Michael Gaither is one of our members. Read his story.
A synopsis of Kathy Hillard’s article in the Levy County Journal.
In Williston there are angels, canine angels, specifically trained to help our
vets who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, physical disabilities,
or emotional trauma. Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. is a training
facility whose mission is to pair trained dogs with vets in need. These are
service dogs, not therapy dogs. Therapy dogs visit medical facilities and cheer
patients. Service Dogs have specialized jobs which help their owners live independent
lives. Service dogs are protected by state and federal laws and able to enter
any public venue with their owners. These canine caregivers turn on/off lights,
open/close doors and refrigerators, pick up dropped items, alert for seizures
and insulin changes, assist with autism, aid the visually or hearing impaired,
mitigate the challenges of PTSD and more.
Just ask Kaye and Michael Gaither. He has a “honey” of a dog, named
Honey, from Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. Michael is a vet who suffers
from multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, PTSD, and is on oxygen 24/7. Michael
had not left the house for four years when his wife Kaye read him an article
about Guardian Angels’ dogs. He agreed to visit. Kaye said that “to
say that he was thrilled to see and interact with the dogs is the absolute understatement
of the century! I have not seen Michael this excited about anything in a very
long time.” Honey now lives with Michael 24/7, picking up things, easing
his anxiety in public, comforting him after a night terror dream, opening doors,
and getting help if he falls or needs assistance. Honey even knew instinctively
(without training) to remove his blankets during the night as he has no control
over his body temperature and flips from cold to hot in his hospital bed. Honey
just jumped in and did what she thought he needed. Kaye is a heart patient and
knowing Michael has his canine guardian angel gives her peace of mind. The training
facility was granted a partnership with the federal government to provide highly-trained
service dogs to the VA for a multi-year study of the impact of service dogs
on vets with PTSD.
During
the two-year study, up to 200 qualified Vets currently in treatment for PTSD
will be paired with highly-skilled service dogs custom trained to assist with
their individual challenges. If the results document significant benefits, as
anticipated, it will pave the way for vets across the country to receive a service
dog and have their lives restored.
With
an estimated 300,000 US soldiers returning from active combat with PTSD and
40,000 of them with other disabling injuries (according to the DoD), addressing
the mental and physical health needs of these vets can be an overwhelming challenge
for both the veteran and their caregivers.
Service dogs have long been paired with the physically disabled to restore independence
to recipients. The current study, by medical personnel from James A. Haley Hospital
in Tampa, is expected to qualify the specific benefits that service dogs afford
PTSD vets.
Not only
have Guardian Angel Medical Service Dogs partnered with the VA hospital in Gainesville
to assist the PTSD patients there, they are also the “dog venue”
for about 80 to 100 Pre-Vet students at UF.
The facilities currently leased by Guardian Angel Medical Service Dogs are in
their sights for purchase. They are on 30 acres in Williston and the current
owners wish to sell. The facilities are perfect for the training program the
Borden’s have developed and they are cultivating grants and donations
to remain there.
If you would like to volunteer or donate time or money to help our disabled
vets live independent lives with their own canine guardian angels, please call
Carol at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs (352) 425-1981. Website: www.medicalservicedogs.com
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