Mary Peter on Service Dogs, PTSD Healing, and Supporting Veterans | Security Halt! Podcast Ep. 430

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Mary Peter joins the show to discuss the life-changing impact of service dogs for veterans.

In this episode, we cover:

• The mission of Canine Partners for Patriots 
• How dogs detect stress and PTSD symptoms 
• The bond between veterans and service dogs 
• Responsible ownership and training 
• Matching the right dog with the right veteran 
• The role of community in healing 

Key Takeaways:

• Service dogs can sense emotional and physical changes 
• The right match between dog and veteran is critical 
• Responsible ownership ensures long-term success 
• Community support plays a major role in recovery 
• Canine therapy offers powerful healing potential 

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Canine Partners for Patriots
 02:50 Mary Peter’s Journey into Dog Training
 06:02 The Bond Between Veterans and Service Dogs
 09:05 Choosing the Right Service Dog for Veterans
 11:48 How Service Dogs Support PTSD Recovery
 14:50 Responsible Ownership of Service Dogs
 17:51 Building Community for Veteran Healing
 21:11 Long-Term Impact of Service Dog Programs
 26:14 The Role of Connection in Recovery
 30:04 Training and Social Skills for Veterans
 34:57 Transitioning to a Nonprofit Mission
 37:42 Faith and Resilience in Leadership
 42:22 Community Support and Growth
 48:06 Top Tips for Responsible Dog Ownership

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Transcript

Dogs Detect Stress And PTSD

SPEAKER_01 0:00

I started getting veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan when they first started bringing them back home. And they would show up or sign up for my dog training or profit dog training business. I didn't charge them. As I got more of them coming and they just brought a dog, I started sitting with them more and asking questions. And all of them had PTSD, various levels of severity. But I've trained scent detection dogs for eight years and knew that the scent of the dog the the ability of a dog was so powerful and that dogs can scent cortisol and adrenaline, which is accompanied by nightmares and flashbacks and and panic attacks and those type of things.

SPEAKER_03 0:40

I think a lot of guys at home have insanely wonderful pets that they're not in tune that the why are the dogs always around me. You're stressed the fuck out. These animals have have a higher uh understanding of what's going on with your internal work. And you gotta be able to tap into that. Even if you don't have a working dog, you and your pets at home can be incredibly excited of what's going wrong. That's fascinating.

SPEAKER_00 1:04

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SPEAKER_03 1:43

Welcome to Curry Out Podcast. Today I am proud to bring you Mary Peter from Canine Partners for Patriots. Mary, welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_01 1:53

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_03 1:55

Absolutely. It's great to connect and bring every resource and nonprofit available out there for our gals and guys out there dealing and struggling with issues. And uh something that's been incredibly successful is pairing veterans or our uh first responders uh with canine companions. Uh so today I I want to hear everything about you and your mission. But uh let's start off with how you found yourself in this world.

SPEAKER_01 2:23

Well, I grew up with a tremendous love for dogs. And I think that was the first word I said rather than mom or dad. So um and a and a love for people. You you have to, if you're training um dogs, there's always somebody else on the other end of the leash if you're instructing and helping, you have to have a heart for that too. People people want to just train dogs and you you can't. It's it's a team. So um I had a for-profit dog training business for 27 years. And my goal was to help families with their dogs, uh so that the dogs, dogs are euthanized for silly little problems that can be fixed, you know? So if I could help the family and help them train their dog, then that's one less dog that's gonna be thrown away. And it's a family that's gonna be happy with the dog they have at home. So it's a win-win situation. Um back in 2013 or so, I I have had a few veterans during that time, and I had trained at support dogs for law enforcement, a couple law enforcement that were injured in the line of duty. One was NYPD officer, one was uh Charlotte, North Carolina um officer, and I helped uh train dogs for them with them. And then uh I helped some of my clients privately through my stillwater dog training that I had. And I didn't charge. I mean, I just wanted to help people. But I started getting veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan when they first started bringing them back home and they would show up or sign up for my dog training for profit dog training business. I didn't charge them. But I watched them and it wasn't good. I saw them not be able to um integrate into a group of civilians, many of them as you as you know, being a veteran yourself, you know, back to the to the wall or to a tree, whatever it was that could could cover their back. Um, if a car I was outside training, if a car backfired, they went down. Um you know, uh running to their vehicle or down on the ground, loud noises, surprises. So as I got more of them coming and they just brought a dog I started sitting with them more and asking questions. And all of them had PTSD, main various levels of severity. But I've trained scent detection dogs for eight years and knew that the scent of the dog the the ability of a dog was so powerful and that dogs can scent cortisol and adrenaline, which is accompanied by nightmares and flashbacks and and panic attacks and those type of things. So why not put that together for a veteran?

