��������

SAVING LIVES AT BOTH ENDS OF THE LEASH AND PAIRING RESCUES WITH HEROES. THAT’S THE MISSION BEHIND ONE NATIONWIDE NONPROFIT WITH TIES RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. CANINES FOR WARRIORS IS THE NATION’S LARGEST PROVIDER OF SERVICE DOGS TO MILITARY VETERANS SUFFERING FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, AND OR SEXUAL TRAUMA. SO THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS THE CANINE WARRIOR TEAM TO REALLY BUILD A BOND THAT HEALS INVISIBLE WOUNDS. IT’S A BOND LOCAL U.S. AIR FORCE VETERAN LORETTA GOGGIN AND HER SERVICE DOG GAVEL KNOW ALL TOO WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND SPENDING YOUR MEMORIAL DAY MORNING WITH US. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GAVEL. SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT HERE, LAURA. LET’S START BY TALKING ABOUT YOUR STORY BEFORE GAVEL CAME INTO YOUR LIFE. HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE? RIGHT. NOW? TRYING TRYING TO MAKE IT SHORT AND SWEET. I HAD GOTTEN I SPENT 24.5 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, AND I HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE ALONE UNLESS MY DAUGHTER OR MY HUSBAND WAS WITH ME. SO I DID WHAT IS CALLED SELF ISOLATING. I STAYED IN BECAUSE I WAS JUST UNCOMFORTABLE BEING OUT IN PUBLIC, NOT GOING TO THE STORES. I DIDN’T REALLY GO ANYWHERE UNLESS IT WAS THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE. WOW. SO LIFE AFTER GAVEL. HOW HAS THIS DOG CHANGED YOUR LIFE? AMAZING. I AM HOME ALONE A LOT BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER AND MY HUSBAND WORK DIFFERENT HOURS, SO I USED TO BE IN THE HOUSE ALL BY MYSELF, AND NOW I HAVE SOMEONE WITH ME WHO INTERACTS WITH ME CONSTANTLY. SHE FOLLOWS ME EVERYWHERE I GO IN THE HOUSE. I CAN GO OUT. I’VE GOT INDEPENDENCE. I FEEL AS THOUGH I’VE GOTTEN MY DIGNITY BACK AND IT’S JUST AN AMAZING DIFFERENCE. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE STRONG BONDS WITH THEIR PETS, YOU KNOW, WITH THEIR DOGS. BUT FOR FOR YOU, FOR CASES LIKE YOURS, IT’S REALLY NEXT LEVEL, ISN’T IT? ABSOLUTELY. SHE’S SO INTUITIVE THAT SHE KNOWS IF I AM NOT HAVING IF I’M HAVING AN OFF DAY, IF I’M DOWN AND DEPRESSED, SHE WILL COMFORT ME. SHE’LL PUT SOME PRESSURE ON ME. SHE’LL COME AND LAY ACROSS MY LAP AND SHE’S JUST SO SMART AND INTUITIVE. I’M UPSET. SHE KNOWS IT AND I’M HAPPY SHE KNOWS IT. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE OTHER VETERANS TO KNOW, ESPECIALLY ON A DAY LIKE TODAY? A DAY LIKE TODAY IS NOT ABOUT. SHOPPING AND SALES. IT’S ABOUT RECOGNIZING OUR MILITARY PEERS WHO HAVE GIVEN THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. AND IT’S A DAY THAT WE NEED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE FAMILIES AND TO THOSE THAT HAVE GONE ON AHEAD FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY MADE. YEAH, A WONDERFUL MESSAGE THERE. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PET SERVICE DOGS, RIGHT? SHE HAS HER HEEL. SHE HAS HER VEST ON THERE. BUT YOU YOU GAVE ME PERMISSION AND YOU’RE GOING TO GIVE HER PERMISSION SO I CAN. SHE’S GOING TO I’M GOING TO SAY THE WORD AND SHE’S GOING TO RAISE HER RIGHT PAW. OKAY, FRIEND. FRIEND. YES, FRIEND. THERE YOU GO, SUGAR. FRIENDS. WE’RE FRIENDS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY. HOW LONG HAVE YOU TWO BEEN TOGETHER? SINCE APRIL OF LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR. OKAY. AND ONE LAST THING I’D LIKE TO SAY. IF ANYONE EVER SEES A DOG IN A SERVICE VEST, YOU NEVER WANT TO TOUCH THEM BECAUSE IT DISTRACTS THEM. RIGHT? BUT I GAVE YOU PERMISSION, AND SHE SHE. SHE’S ENJOYING YOUR INTERACTION. IT’S MADE MY DAY, THAT’S FOR SURE. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, FOR EVERYTHING YOU’VE DONE AND FOR SHARING THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE WITH US THIS MORNING. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ORGANIZATION, IT’S JUST INVALUABLE, RIGHT? WE’LL PUT IT ON WESH.COM FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT. THE EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE IS ON CANINE FOR WARRIORS.COM.ORG I’M PA