Health

HE A LTH • Spring 2022 11 impaired owners to alarms, pushing handicap buttons on doors, retrieving necessary items, opening refrigerators, and calming their owners down if they have PTSD f lashbacks in public or night terrors in bed. "The dog is able to kind of give them their life back. And we just look at the dogs as that bridge, that community bridge, back to independence and of being able to do things on their own," Hanna said. Labradors are selected at NEADS for their temperament and intellect. Once they are bred and selected for training, the puppies undergo 18-24 months of training before they are ready to be matched with a client. NEADS does in-depth interviews with its clients to make sure they are matched with a dog that not only suits their needs, but their lifestyles, hobbies, families, and home environments. The process takes time, but it ensures both the client and the dog have a partnership benefitting both parties. "The dog is just like many things in the military, you know, your right arm, your battle buddy, the person that is there that supports you in all different situations. That dog becomes that part of the partnership," Hanna said. It typically costs $45,000 to breed, raise, and train each dog. However, NEADS asks clients who are not part of the veteran program to raise $8,000 toward these fees but gives them two years to complete fundraising so finances are not a deterrent. NEADS Trainer Tyler Gribi completed a required two-year apprenticeship program before becoming an official trainer in February 2021. The thorough instruction of the trainers ensures they can properly train dogs to perform a wide variety of tasks on command without getting distracted by the world around them. One of the dogs Gribi trains is a 20-month-old dog named Porter, who is on track to be a service dog for an individual with a military service disability. Porter was selected for physical disability training because his height allows him to be nearly as tall as a wheelchair or walker, so he can give items to physically disabled individuals without them reaching down. Gribi loves working with dogs and helping clients NEADS facts live their best lives. While his work is highly rewarding, Gribi would like the public to remember service dogs are working and petting and distracting them from assisting their owner could result in that person's injury. Comptois himself once fell in a local Walmart after a group of young shoppers distracted Leko, pulling her from his side while he was kneeling and making him fall to the ground as a result. "They are basically medical equipment for that person. You wouldn't go up and touch a wheelchair because that is intrusive," Gribi said. In fact, the U.S. Department Veterans Affairs officially registers service dogs as medical devices. Finding normalcy After years of denial, Comptois is glad he reached out for a service dog. Comptois said veterans are conditioned to be self less and do not reach out for the services they need. Comptois now acts as an advocate, telling fellow veterans all about the independence and normalcy NEADS service dogs can provide. Not only does Leko help him with daily routines, but she acts like a beacon to let other people know he is there, so he does not get hit or jostled by people in public. She is fiercely loyal and protective of Comptois. "You know, I get excited like that talking about her. I get a little teary, because it's a soft spot in my heart," he said. Leko is 9 years old and slowing down in her ability to do tasks, but even as she nears retirement, Comptois will keep her as a beloved part of his family while he considers getting a younger NEADS service dog. "Not only [is NEADS] helpful in the beginning about getting your dog, but all through the dog's career of serving you, they are right there behind you if you need anything," Comptois said. Cliff Comptois pictured with his service dog, Leko. 160 Veteran clients NEADS has matched since program started in 2006 84 Active NEADS veteran clients 26 Active NEADS service dogs for veterans with physical disabilities 25 Active NEADS service dogs for veterans with hearing loss 33 Active NEADS service dogs for veterans with PTSD 24 States where NEADS veteran clients are across the country (AL, AZ, CO, CT, FL, IL, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OR, PR, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI) Source: NEADS World Class Service Dogs, 2022 H Porter is a NEADS service dog specially trained to assist a physically disabled individual. PHOTOS COURTESY | CLIFF COMPTOIS PHOTO | EDD COTE

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