Veterans, service dogs celebrated at Healing Paws graduation

NICEVILLE — The soft but sharp sound of hook-and-loop fasteners being ripped apart Friday at Northwest Florida State College signaled a new chapter in the lives of 28 souls — half of them belonging to dogs and the other half to their humans.

The distinctive sound came during graduation ceremonies for the latest class of service dogs and veterans matched and trained together by Healing Paws for Warriors (HP4Ws).

HP4Ws is a local nonprofit organization that provides post-9/11 combat veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress (PTS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma (MST) and other issues with Americans With Disabilities Act-certified service dogs.

More:2019: Four veterans take home their 'battle buddies'

HP4Ws' work aims to help veterans return to civilian life with dignity and independence, bringing awareness to the issue of veteran suicide, and in the bargain, reducing the number of dogs relegated to animal shelters. The group's volunteers wear T-shirts succinctly expressing the nonprofit's two-pronged mission. The shirts feature the slogan "Save A Veteran, Rescue A Dog." 

As part of Friday's ceremony, the veterans were asked to rip the "In Training" patches from their dogs, signaling the end of training and the beginning of their lives together, which will include additional learning as the veterans communicate their ongoing and possibly changing needs to the dogs, and the dogs respond.

"Service dogs give veterans a new leash on life," quipped Mike Arena, an Air Force veteran who five years ago co-founded HP4Ws with Sheila Hale, who now serves as the nonprofit's operations manager,   

The dogs and the joint training are offered to veterans at no cost during the placement and training period. After training, the veteran is responsible for care of the dog and costs associated with ownership.

Among Friday's graduates were Army retiree Josh Davis and his service dog, Charlie, a black Labrador retriever. Davis got involved with HP4Ws after meeting and talking with Arena at the Veterans Affairs clinic just outside Eglin Air Force Base.

More:2019: NWF State opens Veterans Success Center

As Charlie lay stretched out at Davis' feet, Davis recounted the training process. A major portion of the process was just "learning each other" and "learning the rhythm" of their developing relationship, Davis said.

Davis initially was matched with a different dog, but things just didn't work out for either of them, he said. As for Charlie, "he fits in perfectly with me" to help him work around some mobility issues.

"It's a constant process of learning" for both him and Charlie, Davis said.

Also among the veterans graduating with their service dogs was Arena, who was getting his second service dog, Ava.

Arena's first service dog, Orion, was retired as part of Friday's ceremonies. Orion was the first service dog trained by HP4Ws, and in addition to assisting Arena, he became the canine face of the nonprofit organization in the community, appearing at dozens of community events to promote HP4Ws and its work.

While Orion was the first dog to retire from HP4Ws, it's not particularly unusual for dogs to be retired from their work as service animals, according to John Porche, one of HP4Ws volunteer trainers.

As they get older, service dogs sometimes "slow down their pace; they're not as active," Porche said.

Orion will continue as HP4Ws' community ambassador, Arena said.

Asked what he appreciated most about Orion, Arena said, "I couldn't even begin to answer that. There are just too many things."

His new service dog, Ava, provides him with some reminders of Orion, Arena said. "She has a lot of the same characteristics," he said, "the same color eyes, the same facial expressions."

In a tribute to Orion at Friday's ceremony, Porche recalled his first meeting with Orion two years ago.

"Orion and I became friends at that moment," Porche said, noting the dog's "longtime commitment and absolute love toward Mike."

As the nonprofit's first service dog, Orion became an example to the more than 30 dogs that HP4Ws has since linked with veterans, Porche added.

"You are here because of Orion," he told the new graduates, the HP4Ws volunteers and others gathered for Friday's graduation.       

HP4Ws' staff comprises a combat medical war veteran, a practicing PTS therapist, a professional service dog trainer and a veterinarian, all supported by a number of volunteers. According to HP4Ws, the cost of pairing, training and equipping a dog and its veteran can range from $5,000 to $8,000. 

Veterans who meet HP4Ws' criteria for participation in the program can apply online at https://www.healingpawsforwarriors.org/apply.

The basic criteria for the program are military service after Sept. 11, 2001; a verifiable diagnosis of PTS, TBI and/or MST; an honorable discharge or current honorable service, a stable living environment with no substance abuse nor conviction of any crime against animals, and having no more than two dogs at home. Other acceptance criteria may be required, on a case-by-case basis, according to the nonprofit's website.