Everhart, who lives in Tucson, says Bennett saved his life. His only complaint is that Bennett gets more attention.
Everhart’s Story
Between 20% and 30% of combat veterans suffer from PTSD annually, depending on where and when they are deployed. Everhart never deployed or saw combat, making his situation less common; his PTSD derives from the plummet in his physical and mental health after a shoulder injury sustained in a 2013 training exercise progressively worsened. Anxiety, night terrors, depression and constant irritability with spikes of rage added to Everhart’s chronic physical pain. This led to a year of binge drinking and eventually a DUI. “I wasn’t an alcoholic,” he said, “but I was self-medicating.”
Two major, disturbing incidents sparked his wake-up call: first, an attempted suicide in 2018; later, uncontrolled rage at his mom, who then encouraged him to consider a service dog for PTSD. Everhart embarked on a six-month search to find a program, but nearby organizations did not have dogs ready. He temporarily gave up in frustration, until he spent two weeks taking care of his brother’s German shepherd.
Impressed by the dog’s ability to intuitively notice and soothe his mood changes, Everhart was convinced he needed a companion animal. His PTSD-fueled temperament issues got him researching breeds labeled aggressive. He wanted to be able to relate to his future dog. He found the American Pit Bull Foundation (APBF) website, where he learned of their shelter-to-service program. Operation Sidekick pairs vets with pit bull service dogs. This Charlotte, North Carolina, group saw an opportunity to save people from PTSD-provoked military suicides and pit bulls from being euthanized.
After years of feeling broken, abandoned and shamed, Everhart felt a special kinship with pit bulls, who he believes have been similarly stigmatized. He immediately began communicating with APBF Founder and CEO Sara Ondrako, who would coach him through the extensive, interview-heavy process. Pairing humans with service dogs is neither quick nor simple. As Everhart said, “It’s not just, ‘Here’s a dog, here are the commands, go forth’…” The process requires intensive vetting and training of both parties. Two months into this, Ondrako called him with the news: they’d found a potential canine candidate. Everhart travelled to Illinois to meet the now one-year-old Bennett. If the two bonded, they could launch into training.
Bennett’s Story
Bennett was in a litter of 10 American Staffordshire Terriers puppies, also called American Pit Bull Terriers, who all contracted parvo, a highly contagious virus. Given to a rescue organization, seven survived with help from a partner veterinarian. They were then donated to APBF, where Bennett was the sole qualifier for the service training program.
When Bennett met Everhart, they seemed to be a perfect fit right away. Ondrako was amazed by how quickly they bonded, declaring them “…peas in a pod.” Those who see them together in public may notice how Bennett lies crossways to Everhart, using his body as a protective barrier.
Bennett has helped Everhart socially, bringing out his natural calm. He’s highly perceptive and adept at noticing the slightest cues of rising anxiety, from changes in breath rate or smell, to nervous ticks like leg-rubbing. Once cued, he employs a progression of tools to get Everhart’s attention: nudges and nose “boops” against the leg; next, a quick yelp. If neither works, he’s trained in deep pressure therapy (DPT), and will sit on Everhart’s lap or — during night terrors — his chest.
With the vest on, Bennett is a hyper-aware medical service dog. When the vest is off, he’s a rambunctious 2-year-old. However, with or without the vest, he bounces back into work mode if he sees Everhart showing any signs of anxiety.
Everhart, who lives in Tucson, says Bennett saved his life. His only complaint is that Bennett gets more attention. QCBN
By Melissa Barrow
For more information about Operation Sidekick, visit https://apbf.dog/programs/os/.
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