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Rowlett: Patriot Paws helps veterans find independence
By Ann Marie Shambaugh, Staff Writer
After sustaining a back injury in Iraq, army veteran Clay Rankin requires help for everyday household tasks. Fortunately, his good friend Archie is around 24/7 to help him dress, get up after a fall, and retrieve items he drops.
Archie, however, has a few special needs of his own, including a good regular ear rub and lots of love and patience, because he is a 6-year-old black labrador retriever.
Rankin met Archie through Patriot Paws, a Rockwall-based non-profit organization that trains service dogs primarily for disabled veterans. Founder Lori Stevens created Patriot Paws in 2005 as a way to help veterans who fought for her freedom recover some independence of their own.
Many of the dogs are trained in a place that few associate with freedom: the Gatesville Prison Unit. Because Patriot Paws is a non-profit organization, it cannot afford to hire professional trainers, although a few volunteer their time. The inmates also work as volunteers, and they often earn dividends far greater than a paycheck.
The women who train the dogs are incarcerated for a variety of reasons, but they find the same joy and purpose in training dogs for those who need physical help. Stevens said she's seen bitter women find hope through the program, which can have a ripple effect.
"It's reaching outside the units to their families, because they're now not just serving time, they're learning a skill that they can give back to the community," she said.
The training process takes up to two years, during which only positive reinforcement is used. Stevens said the dogs view all training as playtime, which keeps them motivated and eager to learn.
Patriot Paws has trained golden retrievers and just began work with two Bernese Mountain dog puppies, but most of the companions are labrador retrievers.
"Labradors are so easy to train," said Stevens, who also owns Country K9 Academy. "They're loving, willing, and forgiving if you make a mistake."
The service dogs learn several practical tasks, such as opening and closing a refrigerator door, retrieving a beverage, picking up dropped items, pulling a wheelchair, and sitting quietly in an inconspicuous spot. Once placed with an owner, the dog is a constant companion and must know how to behave in a variety of situations.
Patriot Paws has placed 18 dogs with several more in training, but the waiting list continues to expand.
"There's such a great need for it, because the military that are coming back form this war couldn't come back from previous wars because of the technology that they have on saving their lives," Stevens said.
About 80 percent of Patriot Paws clients are disabled veterans. Some have suffered injuries that may be difficult to replicate during training, such as the loss of hands. The dogs must learn visual and verbal cues to best match the abilities of its owner.
Despite the lengthy learning process, frustrating training lessons, and knowledge that many dogs won’t be able to complete the program, Stevens is encouraged to continue the program because of success stories like Rankin's.
"Archie has just meant the world to me," Rankin said in a YouTube video about his life with his service dog. "Archie gave me back the independence that I lost from being disabled."
Patriot Paws is constantly looking for volunteers to help bathe and walk the dogs, run errands, complete office work, and organize fundraisers. Those who would rather give financially will contribute a double donation for a limited time thanks to a matching grant from the Meadows Foundation.
For information on Patriot Paws, visit www.PatriotPaws.org.
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