Paws of War program pairs veteran with service dog

It can be extremely difficult for returning veterans to adjust to day-to-day life back home, but one hero is getting some help from a new four-legged friend. Jason Sexton is an Air Force veteran who

News 12 Staff

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Sep 20, 2014, 1:50 AM

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Updated 3,837 days ago

It can be extremely difficult for returning veterans to adjust to day-to-day life back home, but one hero is getting some help from a new four-legged friend.

Jason Sexton is an Air Force veteran who suffers from symptoms of PTSD. The 33-year-old Washington state native is going to counseling, but he felt he needed more help.

Sexton did some research and found out about the Paws of War program on Long Island. The program rescues dogs from local shelters and trains them to be service dogs.

Dori Scofield, who organizes the program, says a dog named Jet was a perfect match for Sexton in terms of personality.

Sexton says Jet has a fitting name, too: he had been a jet engine mechanic when he served.

Sexton says he couldn't be more thankful for his new service dog, and for the Paws of War program.

The newfound friends will spend the next few days on Long Island getting to know each other before they board a plane to go home to Washington.

The Paws of War Program has placed 19 service dogs with veterans in the past two years. Organizers are currently training five more dogs, and they have a waiting list of veterans.