SPEAKER_03 5:27

Yeah. Yeah, I want to pause and and uh hit that a little bit harder. Um I think a lot of guys at home have insanely wonderful pets that they're not in tune at, you know, why you know why are the dogs always around me? Why are they always following me around the house? Um Hey, bud, take a knee. Yeah, you're stressed the fuck out. And your dogs can sense it. Yes, they can't.

SPEAKER_02 5:52

You're exactly right.

SPEAKER_03 5:54

Um uh it it's something that, you know, I didn't realize it. I've never understood it. And then, you know, talking to somebody that was well educated and that had the insight and the background like yourself, um they brought that up. And it it's important to understand that these animals have have a higher uh understanding of what's going on with your internal works, and you gotta be able to tap into that. Even if you don't have a working dog, even your pets at home can be incredibly insightful to what's going wrong.

SPEAKER_02 6:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:29

Uh that's fascinating. That that that just blows my mind that uh even these little wonderful miracles walking around on four legs, uh, know when you're absolutely maxed out.

Choosing The Right Service Dog

SPEAKER_01 6:40

It it is incredible. And what they can do is is beyond what the the brain can comprehend, the human brain. These dogs are amazing. And it doesn't matter the size. And we do um allow veterans to bring, if they've got a dog at home that meets our criteria as far as age and temperament, um, and they want, they ask, can I put my dog into your program? I don't want to make them get another dog. If this dog is already helping, so the first thing I say is, What does the dog do for you? And that they'll look at me like, what do you mean? And I and so I say, when you are in that PTSD moment, when you're having that episode, whatever a night, what does your dog do? Well, a lot of them will say, Well, my dog just is crazy. It comes over and keeps putting his foot paw on my leg, or he keeps hitting me with its nose, or and I said, Good, then we have something we can start with that tells me that that the dog does know when you're having a problem. If they look at me and go, Well, he runs away, or he he doesn't do anything, and I said, Well, then this is not the dog. Um, and we will get you a dog. So, and when we when we get dogs, we rescue, because my heart is to save two. If I can take a dog that somebody, and I get really emotional with this, but if I can take a dog that somebody threw away that that just needs that second chance at life, just like my vets are asking for, give me this chance. Uh why not? Because they're both rescuing each other and the bond is tremendous.

SPEAKER_03 8:12

Yeah, there's a misconception of what makes a dog a veteran working dog. I think people want the idea of the the actual combat canine that's deployed with soft units, the the the dogs from the John Wick movie, the the Malinois, the the working dogs that yeah, we don't want those. Exactly. And and guys are hyper fixated on this idea of like, no, that's that's a dog I need to help me. It's like, no, no. You you need someone to help you understand what the capability of this companion is going to be, and then they can help you better understand that maybe your dog is is already waiting for you for a second chance at a kennel. Um and and it because it solves two problems. There's people that are going out there getting these high-energy, high-output dogs, and that's not their life. They're not the guys going out there for five-mile runs. They're not the guys out there going training. And those companion animals need that, they need that work, not as a nicety, as a daily necessity. They need that. So if that's not your lifestyle, don't get a companion animal that needs that to thrive when in reality you're sitting at home or you work remote or you get, and the only time you when you do get out, it's just for a brisk walk. Like, that's not a reality. Stop hyper-fixating on what you think you need and ask for help. Ask for help and have somebody that can give you the guidance. I'm so glad you said that.

SPEAKER_01 9:47

It's like having a fur missile, you know, beside you, and I try to tell them when you come in. And and you're right, when they're deployed or they're working with a working dog of that caliber, there's a lot of adrenaline going on. There's a lot of action going on. They're yeah, and those dogs are created for that. I had I've had six German shepherds, a Malinois, and a Dutch Shepherd. So I've had high drive working dogs for years.

