It’s been four years, one month, and five days since I
returned home from my deployment to Afghanistan. Since landing back in the USA from my
deployment there hasn’t been a single day, and rarely a single hour awake, that
I don’t think about something or someone or some memory from that deployment.
I served in the military as an Air Force
officer for six years, but for the rest of my life I will be a veteran of the US
armed services whose life was dramatically altered from an intense, frightening war experience. I returned home a broken soul who suffered from undiagnosed PTSD for many years. I was finally diagnosed, properly treated,
and cared for by my family, friends, military command--and my dog, Bella. While the support
of my family and friends was unparalleled, the love and support of my service
dog Bella is what really rescued me in the end.
As
more and more veterans are receiving treatment for PTSD, the need for trained
service dogs to support the veterans through their treatment process is also on
the rise. Once again this year at the Whimsical Woman show, we
are going to support a local North Carolina organization dedicated training
rescue dogs to support, love, and care for veterans struggling with PTSD.
Founded
by two local Iraq veterans, Warrior Service Dogs is
a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Asheville, North Carolina that is
dedicated to linking trained rescue dogs to veterans suffering with the
challenges of PTSD. The organization is the only of its kind that actually
links the dog with the veteran and that supports dog and veteran through the
service dog training process from start to finish. Once the dog and veteran are
linked together, the veteran will work with the trainers of Warrior Service
Dogs to train the dog to support the veteran’s needs.
One might ask
how a dog can provide support for someone with PTSD? While the specific
struggles with PTSD varies from individual to individual, dogs can be trained
to specifically help a person with disabilities manage their recovery process
as well as provide therapeutic support along the way. Besides the unwavering
love Bella provides in my life each day, Bella also wakes me up from
PTSD-induced nightmares at night.
Last year Whimsical Women helped raise $3000
to support Warrior Service Dogs. Since
last November, the money raised during the Fall 2013 show has gone directly to
supporting eight local veterans with eight new rescue dogs trained to support these
disabled veterans and help them get back on their feet. Your outpour of support has directly
translated to positively impacting and honoring members of our community that
have served our country in uniform. With
such an amazing show of support from last year’s show, we have invited Warrior
Service Dogs back to Whimsical Women's 2014 show to help raise awareness of veterans’ needs
and the positive impact of the love and support that a service dog can have in
a local veteran’s life.
Right now, Warrior
Service Dogs need your support with donations of:
-Moist dog treats for
training
-Leashes
-Collars
-Small orange cones for
training
-Gift cards to Wal-Mart
and Lowe’s Home Improvement
-Collapsible dog bowls
-Dog crates of different
sizes
-Cash donations to help
with veterinary bills, service vest gear, and dog registration
Warrior
Service Dogs will be at located at the entrance of Whimsical Women. Please be
sure to stop by and thank them for their support to veterans, and while you are
at it thank their handlers for their support to our country!
Wag
more, bark less!
Molly
Mae Potter, Veteran, United States Air Force