Michelle U and Sarge

Michelle is the spouse of a retired U.S. Army Veteran who served in Iraq. Michelle was seeking treatment for anxiety but had a lot of difficulty with the prescribed medications, since they made her feel sick. Looking for an alternate treatment, she found Partners for Patriots and was introduced to Sarge.

Sarge is trained to identify early signs of anxiety. To intervene, Sarge nudges Michelle’s hand with his nose and leads her into a different area that is quieter and has less people. It is a simple but very effective way to help deal with anxiety.

Michelle said “They (service dogs) change lives. I am no longer taking any anxiety medications—I strictly rely on him. We’re a team, and I can’t imagine going anywhere without him. My life has changed for the better.”