'He’s more than a service dog—he’s my best friend'- Local veteran finds his match

AUSTIN (KXAN)-- Texas has the largest veteran population of any other state averaging roughly over 1,543,160, and over 40% struggle with mental health, according to the Texas Health and Human Services 2024 veterans mental health report.

Suicide is of top concern among veterans, The 2024 national veteran suicide prevention report showed suicide was the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45.

"A lot of our veterans suffer from these invisible wounds," said Daniel Clavel, director of procurement and placement for K9s for Warriors.

According to Clavel, for a lot of these veterans finding mental health support is tough. Fewer than half of veterans returning from active duty in need of mental health treatment receive it, according to the THHS 2024 veteran mental health report.

A clinical trial conducted by Dr. Maggie O’Haire of the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine showed veterans with service dogs were 66% less likely to receive a PTSD diagnosis. Those veterans were also less likely to experience anxiety, depression, or any other mental health struggle.

What kind of service dog is best for veterans?

There are many different types of service dogs all trained differently to help individuals cope with different disorders. For example, an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) will help with comfort but may not be able to help a veteran with PTSD, hypervigilance, or isolation.

"There is some level of physical ailment that some of these veterans have, and they need that dog to be able to walk them into a grocery store and help them stay focused in environments that are overwhelming to most," Clavel said.

Service dogs trained to work with veterans, learn to identify and work through each of their companion's stressors. The support from these dogs, allow veterans to go out into the world and do the things they were afraid to do alone, according to Clavel.

When is it time to get a service dog?

It starts with an internal conversation. When the veteran has internally identified the need for some sort of help or assistance then it is time to take the next step, and that step could be applying for a service dog.

"You have to be open and honest with yourself. There are going to be times when you think that you can handle it yourself, and I thought that for almost 20 years," said Michael Green, a retired Army veteran from Austin, Texas.

For Green, it took years to identify the problem and work towards finding a solution. After being matched with his K-9 helper "Worth", Green and his family have seen a major change in his lifestyle and well-being. Worth helps green work through hypervigilance in public spaces like grocery stores.

"If I want to look at something on a store shelf, I can give worth the command of look. He will come from my left side, cross over in front of me to my right side, and then sit and look backward. What he is doing is taking that need for hypervigilance away from me to show I'm watching out for what's coming up behind. You don't need to worry about it, because I am there, I am protecting you," Green said.

Finding a match

There are many veteran service dog organizations in Texas available to choose from, Green went with K9s for Warriors and was matched with 'Worth' in San Antonio, Texas.

Much like others, K9s for Warriors starts with an application followed by several phone screenings, interviews, and finally a visit to the K9s for Warriors campus where the veteran can meet their match. Each K-9 at K9s for Warriors is a rescue, given a second chance at life these dogs are more devoted and willing to work with their warriors.

"It becomes kind of a dating game, in a sense, you know, where we're asking the questions we're getting to know more," Clavel said.

The two-day process ends with the warrior finally meeting their match and learning how to work through daily struggles together.

"There's this like this shake, this like exuberance that a dog experiences. Then you see the warrior and there are two levels, they break down and cry, or just complete excitement," Clavel said.

How many veterans have found their match?

In 2024 K9s for Warriors matched 1,000 warriors with a k-9 companion. Green said finding his match was the best thing to happen for his mental health and life.

"Military members from days gone by, kinda see therapy and any other types of assistance for mental health, as a sign of weakness. But those days are gone to sit there and try and fight that battle on your own. It's gone. There's just too much going on in the world today to try and fight that battle by yourself," Green said.