Local Veteran and Service Dog Honored for #StillServing

Cabot resident Dustin Brown and his service dog Sophie are being recognized in the national Veterans of Foreign Wars #StillServing campaign. The campaign honors veterans who continue to serve after the military. For many veterans that includes the help of a canine companion.

Brown served in Desert Storm, Bosnia and two tours in Iraq. Once home, he lost his will to leave the house and withdrew from friends and family. That’s when he met Sophie, a Standard Poodle service dog. Brown says Sophie has transformed his life, giving him a much-needed purpose. He feels it is his duty to educate others about service dogs and enjoys sharing her infectious personality. He plans to take her to Little Rock Air Force base to teach the airmen about the benefits of service dogs for PTSD.

For Brown, Sophie helps him go out in public by providing a calming physical barrier between him and others. If he has an anxiety attack she positions herself in in front of his face to redirect his attention and lead him out of the situation.

Sophie’s help extends beyond Brown. She is highly intuitive and tries to comfort others she senses are hurting. At a recent VA visit, a veteran in the waiting room was looking at the floor, avoiding interaction. Sophie slowly scooted toward the veteran, nudged her nose under his elbow and laid her head in his lap. Brown saw the veteran’s shoulders immediately relax as if a weight had been lifted. The veteran rubbed her head until he was called for his appointment at which point he thanked Brown, the only words he spoke, and left with a grin on his face.

Brown is happy to share Sophie and jumps at every opportunity to help and educate others.

VFW invites all veterans to submit their stories of how they are still serving at vfw.org/stillserving.