Dogs make our lives better in so many different ways. Some dogs simply improve our lives by providing companionship. Others help people in need, like a service dog named Pax.
But it turned out, Pax was helping people even before he became a service dog.
Pax is a beautiful service dog who gave a disabled vet the opportunity to once again live and restored the soul of a correctional facility prisoner.
Bill Campbell, an Iraq war veteran, returned home with 100% disability due to a traumatic concussive brain injury.
His family and friends feared for Bill’s quality of life, but thankfully, Bill was fortunate to receive a beautiful golden labrador service dog named Pax.
Pax, a fully trained PTSD service dog, gave Bill the emotional strength to live once again after returning from the war.
Bill was so thankful for Pax that he was determined to meet the woman who trained him. So, the two took a trip to Bedford Hills Women Correctional Facility to visit Pax’s trainer, a woman named Lauri.
Once inside the facility, Pax began to feel a sense of nostalgia.
With his tail wagging and the only eyes shining with excitement to be at the correctional facility, he became all too happy to remember his training.
The moment Pax saw Lauri enter from the top of the hill, he ran as fast as he could as he remembered his old best friend.
He pounced on Lauri, but although overexcited, Lauri was more grateful to see Pax.
Somewhere in between Pax’s heaving of happiness and the sound of a rattling dog collar, Lauri and Bill hugged over the mutual love and gratefulness of having Pax in their lives.
After a joyous reunion, Bill was taken inside the room where the women train the service dogs they raise.
In the room, he sat down with Lauri, and the importance of Pax was truly displayed as Lauri began crying and explained how Pax changed her life as well. Bill was not the first one to find solace in the companionship of Pax.
Lauri expressed her gratefulness for meeting Pax and explained what Pax offered her:
“I knew when they told me when he was going into PTSD training, that he was going to make somebody feel the sense of freedom that he gave me in a place where I was supposed to be everything but (freedom).”
“I realized, by giving me Pax and by taking him from me. He had given me the greatest gift that anyone has ever given me my entire life. He had restored a piece of my soul”.
Lauri clearly loves Pax, and Pax loves Lauri just as much. Pax is an incredible dog who changed the lives of two people simply by being himself.
Check out Pax’s story below!
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