MINOT, N.D. (AP) - A woman accidentally drops a credit card onto a smooth floor while removing items her purse. Her dog immediately picks up the card and returns it to the woman’s hand. She looks into the dog’s glowing eyes and gives the dog an appreciative pat on the head. Training is going well.
The dog is Poseidon, a 7-month-old black Labrador retriever being trained by Jean Carver of Minot. It’s her fourth dog trained for Labs for Liberty, a remarkable program that delivers trained service dogs to United States military veterans in need of special assistance.
The Minot Daily News (https://bit.ly/2oeFgsj ) reports that Labs for Liberty co-founder Joan Nold says she was moved to action after learning of the heroic exploits of Operation Red Wing in Afghanistan in 2005. The “Lone Survivor” of that mission, Navy Seal Marcus Luttrel, experienced the healing power of a well-trained service dog following his departure from the military. Nold and her husband, Roger, vowed to assist wounded warriors in a meaningful way. Their way was to provide trained service dogs to veterans recovering from the scars left by experiences in war.
“One veteran has flashbacks to a particular mission. He grabs his throat and tries to choke himself,” said Nold with tears forming in her eyes. “I taught the dog when he saw that action to jump up and lick his face and get his attention and bring him back from that flashback.”
Now, says Nold, the dog senses the veteran’s body chemicals and is able to take action before the flashbacks actually occur.
“That veteran used to have flashbacks multiple times a week and now never has a flashback because the dog keeps him in the here and now. He stays positive and is not pulled back into that gunfight,” said Nold.
Carver knows the importance of her rewarding work very well. She spends up to a week with the veterans who receive dogs she has trained. When possible, she arranges for the veteran to meet their future canine companions before training is complete. The meetings help set the stage for permanent bonding between the dog and the veteran.
“Poseidon will go to a veteran in Bismarck. I’ll probably have him ready to go in August,” said Carver during a recent training session inside Dakota Square Mall. “I know how much of a difference Poseidon is going to make. Poseidon will be able to go everywhere with his veteran and keep his veteran from becoming anxious in social situations that have been an issue for him since he got out of the military.”
Labs for Liberty dogs have helped numerous veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. They also can be trained to help with a variety of physical ailments. For example, a wheel-chair bound veteran received a dog that was trained to pick up whatever item the veteran designated with a small laser.
Poseidon’s training includes an introduction to noise and activity. The veteran he will be gifted to has a daughter who is active in soccer and volleyball.
“That’s one of the biggest jobs in my training,” said Carver. “He’ll be able to take Poseidon to all events that most dogs aren’t exposed to.”
One of the Labs for Liberty trained by Carver was for a Marine veteran in North Carolina. The veteran was extremely concerned about people approaching her and being in her space. The lab was trained accordingly but quickly understood more than any trainer could envision.
“People with PTSD don’t like to be surprised. The dog was instinctively aware of that. The dog would bark and tell people to stay back and that would be it,” said Carver. “He wouldn’t do anything aggressive.”
While Carver is a resident of Minot, Nold commutes on a regular basis between her Utah home and Minot. She is a neonatologist, mother of a veteran and partner with well-known Dr. Tom Carver of Minot. Jean Carver says the Nold family has “gone above and beyond” to meet the needs of veterans.
“I’ve met some veterans who have really opened my eyes to their needs and what Labs for Liberty has done for them. It’s just giving back to the veterans who have signed their whole life for our country,” said Carver.
“It’s a mission. It’s a passion for our family,” explained Nold. “We’re able to help people that have done so much for us. It’s a great way of giving back. It’s tremendously rewarding. Each veteran becomes a part of our family. Having them let us into their lives at such a difficult time it quite a privilege.”
All Labs for Liberty dogs are provided to veterans at no charge. Doing so was an easy decision for the dedicated Nold who receives gratification from knowing a trained dog will make a big difference in the life of a veteran.
“You cannot go to war and come back unchanged. Each one of them has their own demons to deal with,” said Nold. “Some have primarily physical needs. Others primarily PTSD. The carnage they’ve seen, the death they’ve seen, friends blown apart into pieces or the actions they’ve had to take to preserve their own lives or other lives that haunt them. We make sure the dog can help.”
Veterans who have been fortunate enough to receive a trained dog from Labs for Liberty are grateful for the difference their dog has made in their recovery and ability to cope in a variety of situations that they previously could not. Nold says one of the characteristics necessary for dogs chosen for Labs for Liberty is that they be particularly sensitive. It is one of the vital attributes for which the dogs are specifically bred.
“The soul of that dog wants to take care of that human,” said Nold. “They’ll do anything for them. They’ll comfort them, work for them. It just makes them happy.”
As an example, Nold tells the story of a Labs for Liberty dog accompanying his veteran to a memorial held for a fellow veteran who had killed himself. The dog went through the crowd and got up on the lap and comforted each person in the room.
“She knew those people needed her. That’s just amazing. Dogs are amazing,” said Nold. “Dogs are so intuitive. They sense your emotions. If you are really sad they will pick up on that and come over and try and comfort you.”
Labs for Liberty dogs are trained to behave for airline travel, in crowds, even restaurants. Carver says she takes dogs she is training to restaurants once or twice a week for several months. The dog is trained to remain under the table and be calm for the duration of the visit. Being able to train in such situations requires cooperation and assistance from businesses and people.
“Everyplace we’ve ever gone in training they have been so respectful and receptive to what I am doing. They’ve been fabulous. Minot’s been wonderful,” said Carver. “I’ve been to schools, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts. They get to see what I’m doing and it’s good for training too.”
Sometimes the need for a Labs for Liberty dog is greater for members of a veteran’s family than for the veteran. One such situation involved a five-year-old girl, the daughter of two veterans, who has a genetic disorder. She has trouble balancing and speaking.
“That dog now goes to the Shriners Hospital with her and all her appointments for physical and occupational therapy. It opened up a whole new world of communication for her,” said Nold.
While dogs chosen for Labs for Liberty must exhibit traits much desired for service dogs, they are also bred for their natural hunting ability. Many veterans find healing through hunting and outdoor activities, making a trained dog a wonderful companion.
The Nolds haven’t limited their admiration for veterans to just Labs for Liberty. They have also established the “Liberty Outpost” on their property located in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. It is a place where combat veterans can vacation with their families or teammates free of charge. According to their website, labsforliberty.org, “we embrace the statement made by American Sniper Chris Kyle that it’s our duty to serve those who serve us.”
___
Information from: Minot Daily News, https://www.minotdailynews.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.