SPEAKER_03 10:10

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SPEAKER_01 11:02

Um, you know, I did I think if you saw my bio, I don't know, but I worked with law enforcement. Um, I founded a law enforcement team that we did a nonprofit and did body recovery for eight years. Um, I didn't want to, I didn't want a Malinois. I wanted, I had used my shepherd, who would, but he was more low, low-key, high drive protective, but he could do the job. Um, I have the veterans that come in and and that's what they want. Oh, I want you to get me a Malinois. And I say, well, good luck with that, because we're not doing that. Um, or they will bring a we'll evaluate it. We if they have one, I we have we do have a couple in this program that are most laid-back malinois I've ever seen. But trying to explain to a veteran, this dog is not going to be happy. They need to lay down for four hours at a time while you're at a doctor's office. Or they need to be, you know, when you go to a restaurant, which we hope to get you out to eat, they need to be calm and quiet, not sitting there dancing, waiting for the next thing they have to do. Um and and they're too protective. You you can't have those kind of dogs as service dogs.

Medical Alerts And Trusting The Dog

SPEAKER_03 12:13

So yeah, that's so true. Yeah, I'm I'm glad there's people like yourself out there. Uh there's tons of great, great trainers, but like I said, we have to have to give you guys a voice and elevate your and put you on platforms where this information can get out because it is a very, very important modality. It does heal. And I I kind of want to dive into that. Like in your experience, like what is that bond? What is it that really helps that veteran that's struggling and pairing them with a dog?

SPEAKER_01 12:44

You know, if we could put it into words, it would it would it it's hard to put into words. We know, we know medically, um, physically, petting a dog will lower your blood pressure. Any pet will do that, you know, unless you have a crazy dog at home. Um petting the dog is very comforting, but there is an innate ability for a dog to just these particular dogs, again, any package, it can be Chihuahua up to you know, Great Dane. We've had all of that in here. Um, that innate ability to be drawn to um that's to assent, and they don't want to leave because to that dog something's something's off. Um I I can't even put in we're trying to get grants and they're wanting us to explain why does a dog do this or how you have to ask God. I don't have the answer to that. I just know what they can do. Um it's I have a service dog myself. Um never knew I needed one. I've been training for 37 years and and you know, but I have um I have a cardiac alert service dog who comes to work with me every day. He is I have low blood pressure and I pass out, but he knows before I do. So how does he know it? You know, he if I'm sitting in a chair, I don't know, but he does. And so he'll come and he'll he's a big black lab, uh English lab. He'll he'll come across my lap and he'll just hold me in this chair so I can't fall out. If I'm on the floor and I s and I am aware and I'll say help, he brings me his leash by the handle, lays down beside me, puts his head across my stomach and holds me there until I can I'm not dizzy anymore, and I can tell him to sit. Then now you hold his neck, he pulls me up to a sit, and then I'll sit there for a few minutes until everything's stable, and then I'll tell him to stand embrace, and he'll stand and I use him to get back up. Um But there are times when in with the law enforcement team, we always had TYD, trust your dog. Always trust your dog. There's times, and this is where what you're saying is people are pushing their dog away. The dog is bugging the heck out of them, and they're pushing them away when the dog is trying to tell them something is wrong. So we teach our veterans to keep a journal if they need to, because some of our dogs are already detected migraines an hour before the veteran gets it. Um so when the dog starts no, and when the dog starts doing this bumping and jumping, and you better they're trying to get your focus. So I tell my vets now, start start writing when this happened because they're going, I feel fine, nothing's wrong. And then one of them's had a heart attack, dog knew before. I've I've had all sorts of stories, I could tell you. Um, but migraines is a big one.

SPEAKER_03 15:47

Um, diabetes, another one that our dog That's one that I that I I I knew, and again blows my mind. It's insane. And it can sense that, like that wow. I didn't know about migraines, so that noise.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

Several in here that the dogs we don't train. That's the thing. There are there are things that are genetic for a dog. Um and these these commands that we don't teach the dogs for diabetes, but my dog, my other dog is a diabetic alert dog and um and PTSD service dog. She's 13 now, she's retired, but that's her picture in the corner up there, that right there. But um I didn't teach her that. I have a very high diabetic uh uh staff member, uh type type one diabetes. Um and she he's got like a five thousand dollar pump built in. She beats the pump out before it can even even start to ding. My dog's already alerted him that, and I didn't teach her that. Um same thing with the migraines. We don't know there's no scent that I can give somebody to train on for a migraine because everybody's different. So it's genetic.

