“People asked me why I wasn’t present. It’s not like I didn’t want to be.”
Ryan is a retired specialized 19D Cavalry Scout. The husband and father of three developed PTSD after leaving the Army.
Before even considering the Army, Ryan was failing out of college. His options were to find a job or join the military. He picked the latter and served for six years, with more than three years of active duty and the remaining time in the Army National Guard. He enjoyed getting the chance to serve his country and see the world.
Once he got out, he noticed something was missing.
“Separation from the military is like losing your family,” he explained.
He loved his brothers and sisters and would do anything for them. Ryan noticed depression starting to creep in. He found himself unable to do things he once enjoyed.
“I could just tell something was wrong,” he said. “I knew it wasn’t good for me to be home by myself. I didn’t know what would happen.”
Ryan tried several forms of therapy, but nothing seemed to work. Nothing helped him feel better in the long run. He was drawn to non-traditional methods of therapy, like golfing with his dad. It took Ryan months to get off the waitlist to see a doctor. He was frustrated and mad at the system. That led to him exploring forms of self-medication, specifically alcohol.
One night, Ryan found himself scrolling through YouTube when he came across K9s For Warriors. He says he went down a rabbit hole, watching the success stories of Veterans living fulfilling lives with their Service Dogs.
“I remember thinking, if I could have a tiny piece of that, it would be huge,” Ryan said. “I didn’t expect a whole lot. What’s the worst that could happen? I’ll get a good dog out of it.”
For Ryan, everything changed when he came to K9s For Warriors.
Before he deployed, Ryan adopted a Black Lab named Scout to keep his wife company while he was away. That dog sadly passed away shortly before Ryan went to K9s.
Ryan was preparing to meet his battle buddy at K9s For Warriors. On Dog Day, he wondered what kind of dog he’d get. When he got to the play yard, there stood a little Black Lab. The trainer introduced Ryan to Scout, his Service Dog.
“I just started crying,” he said. “She was perfect. Things were going to be different.”
On their first day together, Ryan woke up from a nightmare and Scout was there to comfort him. She has been by his side ever since. Ryan is now a more present husband and father, feeling happier than he ever thought possible. He is grateful he didn’t give up when other methods of help didn’t work for him.
“Keep searching, keep trying,” he said. “I didn’t expect to get as much out of it as I did. Don’t give up.”
He encourages fellow Veterans looking for help to look into getting a Service Dog of their own. For him, it made the biggest difference.
“Seeing my brothers and sisters get help is everything,” Ryan said. “This program is truly amazing. I love being a part of the K9s family.”
Hear more about Ryan’s journey in his own words:
