Although they are fighting for our freedoms, they often struggle to live their lives freely due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
almost 7% of all US veterans He has PTSD, with symptoms such as severe anxiety, sleep disturbances, and agoraphobia.
For some struggling veterans, service dogs can prove invaluable.
“He has completely changed my life,” said Tariq Griggs, whose labrador golden retriever Walter has helped him deal with insomnia, nightmares and depression. Meet him, three other veterinarians, and their dedicated dogs.
Tariq Griggs, U.S. Army Veteran
Growing up in Philadelphia, Griggs had big plans for himself. Because money was tight, he joined the army on his 18th birthday instead of going to university.
“Back then, you were expected to give to the country,” Griggs, 53, told the Post from his home in Somerville, New Jersey.
He served in the First Gulf War and emerged as a changed man.
“The military maxim was 'brace yourself and move on,'” he says. “Just bottle up all your emotions and deal with it later.”
After returning to civilian life in his 20s, he earned an MBA and worked at various major financial firms, including JP Morgan and Vanguard.
But PTSD plagued him, and various medical conditions, including diabetes, made the pain worse.
“It was very difficult, and it's still very difficult,” he said.
Four years ago, he teamed up with Walter. dog companiona national organization that provides trained service dogs to people with disabilities.
Highly skilled puppies know over 40 specialized commands, including turning lights on and off, finding space in crowded public environments, and interrupting anxious behavior or nightmares.
“There's a sense of emotional security and security that no matter what happens, he's always going to be there,” Griggs said. “If a war breaks out or a car accident happens, my service dog will be there. I'm so grateful – he's a gift to me from God.”
Dick St. Clair, U.S. Navy Veteran
The 40-year-old joined the Navy shortly after 9/11, fulfilling his childhood dream of serving his country. He spent 20 years as a flight deck officer, focusing on air and surface warfare, and was deployed five times, including to the Persian Gulf.
“Military ties strengthen bonds as a family,” St. Clair said. “You go through trauma. You look out for your fellow neighbor next to you.”
He fell ill during the pandemic lockdown, was found to have “incurable” chronic PTSD, and was honorably discharged from hospital in 2022.
The aftermath of 20 years of dedicated service has been profound.
“I definitely face challenges every day,” he said of his end-stage arthritis in both knees and his mental health, which includes issues with crowds.
In 2023 he Friends of the Battle of the Northwestis a Washington state-based organization that provides service dogs to veterinarians with PTSD.
He was paired with Ivy, a black girl in the English lab, who has not left his side ever since. “We are like two peas in a pod,” the veterinarian said. “Now I can sit down and do whatever I want and I don't have to constantly look around…With all the chaos going on in my head, I never realized how much I was missing.
This summer, the Long Island native was able to attend a Chicago Cubs game, something he never would have been able to do without Ivy.
“She's my comrade to the end,” St. Clair said. “I didn’t want to be a statistic because I knew I had a problem.”
He encourages fellow veterinarians to ask for help and to know that there are alternatives to medication, such as service dogs.
“Don't bury problems that won't resolve themselves,” he said. “Please pick up the phone.”
Courtney, U.S. Navy Veteran
She grew up as a “military brat” with several family members serving in the military and always wanted to follow in their footsteps.
The 39-year-old said of her motivation for joining the military at the age of 17 with her parents' consent: “I wanted to go somewhere, see different things, and protect the people of my hometown.''
She served for about two years before being honorably discharged in 2005. However, his service in the Navy was marred by a sexual assault that left him physically and mentally scarred. During one assault, she fell down the stairs and suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Now, there are triggers everywhere and “you can't go to public places,” she said. [herself]”she agoraphobia Even basic tasks like grocery shopping become traumatic due to crowds.
She also suffers from migraines, nightmares, and chronic muscle tension due to PTSD.
“This is a lifelong illness and it's never going to go away,” said Courtney, who also has hearing loss due to a traumatic brain injury.
Last year, she turned to Guardian Revival, an organization dedicated to restoring and maintaining the mental health and well-being of veterans and first responders.
In January, he teamed up with Everest, a golden retriever and Labradoodle, through the Guardian newspaper. boots and feet program.
“Before I went to Everest, I was afraid to go out in public,” said the Dutchess County mother of five. Now, “all things are possible.”
This summer, she had the pleasure of watching a Yankees game with her service dog.
“If someone comes up behind me, he tells me…he never judges and he never strays from me,” she said of her beloved service dog. “Everest makes me feel safe. His presence alone makes a huge difference. I feel like I can conquer the world now. It's a match made in heaven.”
Mychal Watts, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
Watts, 68, who grew up in Woodside, Queens, always had a fascination with the Marines and their regal uniforms. When he was 18, he secretly enlisted in the military without telling his mother beforehand.
“I had to prove something to myself,” he said.
He lived his dream for five years, was promoted to sergeant, and was stationed in Japan for over a year.
But the cost of serving overseas and “fighting the devil” was immeasurable. “I had trouble concentrating. I wanted to lie down and sleep, but I had nightmares.”
Watts, who now works as a Getty photographer and lives in Harlem, suffered in silence for nearly 20 years. “It took me almost 20 years to be able to talk about it,” he says.
Two years ago, he turned to: Operation Warrior Shield. The Brooklyn-based organization provides support to veterans and first responders and helped Watts adopt her service dog, Connie.
“It was love at first sight. The first thing she did was roll on her stomach,” said the former Class A Marine, a fox-colored Labrador retriever. “She won't take her eyes off me.”
Watts said her “smart” best friend saved her life after the serious incident, which left her “nearly blacked out” and in a cold sweat.
“She licked me until I slipped out,” he recalled.
