After 6 years of dealing with my husband’s PTSD, his self-medicating, getting prescribed medications, going to treatment facilities and psychiatric wards he found himself at the bottom. A random nurse picked up on his PTSD behaviors and suggested Operation Dog Tag. As we were leaving a Humane Society event my husband saw Shelby walking up with a volunteer. I could tell that he instantly bonded with her when I had to pry him away to fill out the adoption paperwork. The very next day Joe Scheffer called and set us up with all the details.

“In my opinion Operation Dog Tag is the best form of PTSD treatment,” says Chris Carson E-6 retired. “The program is not just another medicine to try, it’s not group or individual therapy, its not painful PTSD treatment making you re-live your combat experience with a head doc.  It’s a tool and powerful weapon fighting off your PTSD symptoms.  Shelby is the first thing in this world that has a pulse that I was able to start trusting and count on after the war.”

Shelby is now being trained for my husband as a “Battle Buddy”, helping him cope with his symptoms such as hyper vigilance, isolation and crowds. Without her my husband would probably have never left the house or the couch for that matter.

Operation Dog Tag helps the veterans, spouses and family members by teaching us how to transition into a new life with a working dog as part of the team to battle PTSD.

A dog is not the “magical cure” but by experience it can dramatically change a person for the better. 

Melissa Carson, USAF Spouse
12 years 4 tours-Iraq and Afghanistan