John Taylor served more than twenty years in the military.
- Vet with PTSD says service dog saved him
- John Taylor served more than 20 years
- Taylor says best treatment started day he met Arla June
Deployed four times, the decorated veteran who served in the Army and Air Force came home with more than medals.
"I couldn't sleep at night, I had trouble driving, I was an angry driver, you know, headaches, depression, anxiety," said the retired Staff Sergeant.
Taylor says the best treatment started the day he met Arla June, a yellow Labrador service dog from Southeast Guide Dogs.
"We just connected," said Taylor. "She always wants to hug all the time, she's real cute about that," Taylor said.
- Outreach: VA
- Southeastern Guide Dogs
- Service dogs for veterans
- Florida Veteran Suicide Data Sheet- VA
Arla was matched with John who was diagnosed with PTSD.
"Arla needed a handler that would depend on her and be her buddy and bring out the best qualities in her. She needs to know that she's got somebody at her back," Kim Hyde, the Service Dog Program Manager at Southeastern Guide Dogs, said. "John's kinda the same way. He needed that reinforcement of knowing somebody was there for him. And together they became an unstoppable team."
A team that's changed John's world.
"I've considered taking my own life a couple times," Taylor said. "I don't do it anymore. She's amazing. She knows when I'm feeling bad and I feel better when she creeps up on me from behind or jumps on me from the front and just hugs me," Taylor explained.
Taylor believes if those hugs can help him, they can help other veterans just like him fighting to once again share in the sweetness of life. And he hopes sharing his story helps others.
"I love her," Taylor said of Arla June.
