Füssen - For ten years, a mountain scout from Füssen has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A therapy dog should now help him to cope with his life.
A Friday in February 2011 changed the life of the sergeant at the time forever: an Afghan assassin kills some of the tank grenadiers before his eyes that were supposed to protect the mountain reconnaissance officer from Füssen during his mission.
Physically unharmed, today's Sergeant Major is seriously wounded in his soul in the attack - from now on he suffers from a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Now a therapy dog is supposed to help him in everyday life.
Since that day over ten years ago at the Observation Post North (OP North) in the Afghan province of Baghlan, nothing has been the same for the mountain scout.
He has been vigilant day and night since the attack, his soul is brought back to OP North with every rifle shot, with every bang - he suffers from PTSD.
In the meantime, the sergeant major, who is serving in the company command group of the 4th Company of the Mountain Reconnaissance Battalion 230 in the "Allgäu Barracks", has found a way how he can participate more in life again, also outside of his job: His path is to come soon Share therapy dog. Halvar, “Protector of the Rock”, is the name of the now one and a half year old Labradoodle, who will be at the man's side from the beginning of 2022. This was also made possible by the support of his spear and his company commander
Training this therapy dog is time-consuming and expensive, a good 28,000 euros are necessary before the companion is fully trained and “combat ready”.
The association “Rehahunde Deutschland e.
V. “has a special breeder who, among other things, breeds this mixture of standard poodles and Labradors.
These particularly intelligent, eager to learn and caring dog breeds combine everything that is needed to master the various tasks as a therapy dog.
“This clever and attentive dog can now serve me as a comrade and my soul as a therapist.
He has an access to me that I have not been able to grant anyone else until now.
I trust Halvar absolutely ”, so the“ rock ”from the“ Allgäu barracks ”.
Special training
Beginning at the puppy age up to the first birthday, prospective therapy dogs go through their "selection process" and the "basic training".
In foster families, the animals learn comprehensive social behavior with different people, with small children and animals.
They are under the observation of experienced dog trainers, are trained and tested;
whoever does not meet the high requirements will not become a therapy dog.
The health of the prospective companion is also checked.
An official veterinarian regularly checks every dog for possible health risks and diseases.
In addition, the dogs are neutered in order to reduce their territorial behavior.
In the following “post training”, Halvar is trained specifically on the soldier and his specific clinical picture.
The soldier and his therapy dog are regularly trained together, they get to know each other, get to know and learn from each other.
Halvar has to understand in which situations he should especially assist his master.
If someone slams a door loudly, if someone pushes at the supermarket checkout from behind, his master suddenly needs his emergency medication - all these are situations in which Halvar is now on the spot.
Soldier Relief Organization grants cash injection
“In situations like this, Halvar will be my 'buddy', the one who gives me the protection I need. It enables me to trust myself to do things in everyday life again. ”Just as the sergeant and his comrades step by step into the dusty ground of Afghanistan at OP North more than ten years ago, so in the future he and Halvar can step by step Step back into the mountains, visit the city center or a weekly market.
Another piece of good news reached the Afghanistan veteran just a few days ago and moved him to tears: the soldiers' relief organization assured him that they would take over the outstanding five-figure amount for Halvar.
The sergeant major had paid a large part of the 28,000 euros himself, all the soldiers in the battalion had donated, a sergeant major from the company put a large amount on top, and a company and the mountain troopers' welfare organization also gave money - but it wasn't quite enough for them Acquisition of the therapy dog.
Great support
The fact that the soldiers' relief organization stepped in here is mainly thanks to the sergeant's "spear". Both have already been to Afghanistan together and are still serving in 4th Company today. The veteran could also always rely on the support of his company commander. "This man is one of my mentally strongest soldiers and a role model for my entire company, because he is 'in combat' every day and still contributes to our success as a mountain reconnaissance company," says the officer. "Halvar will now be part of our fighting and suffering community, will be there wherever our sergeant major," says the company commander happily. "Whether he trains, organizes or controls, with his therapy dog we as a company have more from the Sergeant,who can serve as a role model for all of us in the company. "
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