Service Dog Helps Soldier With PTSD

Erick Scott knows first-hand what it’s like to suffer from PTSD. After 16 years in the service, he had seen a lot, and would wake up nights swinging his fists, sometimes even hitting his sleeping wife (not on purpose, of course).

He tried medications, but didn’t like them. Eventually, he was paired with a special service dog to help him combat his anxiety. Watch how his dog, Gumbo, reacts when he becomes agitated.

Erick was paired up with Gumbo through the organization K9s for Warriors, On their site is a piece called “A Letter From A Service Dog”. In part:

As a shelter refugee my early life was not ideal, in fact it was downright sad. That is until I was rescued and began my training to become a service dog. My days became filled with daily training sessions with my trainers and play time with the volunteers who visit throughout the day. I became part of the K9s For Warriors elite service dog program.

As a service dog in training I worked daily with my trainer. I was taught simple commands, sit, heal, stay, down and also more challenging commands, cover, block, retrieve and brace. You see I was training to serve a special warrior, someone who needs me as much as I need them.

It’s so nice to know that 95% of the dogs they are training are shelter dogs, helping not only the soldiers who need them, but giving the dogs a second chance at life, a chance to be a useful, loved companion.

Good boy, Gumbo!