“He loves to cuddle and has to be in the same room as me all the time, even the bathroom. It is fun to watch him get the zoomies, (when he gets really excited, he runs as fast as he can, and it looks like he is only using his back legs). He loves to play in the snow and water,” said Josh. “He also prances when he walks; it’s just something he does. The only quirk he really has is he won’t sit with his hind legs under him, so if he is on a slick surface his hind legs will start doing the splits.” Josh and Maiko were paired together by This Able Veteran (TAV), making a partnership for life and allowing Josh to gain his life back. “When I found TAV, I had recently become permanently and totally disabled and found myself needing comfort and companionship, as well as something to help me notice when I was experiencing triggers,” said Josh. “I looked service dogs up on the internet and came across three organizations that interested me. I applied to all of them and waited. It was nearly a year later that TAV reached out to me with the exciting news that I was being accepted into the Veteran/service dog class of 2021.” From the moment of that phone call, Josh felt excitement and joy. “These were feelings I wasn’t used to. I cannot say enough good things about this program, from the structure, the Trauma Resiliency Program (TRP), the trainers, the skills of the dogs, and most importantly, Behesha Doan, the founder and program director of TAV.” TAV is a 501c3 organization for service dogs benefitting United States military Veterans suffering from PTSD. TAV is made up of volunteers, trainers, donors, and administrators that bring a lifetime of experience, knowledge, and compassion to Veterans in need. TAV’s PTSD service dogs are highly trained to detect anxiety responses displayed by the Veteran in potentially challenging environments and situations. “Our dogs are trained to recognize, indicate, and interrupt early signs of anxiety, panic attacks, and nightmares, allowing the Veteran to break the cycle and regain emotional control. Our service dogs are one of three essential components in advancing the Veteran’s recovery,” said TAV. “The trained service dog and our staff at TAV work directly with the Veteran during the 3-week long trauma resiliency portion of our program. This training process, combined with the insight and oversight of the Veteran’s own therapist, helps to ensure long-term health and recovery.” TAV is different from other PTSD service dog organizations due to it being the only service dog organization utilizing Veteran-centric model of care, wherein TAV’s highly trained staff integrates the skills of the service dog with newly developed resilience and life management skills taught during the trauma resiliency sessions. Once a Veteran’s application is approved, there is a wait time of approximately 12 to 18 months. Veterans do not select their service dog, as selecting the match of Veterans to the dog is an art and skill. “We learn a great deal about each Veteran who qualifies for our program including lifestyle, family and home environment, their range of physical, psychological, and cognitive abilities and their individual personalities,” said TAV. “Through this process, we are able to match the dog for the Veteran’s unique needs.” “Maiko very similarly shares the same personality as me. Behesha pairs the Veteran with the service dog prior to you ever meeting them. She nailed it with Maiko,” said Josh. The length of training can range from 8 months to 18 months. The timeline is determined by the Veteran’s individual needs and the tasks the dog will be required to perform. “All of the training, travel, hotel, food, and service dog expenses come at no cost to the Veteran! It really is a special, inspirational, and transforming organization,” said Josh. “I love everyone there and can honestly say they have become family, much like my brothers in the Army.” Josh did not get to meet Maiko until his first day at TAV. TAV holds a small ceremony where each dog is on a platform - where the Veteran will then walk into the room and go up to them. “A flood of emotions overtook me as I looked into his eyes. I teared up and he quickly kissed me,” said Josh. “Immediately, I knew he was going to be there for me. It was magical!” Maiko is always with Josh and he always has his back. “When you feel that way about something or someone you feel like you can take on anything. Maiko has been trained to detect chemical and biological changes that occur in my body throughout the day. Maiko alerts me with nose bumps to my hands and legs when I am being triggered,” said Josh. “If I ignore his alerts, he progresses to pawing me and that usually gets my attention. His claws are maintained very well but still hurt if you are wearing shorts. He wakes me in the middle of the night when I am experiencing a nightmare. He wakes me with a kiss and lays on my chest. After I calm down, he applies the weight of his body onto me and it feels much like a weighted blanket. It soothes and comforts me.” Maiko is additionally trained to fetch, so he will help Josh pick up the clothes or children’s toys while he is cleaning a room. “A flood of emotions overtook me as I looked into his eyes. I teared up and he quickly kissed me,” said Josh. “Immediately, I knew he was going to be there for me. It was magical!” 28 APRIL 2023 | INTHEVUE.COM
