A Veteran Battling With PTSD Takes The Bold Step Of Adopting Two Shelter Dogs Who End Up Changing His Life

PTSD comes with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma, accompanied by serious physical and emotional reactions. Some people get dogs to serve as their emotional support system.

Maryjane

• Published in Animal Stories
• November 28, 2021

PTSD can happen to anybody at any stage of life, regardless of culture, ethnicity, or nationality. PTSD is a disorder characterized by an inability to recuperate after encountering or seeing a frightening event. 

PTSD comes with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma, accompanied by serious physical and emotional reactions. Also, the condition might last for months or even years.

Even after the horrible event has ended, individuals with PTSD have serious, disturbing feelings and thoughts associated with their experience, which can last a long time. They may experience flashbacks or nightmares about the event, as well as feelings of dread, sadness, or outrage, and they may feel isolated or estranged by others.

Individuals with PTSD might stay away from circumstances or individuals that help them remember the awful event, and they might have strong negative reactions to something as common as an accidental touch or a loud noise. For certain individuals, indications of PTSD die down or disappear over time.

Others improve with the assistance of their emotional support system, which brings us to the story of Scott Kroger, who suffers from PTSD. Fitting into civilian life has been hard for Scott Kroger, who is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, as he battles with post-traumatic stress disorder.

He was given advice to get a therapy dog who might assist in comforting him, so he went to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to check whether they had any dogs who might be ideal for him as well as his family.

Someone needs a dog...

At the shelter, Kroger met a few puppies, but finally chose to adopt Summer as they had an instant bond, and he believed that Summer would flourish in his home.

And he got one

Yay, summer has been adopted and is ready to head to his new home with his owner, Kroger.

Despite the fact that he adored Summer's companionship, he was unable to stop thinking about another dog he saw at the shelter. In order to know if the dog named Piney was still available, Kroger called Best Friends.

After much thought, Kroger chose to go on the eight-hour drive to adopt Piney, and the dog was glad to see Kroger. Kroger, on the other hand, was excited that Piney could still recall seeing him. 

Make that two dogs, please

Its now Kroger, Piney and Summer for the win...

Piney and Summer are doing a good job of making Kroger feel at ease, despite the fact that they haven't had any prior training as therapy dogs. Kroger told Best Friends that Piney and Summer have been extraordinary for him as they've made him a totally different person altogether.

Watch the inspiring story of Kroger and his dogs in the video below

Kroger has also undergone significant changes as a result of the help of these two shelter dogs. And in return, they have a loving home where they can play together, sleep in their comfortable beds, go on outings to the seaside, and generally have the time of their lives.

It's now difficult to tell who saved who!  

Maryjane