Man's Best Friend Helps Heal War Wounds
Leif Meisinger, a former Army gunner, says getting Spyder was one of the best things that ever happened to him. He credits his canine companion with helping to ease his PTSD.
Leif Meisinger, a former Army gunner, says getting Spyder was one of the best things that ever happened to him. He credits his canine companion with helping to ease his PTSD.
Unwanted and abandoned dogs fill shelters nationwide, and not many will get a second chance. But, in California there's a new organization that is saving one dog at a time and, in the process, helping those who have served.
One of those people is Leif Meisinger, a combat veteran who still wears a military-style buzz cut. His arms are tapestries of colored ink, including a few tattoos he got in Iraq.
The 40-year-old former Army gunner says he has a mild traumatic brain injury after a roadside bomb blast and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
"It was like I was back in Iraq again," he says. "I was up at night, and I would sleep during the day."
A few months ago, something in his life changed. Meisinger received a dog from Pets for Vets — a Los Angeles-based organization that matches shelter dogs with veterans like Meisinger who are having a hard time re-entering civilian life.
"I love this dog," Meisinger says, "and … I've never really been an animal-type person."
Four-Legged Therapists
The 215-pound soldier plays fetch with the 10-pound dog, Spyder.
"It's the greatest thing that ever could happen to me … getting the dog," he says. "Now I'm a social butterfly. Whereas before, I was in my house drinking, just dying … doing nothing."
The founder of Pets for Vets, Clarissa Black, says adopting an animal can change veterans' lives.
"It's like having a best friend," she says. "It's like having a companion. Many of these guys, they talk to their dogs. They tell their dogs things they could not tell anyone else — sometimes even their therapists. And together they're helping each other heal."
Although her job is extremely rewarding, there are hard parts, too, such as choosing dogs out of the many that need a home.
At Los Angeles County's high-kill animal shelter, Black looks for a retriever mix. As if reading her mind, dozens of dogs of all sizes try to get her attention.
"It's very hard to walk down and see all the animals looking at you and knowing they need a home as well," she says.
Breeding Connections
After volunteering in an animal therapy program at a Veterans Affairs hospital, the 27-year-old certified animal trainer saw a special need and started Pets for Vets. She's placed eight dogs since June.
"You can just see the months and years of stress melt away from the first moment that [the vets] see their dog," Black says.
She doesn't have much of a budget. A small band of volunteers and donations help cover her expenses to train the dogs as companion animals.
And for veterans with special emotional needs, Black, who has a degree in Animal Sciences from Cornell, says she teaches the dogs to recognize things like a panic attack by simulating the behavior herself. She then trains the dogs to react with a gentle nudge or kiss.
"It is a very good partner to group therapy or one-on-one therapy," says Richard Beam, a spokesman for the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, Calif., which has referred patients to the Pets for Vets program. "It's a perfect augmentation."
"We've seen some of our veterans really feel connected to something," he says, "whereas without that connection to an animal or a pet, they really did feel alone."
That was certainly true for Meisinger, who says he still participates in group therapy at the VA once a week. But he says it's Spyder that keeps him grounded on the other days.
"I'll be sitting there, and I have no idea what I'm thinking, I'm just staring at something, and all of a sudden he comes up and starts licking my face, and it's like 'Oh whoa' — he pulls me back," Meisinger says. "He keeps me from going to that spot that you don't need to go to."
December 14, 2009 3:33 PM | Reply | Report this comment
I find it infuriating that after serving out country, we provide someone like you so few services . Service at McDonalds is just the tip of the iceburg...it is unacceptable that veterans are forced to continue battling for the rights all disabled persons after they return home.
Any country that sends people into harm's way owes those men and women everything they require to be well and become reintegrated upon their return. From appropriate and free medical care to easy access anywhere if they have been injured and depend on the support of a service dog, this is the least we can do for our veterans. In fact, I believe this is the least we can do for any individual.
To fail to support the men and women who serve, to fail serve all the rights of any disabled individuals, is to fail to be the America for whom these noble individuals served.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Patricia Lee Stotter
December 14, 2009 6:29 PM | Reply | Report this comment
Much love and support to you and Tuesday,
Molly!
December 14, 2009 7:23 PM | Reply | Report this comment
Thank you for caring so deeply about our nation's veterans -- they do, indeed, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect as well as cared for honorably.
But, since we are not, as of yet, we must "fight on" -- for our sakes and those who shall come after us.
With blessings and best regards,
Luis (&Tuesday)
December 14, 2009 7:25 PM | Reply | Report this comment
Thank you for your support -- it means a great deal.
Please continue to pass the word. For together we will make a difference for people and veteran's with disabilities.
Fondly yours,
Luis (& Tuesday)
December 14, 2009 10:29 PM | Reply | Report this comment
December 14, 2009 10:58 PM | Reply | Report this comment
I follow your posts with interest. I agree that one has to become an activist to overcome the inertia of advocating a cause that underlies most of our society.
