During one trek to the Naval Medical Center in Virginia, Barker noticed the transformation of another young veteran recuperating from head trauma and an amputated leg. The wounded warrior’s usual gruff demeanor had softened with a smile. The visiting therapy dog responded with a repertoire of tail wags, face licks, and nose nuzzles.
Barker kept the indelible image of the veteran and his furry guest tucked into her mental back pocket. Months later, the memory resurfaced when a couple replied to Barker’s advertisement for Great Pyrenees puppies that she was selling. As Megan and Jake greeted Barker at her kennel, they noticed a “Marine Mom” decal on Barker’s van. This led to a serendipitous discovery. The visitors were U.S. Marine Corp veterans. Jake was grappling with anxiety and PTSD, following his service. As a volunteer search and rescue dog trainer and military mother, Barker instinctively realized that Jake and other veterans could benefit from a support dog to assist with their invisible injuries.
As Barker began researching the steps to create a nonprofit organization, she discovered that the invisible injury problem was compounded by the burgeoning percentage of veterans accepting first responder jobs after serving in the military. According to the 2015 report “Characteristics of Individuals and Employment Among First Responders” prepared for the U.S. Department of Labor, about 7% of all employed individuals in the nation served in the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty. The three major first responder categories, however, had larger shares of veterans than the 7% average. The DOL research indicates that veterans made up 25.2% of police, 18.6% of firefighters, and 10% of emergency medical technicians. This data indicates that first responders with a military background continue riding the cycle of trauma exposure without a mental break. The authors of “The Ruderman White Paper Update on Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders” released in 2018, discuss the grave aftermath of repeatedly witnessing traumatic events. “These professionals embody astounding bravery and resilience, but at the end of the day, they are only human,” write the authors. Failing to destigmatize the need for mental health awareness and treatment can have fatal consequences, according to the document’s researchers with the nonprofit Ruderman Family Foundation.
Research released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also sounds the siren on the emotional well-being of veterans and first responders. In its 2022 “Supporting the Behavioral Health Needs of our Nation’s Veterans” blog, SAMHSA contends that about 5.2 million veterans are wrestling with a behavioral health challenge, with only about 50% seeking timely treatment for diagnosed mental illness. In addition, SAMHSA’s “First Responders: Behavioral Health Concern, Emergency Response, and Trauma” 2018 bulletin estimates 30% of first responders face mental health challenges ranging from depression to PTSD. “This data highlights that our friends, family, and community members may be suffering in silence, and that barriers to care exist including stigma,” reads an excerpt. Barker echoed the call to address these mental health challenges. She said that veterans and first responders have devoted their lives responding to the distress alarms of others, and now the public can reciprocate with compassion and support.
Barker believes progress is being made to give veterans and first responders assistance with healing the emotional scars from serving their country and communities. She cited the donation of seed money from a Florida U.S. Marine Corp family to build the nonprofit’s new 9,600 square foot building that serves as a pup training and group counseling meeting spot, as one example. She said the gift symbolizes the growing support in breaking down treatment blockades. Barker pointed to a collection of military dog tags and framed photos of veterans and first responders with Hero Pups placements, displayed throughout the two-story facility, as additional evidence. She cited the 600 volunteer hours from individuals working onsite and remotely during the first three weeks of May, as another indicator of public commitment to giving back to veterans and first responders.
Barker noted that the stairway leading to the second floor of the new Hero Pups site is wide enough to accommodate humans with wheelchairs and their canine companions. Blue cushioned chairs cradle individuals participating in group therapy sessions. A nearby queen-sized bed with a comforter and pillows provides pups practice waking their human charges from nightmares. Two lighting systems allow brightness adjustments to thwart potential triggers. Barker said that consultations with veteran organizations and therapists provided expert guidance for designing and furnishing the building.
Situated on 46 acres, the Hero Pups site also offers outdoor respite options. The four miles of wooded trails allow Hero Pups recipients to take tranquil walks with their whiskered buddies. Patio chairs and tables are available to visitors seeking a spot to share the fresh air and warm sun with flitting birds and butterflies. Garden beds are being created for green-thumbed veterans and first responders, with resulting produce earmarked for local food pantries. A flat blank side of the building serves as an oversized movie screen. There is a long dirt road leading to the site. Barker said that the road, flanked with blue and red striped wooden markers, will remain unpaved to retain the natural sensory appeal of the retreat. “We call it checking your baggage at the tree.” Barker said. She added that the four-pawed Hero Pups silently communicate to the veterans and first responders that the site is a safe zone.
Police Detective Rochelle Jones served her country for three decades as a veteran and first responder. She said that handling Mason, a comfort dog donated to the Portsmouth Police Department, has resulted in immeasurable benefits to community members and fellow officers. Before pursuing a career in law enforcement, Jones served in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps as a corrections specialist for the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Now, she is a police detective working in the city she was born and raised in. Jones said that witnessing and stopping conflict remains a routine part of her job. She and other law enforcement officers are affected by the immersion in routine traumatic scenes that include: fatal drug overdoses, sexual assaults, deadly car crashes, attempted suicides, and natural disasters.