SPEAKER_03 17:08

That's not are are some dogs better at certain uh picking up certain things?

SPEAKER_01 17:14

You know, people ask me that a lot. Um, and we have a lot of mixed breeds because because we rescue, you know, we have i it the nose of the dog. I I can't say there's a if I was gonna pick a breed, I would pick the cross between a a lab and a hound. The noses are great. They're bred for that. The olfactory cell, they have more olfactory cells. Um bloodhounds have the highest, but bloodhounds don't do well in my experience with cadaver. It's i I mean with obedience. Uh they do well with cadaver. Um, they do live find well. When I was on the cadaver team, um we had we had uh uh one bloodhound that well, her name was Gracie Dumrocks, and she wasn't my dog, but she um she you know, you can't you know, I'm people that are people that have bloodhounds, they're great dogs. They're great dogs, not real easy for obedience. And we don't use bloodhounds in here, although they're I mean, we haven't had one come in here to test. Um they they have the highest olfactory cells of any any breed of dog. And then I think Labrador is second, and then German Shepherd, it goes on down the line that way. So, but just because they have a large number of olfactory cells doesn't mean they have the brains to use them. And we have some dogs that are totally repelled by the scent of adrenaline. So when we test dogs with our veterans here, um if the veteran is, you know, rocking back and forth and sitting on the floor and having some issues, we have dogs that'll do a five-foot circle around them but won't get any closer. Then we know that dog's a wash. And then we have the other dogs that use their nose and get in their lap.

Six-Month Training And Wraparound Support

SPEAKER_03 19:06

So yeah. You know, I want to kind of tap into the uh the the human side of it real quick. Like, um, because I I do want veterans to understand like this comes with a a lot of responsibility. Um it what are some of the things that we can identify within ourselves as needing to improve or change before we make this commitment to, you know, because this is a this is a partner, this is companion, this isn't a a nice to have pet that's just gonna sit around. Like you you owe this a lot of work. Yeah, you owe this little being just as much, if not more, yes, than what they're you know, you know, they're they're coming on board 100%. So there's some things that we have to talk about because you know, I I'd like to say that everybody's a good, responsible pet owner, but everybody has the ability to be a shit person. So that's right. We need to identify like Yeah. Just because you're a veteran doesn't mean that you're 100% the right person, the right candidate. Like we have to take ownership and understand that like if we want this as a as a viable option to help us, we have to improve. We have to do some work.

SPEAKER_01 20:15

Yes. We do tell them to, you know, our program is a six-month program. And I only take 10 bets at a time. Now we have we have classes um Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. They're all different levels, um, 30 veterans um a week going through that um at different, you know, different times. We start them differently. So there's always ongoing opening classes. Nobody has to, there's not a waiting list, a long time. Um, and then uh Wednesdays we uh set aside for recertifications. So I have 861 veterans right now. Um yeah, started with two. Wow.

SPEAKER_03 20:54

I started with two. Mary, that's incredible.

SPEAKER_01 20:57

I know, I'm so grateful. Um, and I love them, and that's why I founded this, to really be honest with you, Denny. I saw so much hurt with these men and women coming back. I saw, you know, I had combat medics, I had 20-year snipers, I've had all these people that are lost and and can't even look me in the eye. And I know you can relate. Um, my heart just hurt because these are men and women that signed on that line not knowing where they were going. And the fact that they even had the courage to do that meant a lot to me. And so I'm grateful to them. There nobody's ever charged a penny. It costs us$21,400 to put one vet and dog through our team, put through our program. We don't charge, they get everything for free. We we have camaraderie here. We have um Christmas parties for all our vets and their families and catered with a hundred and more dogs under tables in here in our training center. Um we have support. Of a licensed clinical social worker here. Counseling is free for the vet. Spouse counseling is free. Family counseling is free. Whatever we can do to give them a support structure.

