The Brief
- Near Wimauma, the nonprofit Valor Service Dogs trains service dogs to help veterans cope with anxiety, PTSD and other challenges after military service.
- Retired Army Col. Peri Anest says his service dog, Andy, has helped him sleep better, manage anxiety and feel comfortable returning to public places.
- Valor Service Dogs has trained and placed 47 service dogs over the past 10 years, with leaders encouraging veterans to seek help and support sooner.
BALM, Fla. – For many veterans, leaving the service can mean facing new battles at home. Near Wimauma, nonprofit Valor Service Dogs is helping veterans work through those invisible struggles with the help of highly trained four-legged companions.
Hidden struggles
Peri Anest gave nearly 33 years of his life to the U.S. Army. The retired colonel deployed around the world and eventually retired out of U.S. Special Operations Command.
But after leaving the uniform behind, Anest said the weight of his experiences began to surface.
“It didn’t hit me right away,” Anest said. “Some of the things, it took a while to manifest. Things that I can’t unsee anymore, I cannot unhear, I cannot unsmell.”
The backstory:…