Caleb and his service dog Shilo

After being severely injured in Iraq, Caleb came home with multiple scars both mentally and physically. His PTSD issues were further compounded by a traumatic brain injury. Caleb suffers from all of the same challenges, nightmares, flashbacks and tremendous anxiety and mood swings that other PTSD patients suffer from, but his are more severe. From the first day he got Shilo, she began to retrieve his dropped items and wake him from night terrors. Today she can prevent him from going in a store or getting in the car if she senses his anxiety levels to be too high and can even go for help if needed. He is now starting to go to a few places and has made new friends. He is sleeping better with Shilo there to ground him.

After four days of intensive training, when Caleb and Shilo were initially paired and they were getting ready to leave, Caleb said that “in that short amount of time that he already couldn’t imagine life without Shilo”. We are proud to report that Caleb has made so much progress that he and Shilo were seen on a float for a Veteran’s Day parade! We are very proud of you Caleb and Shilo!!!