This country was founded by activists. I see no problem of being one myself. In fact, everyone contributing to this POV blog is already an activist by using the media to express an opinion. It matters not that we were asked to do so. What matters is that we accepted the challenge.
Veterans and Military are good at accepting challenges in the first place!
My best regards,
Art
December 14, 2009 11:16 PM | Reply | Report this comment
December 14, 2009 11:20 PM | Reply | Report this comment
That is precisely why McDonald's got themselves into this predicament in the first place -- inaction. Moreover, it is why they will -- and I stress, will -- learn a very important lesson through this entire ordeal.
Thank you for caring and even more, for doing...
Luis (& Tuesday)
December 14, 2009 11:30 PM | Reply | Report this comment
Quite right. Although, I wish I could devote time and energy to other worthy causes, this one just hit me on the head -- literally. And, I was neither raised nor trained to tolerate such ignoble behavior.
With best regards,
Luis (& Tuesday)
December 15, 2009 1:56 AM | Reply | Report this comment
I chaired the 504 Democratic Club Meeting tonight and brought your matter up in New Business. Suffice it to say everyone was outraged and want to organize strongly in conjunction with what you're doing. We'd like to discuss several actions and wish to seek your direction. Representatives from Disabled In Action were there and they have commited their organization as well.
Keep up the fight - we're there with you.
Peace,
Mike
December 15, 2009 10:26 PM | Reply | Report this comment
Thanks for writing. I am grateful for the support of the 504th and Disabled in Action. Together, we will stand up for people and veteran's with disabilities.
Please email me so that we can meet in the near future.
With blessings and best regards,
Luis (& Tuesday)
December 15, 2009 11:41 PM | Reply | Report this comment
My dearest admiration goes to you for your selfless devotion; I expect nothing less from a person of your candor and action. Where a commonplace civilian may see this as an opportunity for a campaign to "stick it to the man" or "strike it rich," you request little more than corporate responsibility and respectful treatment. I am proud to be writing here alongside you, and support you in the challenges that lie ahead in this fight.
Even at home, the mission goes on in many areas of life. As Art put it, what matters is we accept the challenge and as Veterans, we are good at in the first place.
Fight on, Sir.
Drew Peneton
January 31, 2010 8:29 PM | Reply | Report this comment
February 1, 2010 1:50 PM | Reply | Report this comment
and thanks for keeping in touch with me.
i will forward this information to
all my friends.
February 1, 2010 3:56 PM | Reply | Report this comment
February 11, 2010 4:29 PM | Reply | Report this comment
February 14, 2010 10:22 PM | Reply | Report this comment
I, too have a disability, and have found that most people are afraid of the disability. Even professionals, such as pharmacists, are sometimes frightened to serve me with a usual smile, once they understand the reason behind my medication needs. I find this depressing, to say the least. Someone in my family has fought for this country in every war we have been involved in since the revolutionary war. While I cannot join the service, due to my particular disability, I feel a similar outrage that I have committed no crime, yet experience animosity from others due to circumstances beyond my own control.
I thank you for serving this country in a serious manner. I am glad to be able to thank you, and duely appreciate your contribution. It saddens me to think you may have suffered at the hands of citizens who are currently profiting from your actions of heroism.
Judgements should be reserved for those with whom we are very well acquainted, and used with great caution at that. It is my opinion that those persons who have judged you inappropriate in their place of employment, have definitely judged in error, and should make amends to you as soon as possible.
A similar incident happened to me, and the person in question was sent on a two week leave of absence from work to receive traning on the ADA laws, and how they apply to the job being performed.
I feel your suggestion for McDonald's employees is very appropriate, and should be a top priority in the education of employees facing public interaction everywhere. You, I think, are very noble to consider them as uneducated, if not ignorant, aggressive, and hostile.
Peace to you,
Bailey
February 15, 2010 8:21 AM | Reply | Report this comment
February 16, 2010 9:32 AM | Reply | Report this comment
February 16, 2010 5:42 PM | Reply | Report this comment
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/war-lies-and-the-huffington-post-a-veterans-tall-tale-coming-undone/19344942
February 17, 2010 10:37 AM | Reply | Report this comment
First - THANK YOU SIR, for your service and your sacrifice to our great nation. I am deeply grateful to you and to all of our Veteran's, Past, Present and Future, for the freedoms that I am priviledged to live.
Through Operation Second Chance, I have made it my goal to help as many of our wounded veterans as possible. Having the wonderful opportunity to go to WRAMC several times a week, I come into contact with veterans with life-changing injuries. Many of those injured require service dogs and I am blessed to know many of them. I know the importance of having such wonderful, loyal companions by their sides.
I too am infuriated over the unjust treatment that both you and Tuesday had to endure. I can only add that I wish I would have been there. I take to heart the way our wounded heroes, or any individual with a disability are treated and have no trouble speaking my mind when it is called for.
I am happy to forward this on and additionally add that I will boycott McDonald's at the very least, until this has been resolved.
Respectfully yours,
Cindy McGrew
President & Founder
Operation Second Chance