Late last year, a black Labrador Retriever showed up on the back deck of the Blanchard’s home in Bent Tree. This poor dog was in very bad shape with a severe case of mange, desperately malnourished and in need of significant medical care. Fortunately, this dog was very friendly in spite of his condition. He stayed at the Blanchard’s for two days, and then the Bent Tree stray animal volunteers took over. It was very apparent that he needed immediate medical care and a better facility – more than our stray animal volunteers and our current pen could provide. Through the stray animal volunteers’ working relationship with Pickens Animal Rescue, the lab was taken into PAR foster care and nurtured back to good health.
Soon after that, PAR received a call from Working Angels Rescue, a group that works with TADSAW/Penny’s from Heaven Foundation. “The mission of the Penny’s from Heaven Foundation’s Train a Dog – Save a Warrior Program is to unite wounded warriors, suffering from PTSD, with homeless rescue shelter dogs, who are evaluated and deemed viable, to nurture a healing and rejuvenating bond between the two. The result is a positive, non-judgmental, unconditional relationship desperately needed by both.
This lab, named Wren by PAR, was put into a special training program and then assigned to a soldier to specifically help him with his disability. Wren is now a certified companion service animal. In addition to assisting the soldier physically, Wren has also been trained to assist the soldier with night terrors and nightmares, which are now improving.
We believe Wren is now at Fort Stewart with his soldier companion, who has changed Wren’s name to that of one of his fallen comrades. The soldier is on his way to recovery with the help of his canine friend. Wren was sent to Bent Tree for a purpose – it just took us a while to find out what that purpose was! Our thanks to the stray animal volunteers who made this possible, to PAR and to TADSAW. Bless you all!