Dogs have many positive impacts on the humans around them.
Kids who grow up around dogs tend to gain a sense of responsibility, altruism, and compassion. Adults who go through a difficult or dark time in their lives claim that their pets (primarily dogs) helped them cope.
Bill Campbell found this comfort in a yellow Labrador called Pax.
Bill is a war veteran who returned home from Iraq with a concussive brain injury resulting in disability. Like most military men who came home from war, he has post-traumatic stress disorder. Something that he never could’ve coped with without the help of Pax.
Pax has a beautiful story of his own.
Pax was part of a Prison-based Dog Training Program, where they are paired with a handler in the correctional facility. The purpose of this program is two-way: to train dogs with their basic training before going to other higher-level training and to help law offenders reduce recidivism, gain more confidence in themselves, and improve into a more positive demeanor.
Pax’s partner handler during that program was Laurie Kellogg.
Laurie also suffered PTSD because of domestic abuse. Despite not being trained for PTSD therapy yet, she admitted that Pax had given her such peace when she was in the facility. She claimed that his presence draws her back to the present whenever she experiences PTSD attacks.
Bill was so thankful for Pax’s existence in his life that he was eager to find the person who trained him.
His search led him to Bedford Hills. He called and talked to Laurie and planned for his visit. He traveled to the facility to thank her.
It was evident that Pax was excited about this trip.
While they waited to be led inside, and as they went through their facility visit, Pax has been pacing all the time with his tail wagging excitedly. He may not verbalize it, but it’s apparent that he’s familiar with the place and knows exactly who he is visiting.
The moment they got inside, Pax sprinted to his favorite hooman in the facility.
He ran straight to Laurie, and they hugged each other. Pax obviously still remembers the person who trained him. He licked her face and gave her a warm hug. He even asked for some belly rubs.
Bill visited the room where the women train the dogs.
In this session, Laurie shared her experience of training Pax and eventually had to let him go. She said she went to her room crying when they told her they’re sending Pax to PTSD training.
But Laurie realized one important thing:
“I knew when they told me he was going into PTSD training that he would make somebody feel the sense of freedom that he gave me. He gave me back pieces of myself that I forget even existed. I realized that by giving me Pax and by taking him from me, he could give you the greatest gift anybody’s given me in my entire life. He restored a piece of my soul.”
Watch their heartwarming reunion below.
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