What does your pet (dog, cat, etc) do to help improve your life after the military?

Even though I work full time, I also do Metal Art. I could not work in my shop with out having my dog Hunter out there with me. She does more to keep me centered than anything else. Even though she is getting older and just spends most of her time sleeping it's important to have her there. We have 4 dogs but she is deffinatly dads girl.

I have my Service Dog but I had to Pay-Out of Pocket expenses my self and wish I could get reimbursed for it because it shorted me on the Disability that I receive from the VA.

My dog Hennessey has been wonderful for me as far as my PTSD, using my CPAP, and my Cardio Conditions waking me up when something goes wrong. I Rescued her before the people who owned her were going to put her in the pound because of the pound would have put her down and I took her to my Neighbors Vet Shop and he rebuilt her back leg and she was in a cast for 6 months and she is a Wonderful Support dog for me. My Daughter came into my room and took the photo of her sleeping on my stomach. She is a Cane Corso Mastiff and now she is 3yrs 8 mths old and she was 9 months when we Adopted or Rescued her and she is fantastic at keeping me calm all the time. She is ESA and Service Dog Certified for me.

I forgot to mention we have 6 dogs in my home my 2 girls have Huskies, My Son has a Heinze 57, and we have a Teacup Chihuahua and Standard Chihuahua and the Teacup (JARHEAD) was the First dog in Our Home and Bosses the Big ones around

I have four animals at the house. I have 2 cats and 2 dogs. The cats are okay but I am a dog person. I have a Tiny Toy Poodle that I got when she was a puppy, she was originally for the wife as a gift and as a service dog for her anxiety. But since then the dog has re gifted herself to me and I have had her registered with a national registry that she is my service dog for my PTSD, Depression and Anger issues. Whenever I get angry or start to have a bad dream she is in my face licking it and calming me down. As she is paying attention to me I forget what I was dreaming about or what I was getting angry about and focus my attention on her. I love her to death. She is now 13 years old and I am worried about her and her health and I know I will be heart broken when she is called to heaven. I have had to put down one dog because of illness and I don't want to do another especially this one who means so much to me. She keeps me grounded. The other dog is a rescue dog who I got for my son. So she is his dog and helps him with his own issues. I love my animals and only wish that they would live forever or at least as long as we do.

SGT Joseph Gunderson where do I start. So I guess a picture will have to say a thousand words.

I had ptsd when I got out of the military and thought I was over it until a tumor was discovered growing out of a nerve in my brain. It was killed but now I am nervous and get upset for no reason at all. My dog helps keep me calm. When I get upset I sit on my couch, she lays next to me, as close as she can possibly get, and I just run my hand up and down her back. This helps a great deal. Also having someone devoted totally to me and someone that I can take care helps me get by day to day. I still don't want to leave the house but she keeps me going.

It's nice that you provide service dogs for post 911 veteran I think it's great that you do this. But ya know we Vietnam vets would benefit from a program like this.

After my retirement from active duty in 2005, I began to search on ways to support the troops who were adversely affected by the GWOT through physical or emotional trauma and service dogs became our focus. In 2010, my wife and I began volunteering as puppy raisers for a national non-profit, Canine Companions for Independence. As a puppy raiser, we foster an 8 week old Lab/Golden puppy that is specifically bred to become a highly-trained assistance dog. We have these dogs for ~18 months where they learn 30 commands and are socialized for all aspects of life. After leaving our home, the dog is given 6-9 months of professional training before being placed into service. Canine Companions provides these dogs free of charge to veterans, adults and children. In the 44 years of its existence, Canine Companions has placed over 6,300 dogs and currently has over 2,000 teams that are actively working. Canine Companions is also the only service provider that worked with the VA to complete the 3 year study on how service dogs mitigate the affects of PTSD. In these 10 years, we have raised 7 dogs, 3 which have placed with individuals whose lives were changed. I highly suggest that anyone who is searching for a service dog to consider Canine Companions, they have six regions across the country, and over 3,000 volunteers - some who live in your communities. Look them up. #GiveaDogaJob

I'm a Vietnam veteran, and have been struggling and quietly struggling since I came home and had to deal with hateful demorats. Last fall I was seriously considering giving up. A kind soul donated a Dachshund puppy to me and arranged for a trainer. Buddy is now my constant companion and my main reason to not give up. He's my Doctor Doggie, and a credit to his breed. He's a whole lot of loving hound in a compact package.

The Hair bags are more then jest pets. They are like Family and somtimes bettter. I do not have room for a Dog But I have had Cat's for most of my life. I know for the most part if we get them from the shelter we can save them to help save us. They are Damged like most of us. I know for a fact that if my cats had not been there for me. I would not be here.

My Australian Shepard Service Dog (Skittles) has been with me for 8 years. Since I have a pace-maker she is by my side when I'm alone to seek help. Recently, on Nov 5th, my pace maker was replaced. On the morning of Nov 6th Skittles was acting jumpy and whimpering. About 2 pm my legs and ankles were swelling so I laid down with my feet elevated. My wife was at the dentist. At 3:40 Skittles jumped on the bed and then on me and woke me up. I sat up and could not breath. Gasping for air I called 911. Within minutes the on site EMTs arrived. They began given me oxygen that helped me breath somewhat. My wife arrived and the ambulance took me to the hospital. I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and my lungs and heart were filled with water. After 3 days in the hospital the fluid was gone and I went home. The doctors said that Skittles more than likely saved my life. Always pay attention to you pets. Their sensory perception is 10,000 times greater than ours.