Service dogs save veterans lives through paws4vets

OVER ARE TRYING TO BRING THANUMBER DOWN.

FOR TONIGHTVOICE VETERANS - BROUGHT TOYOU BY RBCMANAGEMENT.

WMAR-2 NEWS ERINMACPHERSON INTRODUCES USPAWS 4 VETS.úTHIS IS MORGAN A PRETTINCREDIBLE DOG - SHE FOLLOWSTONS OF COMMANDS AND HELPRANDY POWERS EVERY DAY.

Oops,can you get that for me?

I gota lot of nerve damage and dropeverything POWERS WAS IN THEMILITARY FOR NEARLY TEN YEARin my second year in the AirForce, I had a back and spineinjury.

THATPROBLEMS STEM FROM TODAY.

HEWOUND UP SERVING 8 AND A HAYEARS IN THE AIR FORCE AFTERHE FOUGHT BEING MEDICALLYDISCHARGEDANOTHER YEAR IN THE ARMYNATIONAL GUARD.

Loved what Idid had no interest gettingout EVENTUALLY HE DID ANDWORKED IN FEDERAL LAWENFORCEMENT.

OVER THE YEARS,HIS BACK INJURY GOT WORSE &EVENTUALLY, HIS DOCTOR SAID HENEEDED A WHEELCHAIR.

I wasngetting in a wheelchair therewas nothing in the world gonnamake me do that so my vadoctor said what about aservice dog I was like heckyeah!

THATPAWS 4 VETS AND MORGAN.

Morganwas the first dog I met.Anchored on me between mylegs.

Giving me lovins PAWS 4VETS IS A SECTION OF PAWSPEOPLE.

THEY'RE A NONPROFTORGANIZATION THAT SUPPLIESSERVICE DOGS TO VETERANS,FIRST RESPONDERS AND CHILDRENWITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

Dogs dondiscriminate... A dog looks atus for who we are and what weare FOR POWERS - THIS DOG HASMADE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE -IMPROVING HIS QUALITY OF LIFE.18 months prior to me gettingMorgan I had about 25 fallsand 5 surgeries to fix thethings I was breaking everytime I fell.

Since IMorgan, just over five years.I130 POUNDS LIGHTER.

BEFOREGETTING MORGAN HE COULD ONLYWALK 75 STEPS A DAY.

Six weeksafter I had Morgan home Icould walk about a half milewithin six months i was doinga mile and before the end ofthe first year, I could do atwo mile loop the motivationwas to have her, my dogsitting there looking at me.Hey dad an we fo out!?

Thetotally dependent on you andyou become totally dependenton them.

Win win for both ofus NOW SINCE HEWORKS FOR PAWS 4 VETS -HELPING OTHERS LIKE HIM -PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLYSTRUGGLING.

To know that thesepeople in one point in lifewere bad asses and it boilsright down to that, it hurts.So if you can give back, dosomething about it.

Whywouldncontinues THEIR MISSION EVERYDAY - work TO INCREASE THENUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY HELP.can you look at me?

Good job.High five.

Weday.

Come on FOR WMAR-2 NEWSalright IM ERIN MACPHERSONlets do itAN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT PAWSFOR PEOPLE - THEY ALSO HELINMATES AND DOGS IN SHELTERSINMATES AT THE WEST VIRGINIADEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONSTRAIN THESE SERVICE ANIMALS.TO MAKE SURE THEYTRAIN SERVICE DOGS - THEINMATES PRACTICE ON SHELTERDOGS.

THEY TRAIN DOZENS OFDOGS A YEAR.

NOW THEYHOPING TO MOVE TO HUNDREDS.SINCE THEY'RE A NONPROFIT THEYRELY ON FUNDRAISERS -- ANDHAVE ONE COMING UP FORMEMORIAL DAY - A VIRTUAL WALK.WE HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATIONON OUR WEBSITE WMAR-2 NEWS DCOM.IT'