“We’re dealing with some very abnormal things,” Jones said. She recalled responding to a crisis call for a despondent man threatening to jump from the Piscataqua River Bridge, as an example. Jones said that she is grateful that her training as a Seacoast Emergency Response Team crisis negotiator helped save the individual’s life, but that memory of the scene lingers. “If I drive by that bridge, I’m always going to think of that incident.” Jones said. “You can work your way through it,” she added. She said that she encourages her fellow officers to make a conversation “date” with themselves, to acknowledge the traumatic events that are part of the job. Jones said that she and her colleagues are thankful for the department’s foresight to welcome Mason as part of its mental health wellness plan. Wearing his on-duty vest, Mason attends roll call and debriefing sessions, and completes regular department walk throughs to say hello to the entire team. Jones said that simply petting and having social interaction with the pup makes them feel good and less stressed. “Mason is a game changer,” Jones said, reflecting on her partner’s calming effect on the police department. “Sometimes the best therapists have fur and four paws.” In addition to boosting the morale of the Portsmouth Police Department, which includes several veterans, Jones said that Mason helps the officers connect with the community during times of triumph, as well as tragedy. Mason participates in the city’s annual Cops and Kids event, circulates at senior citizen socials, and visits local schools. “I want him to be exposed to as many kids as possible, before something bad happens,” Jones said. She said that she feels building rapport with children will increase the likelihood that they’ll reach out to an officer or other trusted adult, when they’re struggling with dangerous or difficult situations, including abuse and neglect. Jones said that Mason has provided comfort to adults and children during times of crisis. She recollected responding to an “unattended” death of a young man. The father of the deceased individual arrived at the scene and remained immobilized, refusing to leave his son’s side. “He was stubborn,” Jones said, describing the grieving parent, who was a fellow veteran. “He was the patriarch of the family.” Jones recalled asking the distraught man if he liked dogs. He said yes, and allowed Mason to climb inside his truck. As the man felt Mason’s soft fur and warm breath, the tears started to roll down the veteran’s face. In a calmer state, the devastated father agreed with Jones that the last memory of his son should be associated with Mason providing comfort, not the coroner completing a post-mortem exam. “Mason broke down that tough barrier,” Jones said. She added that Mason’s presence was invaluable with helping a heartbroken father and his family.
Nick Goulet, the recipient of a Hero Pups service dog and former lieutenant with the Berwick Fire and Rescue Department in Maine, said that he initially didn’t follow the advice Jones gives to veterans and first responders, to develop a plan to process job-related trauma. Consequently, he plunged into a dark hole of despair following two tragic events. Goulet recalled being the incident commander of a car accident scene that claimed the lives of four people. This was the precursor to his PTSD symptoms. “I didn’t want to say anything,” Goulet said. “I didn’t want to be a weak firefighter,” Eventually, Goulet spoke with a counselor to help traverse the trauma that had started crowding his thoughts. Without warning, a second tragedy struck. A friend in the department filled a shift for Goulet, a schedule change that would claim the firefighter’s life and shatter Goulet. Responding to an apartment fire, the fellow firefighter died while trying to rescue residents and protecting a crew member. “When Joel died, I kind of shut right down,” Goulet said, referring to his fallen department brother. Goulet didn’t talk with anyone about his feelings. Horrific images kept replaying. “When all these dreams and enemies catch up with us, we hit rock bottom,” he said. Rock bottom for Goulet meant retreating into his basement where it was cool and dark. The longtime firefighter of 24 years said his cellar became his bunker. It was the only place he would attempt to sleep. “Upstairs, outside of the basement, I felt more vulnerable,” Goulet explained. When he joined the National Junior Firefighter Program at the age of 16, he didn’t foresee his quest to help others would result in a mental health lockdown, as an adult.
Seeking counseling from the nonprofit Brattleboro Retreat of Vermont, and meeting Barker at a Hero Pups fundraiser in honor of his late friend, helped Goulet come out of his self-imposed solitary confinement. Eventually, he decided to share his healing journey to help others. “I don’t think firefighters understand there are these types of resources for them,” he said. “They don’t have to suffer.” As he sat on a couch near sunny windows at the Hero Pups site, Goulet paused as his service dog Nyssa inspected a stuffed purple octopus on the nearby coffee table. Goulet said that while his companion will give the dog toy a quick sniff, she won’t play with it while on duty. “When the vest goes on, the working starts,” Goulet said. “She knows her job is the person she’s looking at right now.” Nyssa has been task trained to assist Goulet manage PTSD symptoms, ranging from nightmares to anxiousness. At night she rests by Goulet’s side on his bed, placing her entire body weight against him until he falls asleep. Then, she quietly moves to her dog bed to keep vigil. When Goulet experiences a nightmare, Nyssa wakes him with a gentle nudge. If Nyssa senses Goulet becoming tense during the day, she extends her paw as a gentle reminder for him to decompress with deep breathing techniques. “We kind of have a nice system now,” Goulet said. Nyssa’s name, meaning new beginning in Greek, describes the gift she has given Goulet, since she was placed in his custody four years ago through Hero Pups. Goulet has resumed working as a tow truck driver with Nyssa by his side, assisting stranded motorists. Nyssa accompanies Goulet when he participates in Hero Pups fundraisers or attends outdoor concerts and plays, sitting in her own comfortable chair during spectator events. “She’s my shadow,” Goulet said. “It’s certainly different now, because I don’t feel alone.”
Receiving its 501 (c) 3 status in 2016, Hero Pups has trained and placed 225 support dogs with veterans and first responders to counteract post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and other psychological challenges resulting from their service.
Barker said that the generosity of volunteers and donors gives the nation’s heroes a chance to embark on a new path of healing and happiness with a four-pawed trail mate, fulling the Hero Pups mission. As the U.S. Marine mother points to numerous photos of former pup trainees now serving and protecting veterans and first responders, Barker mentioned a famous quote by author C.S. Lewis: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
As a longtime journalist and educator, Colleen Lent has written over 1,000 articles for more than 20 different publications, including The New Hampshire Journal of Education and Portsmouth Herald. She earned an excellence in teaching award from Southern New Hampshire University and a first-place health reporting award from the New England Newspaper and Press Association. Colleen holds a Master of Science degree in communications from Clark University and a Master of Elementary Education degree from Southern New Hampshire University. One of her fondest professional experiences was teaching veterans enrolled in undergraduate courses at Southern New Hampshire University and Manchester Community College.
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