2019 p4v Bio's booklet

Meet Our 2019 Heroes Assistance Dogs Transforming Lives

SGT Jeff Mitchell USA (ret.) & AUSTIN Jeff served 2 combat tours in Iraq with the 2/3 ACR in 2003 and 2005. He was medically retired from the Army with severe Complex Post Traumatic Stress. By 2009, he was desperate to find relief and began training with paws4vets. Because of the support of paws4vets and his Assistance Dog, AUSTIN, Jeff is now a Peer Mentor with paws4vets helping other veterans learn how to use their dog to help with their symptoms. He and AUSTIN also speak to groups about the mission of paws4vets and the value of Assistance Dogs to make a difference in the lives of those who have served. AUS- TIN is Jeff’s second paws4vets Assistance Dog. His first dog, TAZIE, is enjoying her retirement and seems happy to let AUSTIN take over as Jeff’s partner. Jeff says that “AUSTIN is amazing, whenever I look at him he always seems to be smiling. He is my light in darkness and is able to guide me to a better frame of mind.

OSC Robert Bernish, USN (ret.) Robert spent a total of 27 years in the US Navy and Navy Reserve, including 6 combat tours. He’s been diag- nosed with PTS, as well as Bipolar Disorder and Major Depression. He often isolates himself from others, and the community as a whole. And because of his insom- nia, he finds it hard to get out of bed, lacks motivation (and energy) to complete everyday tasks, and frequent- ly suffers from nightmares and Apnea-induced breath- ing disruptions when he does sleep. He also experiences auditory hallucinations that frequently haunt him and nourish his anxieties. In March of 2018, Robert met RHODE! RHODE will give Robert the motivation and purpose he needs to face each day with a positive attitude, and to reconnect with his community. RHODE will also help by alerting to his anxiety, interrupting nightmares, and retrieving items that are out of his reach. We are excited to watch Robert and RHODE grow as a team!

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