Service Dog Training for a Brave Officer

I’d like to share some context about my husband, and I hope he doesn’t mind.

The incident that affected him happened well before we met. He was a corrections officer at the New Jersey State Prison when he was violently attacked and beaten, which ultimately forced him into medical retirement. He bears both physical and emotional scars from that experience. Most nights, his nightmares and screams wake me as he battles his memories in his sleep. He continues to see a psychiatrist, a therapist, and multiple medical doctors. Although his treatment is ongoing, they all agree that a therapy service animal would help him manage his triggers and provide alerts and distractions during panic attacks and other issues.

Before this, I knew very little about service animals. One key point to note is that insurance does not cover any of the costs, which are significant, given the need for both obedience training and specialized training for his PTSD. We are currently looking into charities and grants, but this has proven to be a difficult and time-consuming process for both of us.

At this point, we already have a wonderful young Boxer named Gidget, who naturally displays some of the necessary skills. She senses when he needs her and creates boundaries, so our hope is to train her to assist him rather than purchasing a fully trained service dog. We are very hopeful this path works, but when we circle back to the cost, this is where we are asking for help. He is a wonderful man who is dealing with pain that is not of his own making. If you know of any options to help we would be in your debt. ♥️

I am writing this for my husband, as I asked him to start a GoFundMe, and he didn't know how.

The message below is directly from him:

"I am a retired correctional police officer who served at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton. During my time in housing unit 2R (2-Right), I experienced a harrowing incident in which an inmate brutally beat me within an inch of my life. In my eagerness to assist an inmate with a legitimate grievance, I unexpectedly became the target of a violent attack. The consequences were devastating, and I was left partially blind in my right eye, suffered extensive damage to my lumbar and thoracic spine, and endured nerve damage in my cervical spine. My face bears the scars from this violence, serving as a reminder of when my chin was torn from my face in that violent attack.

Today, I am struggling with the profound effects of PTSD. At the recommendation of my doctors, I am in dire need of a service dog to assist me in navigating this challenging journey. As I explored the world of service animals, I realized just how costly their training can be. I have a wonderful dog with the perfect temperament for this critical role, but she needs specialized training to meet my unique needs.

I am reaching out to ask for your support in helping to offset the costs associated with her training. Your contribution, no matter the size, would mean the world to me and make a significant difference in our journey together. Thank you for considering this request; every bit truly helps!"

Truly, every little bit helps, and we would both be eternally grateful for any support!