thedrifter
10-18-08, 07:53 AM
Wounded warrior gets a service dog
Comments 1 | Recommend 1
Canine trained at Camp Lejeune brig
October 18, 2008 - 12:45AM
JENNIFER HLAD
By JENNIFER HLAD
Daily News Staff
Cpl. Christopher Gray was in an Abrams tank in Fallujah, Iraq, on Feb. 17, 2007, when insurgents fired two rocket-propelled grenades at the vehicle. One penetrated the top of the tank, causing the bulk of the ammunition inside to explode - directly behind Gray's head.
The flames engulfed the inside of the tank, injuring everyone inside. But Gray and the tank commander got the worst of it.
Gray sustained third-degree burns on 53 percent of his body. Since then, he has been through multiple skin grafts and other surgeries, including a cornea transplant. About 125 centimeters of his small intestine was removed.
He now has difficulty performing tasks that once seemed virtually effortless - like squatting, or leaning down. But Friday, he officially received a new partner in his recovery efforts.
Rocio, an 18-month-old Labrador mix, can answer the phone, turn on the light and retrieve items dropped on the ground or in between appliances. Even more important, Rocio is a loving companion, Gray said.
"It's always great to have someone next to you," he said.
Rocio is the first service dog trained by inmates at the Camp Lejeune brig to be presented to a wounded warrior. The program, developed by Carolina Canines and the brig, started 10 months ago with six dogs and is the first such program in the country.
The dogs are trained by specially selected inmates to perform tasks like picking up objects, putting laundry in the washer and unloading the dryer, or helping a person who has no use of his legs move from a wheelchair to a bed. Usually a service dog would cost $38,000, but through this program, the dogs "do not cost the taxpayers a dime," said Rick Hairston, president and chief executive officer of Carolina Canines.
Carolina Canines also helps train service dogs for civilians with disabilities, but this program is unique because it helps wounded warriors, he said.
"They've done what we asked, now it's time for us to stand up and do what we need to do," Hairston said.
The program also benefits the inmates, said Chief Warrant Officer Scott Bolman, programs officer for the brig.
Prisoners want to be involved in training the dogs because they enjoy spending time with them, he said. The brig has had very few behavioral problems with inmates involved with the program because they don't want to lose the opportunity, Bolman said.
About 12 inmates are involved in the program at a time, and two inmates are assigned to each dog. Fred is helping train a Labrador mix named Rivka.
Brig inmates' last names are not revealed to the media due to privacy concerns.
Fred said Rivka, who now can perform a variety of tasks, was not always a star pupil.
"You'd tell her to sit, and she'd look at you like you were dumb," he said. But as Fred learned more about training dogs, it got easier, he said.
"Patience and food" are the key training ingredients, he said.
Working with dogs is always fun, he said, but it is also gratifying to be able to help the wounded warriors.
"It makes you feel good when you wake up in the morning," Fred said.
Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., has supported the program from its beginnings and said he wants to expand it so all injured service members will have the opportunity to have a service dog. Last year, he introduced a bill to establish a program in the Department of Defense that would allow all service members with qualifying disabilities to receive a service dog, and he said he will reintroduce the bill if he is reelected.
"We cannot say ‘Thank you' enough to those who've served this country in Iraq or Afghanistan," he said.
Training the dogs "helps those who've made a mistake," he said, as well as the wounded warrior and his family.
Gray said he is honored to be the first wounded warrior to receive a service dog through the program but wishes it had been in place years ago, to help veterans who have come before.
He also said he appreciates the work of the brig prisoners.
"They made a mistake; everybody makes mistakes," he said. "But what they're doing right now is awesome."
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.
Ellie
Comments 1 | Recommend 1
Canine trained at Camp Lejeune brig
October 18, 2008 - 12:45AM
JENNIFER HLAD
By JENNIFER HLAD
Daily News Staff
Cpl. Christopher Gray was in an Abrams tank in Fallujah, Iraq, on Feb. 17, 2007, when insurgents fired two rocket-propelled grenades at the vehicle. One penetrated the top of the tank, causing the bulk of the ammunition inside to explode - directly behind Gray's head.
The flames engulfed the inside of the tank, injuring everyone inside. But Gray and the tank commander got the worst of it.
Gray sustained third-degree burns on 53 percent of his body. Since then, he has been through multiple skin grafts and other surgeries, including a cornea transplant. About 125 centimeters of his small intestine was removed.
He now has difficulty performing tasks that once seemed virtually effortless - like squatting, or leaning down. But Friday, he officially received a new partner in his recovery efforts.
Rocio, an 18-month-old Labrador mix, can answer the phone, turn on the light and retrieve items dropped on the ground or in between appliances. Even more important, Rocio is a loving companion, Gray said.
"It's always great to have someone next to you," he said.
Rocio is the first service dog trained by inmates at the Camp Lejeune brig to be presented to a wounded warrior. The program, developed by Carolina Canines and the brig, started 10 months ago with six dogs and is the first such program in the country.
The dogs are trained by specially selected inmates to perform tasks like picking up objects, putting laundry in the washer and unloading the dryer, or helping a person who has no use of his legs move from a wheelchair to a bed. Usually a service dog would cost $38,000, but through this program, the dogs "do not cost the taxpayers a dime," said Rick Hairston, president and chief executive officer of Carolina Canines.
Carolina Canines also helps train service dogs for civilians with disabilities, but this program is unique because it helps wounded warriors, he said.
"They've done what we asked, now it's time for us to stand up and do what we need to do," Hairston said.
The program also benefits the inmates, said Chief Warrant Officer Scott Bolman, programs officer for the brig.
Prisoners want to be involved in training the dogs because they enjoy spending time with them, he said. The brig has had very few behavioral problems with inmates involved with the program because they don't want to lose the opportunity, Bolman said.
About 12 inmates are involved in the program at a time, and two inmates are assigned to each dog. Fred is helping train a Labrador mix named Rivka.
Brig inmates' last names are not revealed to the media due to privacy concerns.
Fred said Rivka, who now can perform a variety of tasks, was not always a star pupil.
"You'd tell her to sit, and she'd look at you like you were dumb," he said. But as Fred learned more about training dogs, it got easier, he said.
"Patience and food" are the key training ingredients, he said.
Working with dogs is always fun, he said, but it is also gratifying to be able to help the wounded warriors.
"It makes you feel good when you wake up in the morning," Fred said.
Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., has supported the program from its beginnings and said he wants to expand it so all injured service members will have the opportunity to have a service dog. Last year, he introduced a bill to establish a program in the Department of Defense that would allow all service members with qualifying disabilities to receive a service dog, and he said he will reintroduce the bill if he is reelected.
"We cannot say ‘Thank you' enough to those who've served this country in Iraq or Afghanistan," he said.
Training the dogs "helps those who've made a mistake," he said, as well as the wounded warrior and his family.
Gray said he is honored to be the first wounded warrior to receive a service dog through the program but wishes it had been in place years ago, to help veterans who have come before.
He also said he appreciates the work of the brig prisoners.
"They made a mistake; everybody makes mistakes," he said. "But what they're doing right now is awesome."
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.
Ellie