Service Dog’s Name: Santa Paws
Service Type: Veteran and Law Enforcement
Area/Branch: Air Force and Corrections Officer
“The positive impact and improvement in my life have been more than I could have imagined. It is absolutely incredible what this dog has done for me. He has saved my life!”
I served 10 years in the Air Force, including time in Iraq, and then another 10 years as a corrections officer. I struggled with anger and anxiety and my PTSD made doing most things very difficult. I reached the point where I mostly stopped leaving the house, and I could no longer work outside my home.
My anger and anxiety also hurt my relationships with people and my family. One day, my 6-year-old son asked my wife, “Mommy, why is Daddy always yelling at me?” I did not even realize I was yelling at him! It broke my heart, and because of him, I looked for help. Two other service dog organizations turned me down before I applied to Guardian Angels. I could hardly believe it when they said they would help me! Once I was paired with Santa, my world started changing for the better. With his help, I was able to work outside the home again. The positive impact and improvement in my life have been more than I could have imagined. It is absolutely incredible what this dog has done for me. He has saved my life!
