A veteran with severe PTSD was finally able to get a job, thanks to the help of his service dog.
John was in the Marine Corps for 22 years before retiring from that service. During his time in the military, he developed severe PTSD, particularly from time spent in Lebanon during an invasion in the first Gulf War.
In an interview shared by Animalkind Stories, John said that his personality was so affected by his time working that his grandkids started referring to him as “Grumpy Grandpa.”
After 31 years of suffering silently, John finally made the decision to ask for help, and that’s when he got Daisey, a service dog.
The two started doing everything together, from dining at restaurants to paddleboarding.
John wanted to rejoin the workforce, but he felt having a service dog made it difficult. Positions kept turning him down, and he believed it was because of his disability and accompanying dog.
However, three years later, it’s because of Daisy that John was able to land the perfect job. A hiring manager for a casino in California was specifically seeking veterans and their service dogs to work as security on the premises.
John and Daisy were hired on together as Public Safety Specialists, and the casino is hoping to hire even more veterans and their service dogs to ensure the facility remains as safe as possible.
The duo makes an incredible security team, with John holding strong military experience and Daisy having a calming presence in tense situations.
Learn more about their incredible story below:
Their story just goes to prove that it’s never too late to ask for help, and we should never underestimate the powerful effects a loving animal can have.