SPEAKER_03 22:11

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SPEAKER_01 22:30

Um, to give them a safe place. And and that's why head signs above our doors going into the training center says through these doors lies hope and healing. Because they tried the alcohol, they tried the drugs, they tried the street drugs when they couldn't get any more prescription drugs, they've lost their homes, they've been, you know, addicted. And we're their last hope. My heart is to be that one with the hug because some of them don't have that. They don't have that support. So all my vets get hugged whether they want to or not. That's my job. I'm gonna train and I'm gonna hug. But um, you know, we even have we have a canine, a certified canine massage therapist that works here that that works. I know she's certified from the UK. Um, because the service dogs are 24-7, up, up, down, get in a vehicle, out of a vehicle, go here, upstairs, downstairs, whatever. And so that's all free too. So she, any dogs that are look injured or sore or limping or hurting, we we carry, we cover all that too. So she comes and she works on all the dogs. It's incredible what she does. But I I have veterans that come here that graduated four or five years ago. See, they're never out of our program. That's the other thing that's different with us. Your family. Family doesn't give up on each other, no matter how long you've been gone, what you've been doing. They always know you can come back here. They'll come back here, and I haven't seen them in like four years. Well, I see them every year for research, but then they'll come in just out of the blue and I'll go, what are you doing? I just need to be here. It's the anniversary date, you know, of I just need to be here. So we have coffee always ready. We have tables, cat little cafe area. They can come sit, hang out, watch class, see the new vets, whatever they want to do. This door is always open to our vets for the rest of their life. If their dog passes away, we'll get them another one if that's what they need to have. My goal is for the dogs to be a bridge to get you from where you are to where you want to be, not a crutch. But some of them, it's it does their heart good, it does their family good. You know, it's just the dogs have made such a difference when I see them stop me when you need to stop me if I'm talking about it. No, you're perfect.

SPEAKER_03 25:02

This is exactly what we're supposed to be doing. Having an engaging discussion.

SPEAKER_01 25:06

When I when I started, Danny I would watch them drive into the parking lot and not be able to get out of the car. Because they hadn't left their home in years. And and I'm out there maybe with 10 other people or other people, you know, clients or whatever that and I'll watch I waited on one vet for about 20 minutes, and I said, okay, it's long enough. So I sent that little dog that I showed you the picture of that's showing right up there. I said, She has to go get them. So she's a she's an American dingo. She's very, very different. She'll go over there and she'll sit in front of their car or beside the window, their driver's window, and she'll sit there and she'll just stare and just sit there and look at them. And finally they can't take it anymore, so they open the door, and then she'll she just will melt into that to that person. I mean, their arms are around the dog, they're they're shaking, and she's bouncing up and down like they because that's what they're doing to her. And she'll she helps bring them in. But I've seen them come the parking lot and then drive away and then come back again and drive away. When they finally can make it out of the car, then the next real step is to open the door. Cause they don't know they don't know what a dog can do for them. They this is my la you know, they always tell me, you're my last hope. Nothing else, you know, counseling it benefits, but it didn't fix. It didn't, it didn't give them the freedom of their life back again or the the courage. These are brave men and women, but there's something inside when you're you I mean, I can't I'm preaching to the choir, I'm sure. Um the dog as I tell them is don't put your whole life on your dog because they don't live as long as you do. You're not being fair to your dog. This is a tool in your toolbox that you get to love and gets to love you back. Um but don't put we're gonna teach you how to handle life using a dog so that someday you're gonna be able to handle life without the dog.

SPEAKER_03 27:33

Yes, absolutely. Thank you for saying that. We have way too many modalities out there billing themselves as a or individuals who champion them, uh trying to make it sound like it's a magic wand. You at the end of the day, dog, no dog, therapy, no therapy, plant medicine, psychedelics, you still have to do the work.

SPEAKER_02 27:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 27:57

You still have to figure your shit out. Nobody's coming to save you. Nobody's gonna remove that. You gotta do the work. Taking the dog home, giving it some kibble, and and walking around town without doing the work, you're you're just being a really bad pet owner. You're just being a really bad companion. Like you have to do the work. It makes it easier to get out there, it makes it it it helps in a lot of different ways. But the things you carry, the things that are still in the back of your mind, the things that you refuse to talk about, you still gotta work through them. You still have to figure out a way to work through it. Um, and and that's something that you know we we have to face as a community. The the idea that something will just do the work for you. Well, I'll just get the dog. Well, so a lot of avenues, it'll give you definitely make it easy for a connection, which is shout out the Special Forces Foundation uh with their connection campaign, because it you know connection is one of the most important things that's that can help stem the suicide epidemic in the veteran community. Pair it with the right animal companion, pair it with other modalities, and that's a that's a winning formula. That's a winning formula. And the the key thing, so we have to work.

