Damian, a veteran, served in the U.S. Navy for around 14 years. He worked as a Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician where he was assigned after the attacks by terrorists on September 11, 2001.
Damian was told to go to Afghanistan three times, and fortunately, he returned home safe and alive. But quite similar to what his brothers and sisters in arms usually experienced, he returned home with battle scars. On top of that, disarming and handling deadly explosives took a toll on Damian’s mental health.
To this day, the navy veteran is trying his best to live each day despite having depression and a traumatic brain injury. Sadly, these are some of the many conditions that have left many sailors feeling hopeless.
Damian shares that his conditions got in the way of his career. When he attempted to pursue a degree at Columbia University, the pressure was too much to handle and to overcome alone. That’s when he thought of looking for a service dog.
Damian reached out to Florida-based K9s For Warriors which is an amazing organization that trains rescue dogs, specifically for helping veterans. They instantly matched him up with a precious black rescue dog named Shai.
Damian knew that owning a rescue dog would make him feel like he’d also be helping the pooch too. It would also help him focus on something valuable. He also shares that he and Shai spent at least three weeks working together in Florida before bringing her home. When they got back home in New York, it didn’t take long before the pair bonded like best buddies.
The veteran also shares that before Shai entered his life, he wasn’t eager to mingle with anyone and would rather stay in his apartment instead. But with Shai as his constant companion, he is always happy to meet and engage with anyone. Shai has miraculously brought back the fun and quality of life that he had lost.
Watch the inspiring story of Damian and Shai in the video below.
Source: The Petco Foundation via Youtube
