Mark Berry’s service dog, Naya, is as much as a friend and companion as she is a service dog.
Photo via vnews.com
A great story in the Valley News of White River Junction, Vermont, about a veteran and his service dog highlights the many struggles and triumphs that come with such a relationship. Mark Berry, who suffers from PTSD, was astonished to find that his service dog, Naya, was not allowed in the VA Hospital where he receives treatment. Now, obviously, hospitals have special concerns about disease and hygiene. But service dogs for the handicapped have long been welcome, and it seems remarkable that they had adjusted policies to allow mental-health dogs, as well. Berry and Naya have now changed all that.
The rest of the article details their relationship, and it speaks to the remarkable abilities of a well-trained dog to improve the lives of those struggling with mental health issues.