A story by Maine Paws for Veterans from 2025
Maine Paws for Veterans, Derek & Scout
Derek and his psychiatric service dog, Scout, trained at Maine Paws for Veterans in 2023. After serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Derek found the transition back into civilian life while carrying the scars from his deployment to be debilitating. For years, he missed out on activities trying to avoid triggers and withdrew from family and society because he felt he didn’t belong. Finding himself in crisis repeatedly, Derek finally reached out for help and stopped living in denial.
Long-term intensive therapy led to methods to keep Derek grounded, moving water, and a dog. Derek was worried about the stigma of the label of post-traumatic stress and being deemed unfit. As he continued training Scout with other veterans, they all learned about self-worth and regained their sense of identity. “The phenomenal support from Maine Paws for Veterans helping Scout to become my forever companion reminds me that I do not need to fight my demons alone. I’ve finally found where I belong, and for this, I give thanks.”
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