A Long Island Army veteran received a special gift this Christmas.

Sgt. Dawn Amato spent the day getting to know her new service dog named Peaches.

"I needed this and I'm glad I have it," Amato says, calling it "an absolute Christmas miracle."

The dog was donated by the Nesconset-based nonprofit Paws of War, which rescues animals and trains them to be service dogs for veterans.

Peaches was saved from a kill shelter in Georgia. Dori Scofield, of Paws of War, says Peaches was emaciated and had several puppies when the group rescued her a few months ago.

Amato and Peaches will be training together for the next eight months.

Amato served in the Army for 21 years.