OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — In May, we presented you to Scott Henry and Bear.
Henry is an Army veteran who suffered a stroke in 2021, while Bear was set to be euthanized in Texas, prior to Vets Get Pets got the set together.
“You know, it’s both of our second chances in life, and it’s been pretty special so far,” Henry said throughout our initial interview in May.
Now they’re going through service dog training thanks to another veteran organization.
“It sounds a little cliche, but we literally do transform lives,” JAVELAN Director Mike Kraus said.
JAVELAN was established in 2017. It all began when veteran Bob Dean’s partner, Charlotte, who is likewise a veteran, approached him with a concept.
“After spending some time with the VA and suffering from a lot of anxiety, a lot of PTSD-related issues, she came to me and said she wanted a service dog,” Bob keeps in mind.
It was a huge ask.
“At that time a service dog was $25,000 to $35,000 with a two- to three-year waiting list,” Bob remembers. “It was unattainable for most vets — it was kind of unattainable for us.”
However, they went through a various type of program where Charlotte was taught how to train her service dog, Jack, and the evidence remained in the pudding.
“She went from basically not leaving the house to jumping on airplanes and flying all over to see family and friends,” Bob said.
Bob, Charlotte, and 3 others then produced JAVELAN so other veterans might receive the help and assistance that Charlotte had.
The acronym that represents the program’s name, JAVELAN, remains in honor of Jack’s influence on the Deans: Jack Assisting Veterans to Enjoy Life Again.
The program falls under the umbrella of the First Responders Foundation. A collaboration Bob says produced a best match.
The just thing the veterans going through the six-to-nine-month program requirement to spend for is the $25 application cost.
“We provide customized training and service dogs for veterans and first responders,” Kraus said.
The $3,000 to $5,000 it requires to get each group through the tailored program is covered by JAVELAN through contributions and grants.
To make this occur the4 group needed to start little.
“We had a goal of doing six teams a year. We thought we could financially come up with that money,” Bob said. “We thought that would make a mark in the community.”
Now, they’re making an even bigger mark on the neighborhood.
“We’ve got about 30 people currently at some sort of training stage right now,” Kraus shared.
More than 115 members have actually finished from the program given that its creation 6 years earlier.
“I’m just amazed at what our trainers, our staff, and our volunteers all have been able to do,” Bob said. “I never fathomed that we would be at this point.”
Though still at the start of their journey, Bear is already revealing what he can.
“One morning I was in bed, and I had a low blood sugar of 56,” Henry said. “Bear actually came up and made sure I got out of bed, checked my sugar, and got something to eat.”
In reality, throughout my interview with Henry, you can see in the video that Bear turned up and was soothing and informing Henry. This was probably due to Henry fidgeting or nervous throughout the interview.
Bob informed me about a time his dog, Duke, notified him about his own health problems.
“Coincidentally he started alerting on my cardiac issues about three years ago,” Bob shared.
Similar to Charlotte’s story, Henry says among the greatest advantages of life with Bear is getting him out of seclusion.
“I used to sit around the house doing nothing. Now I walk two miles a day,” Henry said. “The main thing is companionship and bringing a new meaning to life.”
“We literally pull people out of their basement and back into society,” Kraus included.
Cheryl Wilson is a fitness instructor and behaviorist at Bonafide Dog Academy in Omaha, and among the fitness instructors utilized by the program. Like everybody else who makes the program occur her work is volunteer.
“To help these veterans out, and get out, and feel comfortable, and enjoy life. That’s what’s so important,” Wilson said.
The program says the next objective is to broaden to Lincoln, Kearney, Norfolk and western Iowa.
One of the greatest problems Bob says they have is fundraising events. Because the program is so little it’s tough to host their own fundraising events.
If you wish to pair up with JAVELAN for a fundraiser, volunteer your time, or apply to enroll in the program – click here.
If there’s an individual or subject you believe we need to cover for Mission: Service – inform.
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