LEXINGTON, N.C. -- Many of you probably know a veteran. But do you know how many have PTSD? According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 11-20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans could suffer from PTSD. The number is higher for Vietnam-era veterans, tallying at about 30 percent. But there's a program in Lexington working to combat the sufering by allowing veterans to train their own service dogs.
"We get new applications all the time," explains Kat Carter.
Carter is the Head of Training at Saving Grace K9s in Lexington. She was working as a dog trainer before connecting with director Brigette Parsons in 2013 to launch the veteran program. So far, they've had more than 60 graduates.
"They might be trained to wake their owner from nightmares," Carter explains "They might be trained to give medication reminders. They might be trained to alert to an oncoming panic or anxiety attack. They might be trained to lead the owner to a safe place during a dissociative episode or panic episode. The task work is suited to the person's symptoms."
Carter explains veterans from across North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina have been part of the program. It's a 250-hour training that requires the dogs and their owners to come train in Lexington about once a week. Carter says it usually takes veterans and their dogs anywhere from 6 months to a year to graduate.
Did we mention it's all free for the veterans? Carter says they run on donations and grants, plus sales from merchandise. Veterans can even see if their own dog is eligible for training. If not, Carter says they'll work with a local animal rescue to find one.
"For some of the guys, this is what gets them out of the house, this is what gets them up in the morning," she says.
Most of the dogs will help veterans suffering from PTSD or traumatic brain injuries. Some dogs will also help with mobility.
"I fall occasionally," explains Army veteran Chris Cobert. "She'll be there to help. She'll lean up against me if I start to become unstable. She'll try to brace against to keep me from falling."
He's talking about his dog Brinley. They graduated the program in 2017. But she helps Chris with more than that.
"She's helped me feel confident to be able to go out and deal with crowds."
The same goes for James Dean, a Marine Corps. veteran who actually moved to the area just to be part of this program. He served for nearly a decade, deploying twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.
"While I was in, there were always other people that were in that I could talk to," he explains.
But now his dog Rebel helps fill that void.
"Rebel makes it to where I can go out without having necessarily another person with me," he tells. "Where before, I couldn't do it."
For more information on the program, you can visit www.savinggracek9s.com or call 336-406-4177.