez was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Eighteen months ago, a specialty service dog named Gunner was placed with her. The black Labrador Retriever is trained to assist Ramirez in a variety of ways, which include helping her cope with PTSD. “When I first got Gunner, I was taking a lot of medications that
made it difficult for me to wake up in the morning,” she says. “He woke me by barking and pawing me. He kept at it until I got out of bed.” The 5-year-old lab also interrupts the flashbacks that Ramirez experiences. A flashback occurs when an individual mentally relives a traumatic event to the point where it seems as if it’s actually happening again. “If I start having a flashback, Gunner comes over and stands in front of me,” she says. “Then, he barks and paws me until I pay attention to him. That interrupts my train of thought, which enables me to reassess the anxiety I’m feeling and calm myself down.” THE DOG NEWS ANNUAL • 72
A Reason To Go On
Having a specialty service dog has enabled Ramirez to do a lot of things she was unable to do when she first returned from active duty. “Before I got Gunner, I stayed in my room most of the time. It was difficult for me to do the things other people take for granted like go to the grocery store,” she said. With Gunner at her side, Ramirez is able to run all of her errands and no longer must depend on other people to do them for her. Gunner has helped her open up and become more social as well. “I didn’t want to talk to anyone CONTINUED ON PAGE 257