Public Access Skills And Doing Work

SPEAKER_01 29:15

Um we tell them that too. You know, this is not this is they're training the dog. Um I have and and so they're they have two hours of homework every day. And they're scared of me because they know if they come in the next week, I'm gonna know whether they work their dog or not. They don't have to tell me anything. I've been doing this too long, you can't fool me. And they call me sergeant ma'am sometimes. They call me a few other things too, but you know, um, but I love them and they know I love them. And I put we put them through what we call um social skills training because we have they haven't had to deal with the public. The public is your worst enemy out there when you're there with a service dog.

SPEAKER_03 30:00

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SPEAKER_01 30:39

Because a lot you a lot of them don't look disabled. Um, so people are assuming it's a fake dog, and then they're confronted, and then we have anger issues with my vets, and and so we teach them in here. We basically role play, and we we have a little cafe area, and they learn how to you go to a restaurant and put their dog under the table, and um we have food all over the floor. I c I go to McDonald's and I buy all these hamburgers, and I everything's on the floor. They have to they have to walk their dogs past everything. The dogs can't pick up food. I try to call their dog with food. Uh my trainers do as well. We drop pots and pans. We, you know, we're trying to tell them they have to get out, just like the public will sit there in a restaurant and and talk very loudly about how disgusting it is to have a dog in the restaurant and why these people are here. I've had this happen. We've had our dog's faces kicked, we've had their tails stepped on. Um, and so you know, PTSD, TBI. My husband is an Army veteran, he has PTSD and TBI um from an accident, and my dad's name was Navy. Uh but the symptoms, families need to know this as well. Don't look at your your son, don't look at your husband, don't look at these people by the by the way they look, because trauma changes the brain. So understand the disease, understand the the disability, do some research on the family's part as well. You can't help somebody if you don't understand what it is they're going through. They look the same, but they're not the same right now. And so I've had to educate p parents of uh veterans, spouses of veterans when they should be doing the research. Um, but the veterans, I tell them, do you have children? Yes. Did you ever carry a diaper bag? Yes. Well, guess what? You're gonna carry a you're gonna carry a tactical backpack with all the stuff you need for your dog wherever you go. 24 hours a day, wherever you go with that dog, that backpack goes with you. You're gonna clean up after your dog, you're gonna be a good steward, you're gonna train your dog two hours every day throughout the day, not all at one time. It's a lot of work. And if you're not up for, I tell them on the first day, I can't fix you, but I can give you the tools and teach you how to get better, but you have to do the work. And if you listen to what we're teaching you, you'll get there.

SPEAKER_03 33:23

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 33:23

And that's all I can do.

SPEAKER_03 33:26

That's uh that's what we really need are people that are willing to get out there and share their skill sets, share their passion. Yeah, if it's something that can help a veteran. Um, there's a lot of people out there. Uh, it's just, you know, we have a growing, it's constant need, finding more people that are as compassionate and educated in a modality like yourself that are willing to give back. And, you know, I kind of want to, you know, dive into that. Like, how did you find yourself, you know, working with police officers, doing things like searching for for remains and running up for profit and silently go into the nonprofit space?

SPEAKER_01 34:05

Oh boy. Like I said, I, you know, I I love dogs. I I love helping people. I always have. I think that's just what God gave me in my heart, you know. Um I never thought I would do cadaver work. I pass out visiting people at hospital. So I thought, how the heck am I gonna do this? But um I in my for-profit dog training, I had law enforcement officers that would come for training. And so I asked them one day, what is the greatest need that you have that law enforcement has? Um and they dog-wise, and they said, we have patrol dogs and they're tracking dogs and they're drug dogs, and but we don't have cadaver, cadaver because it's expensive to buy a cadaver, trained cadaver dog, and it's not a dog that they would use all the time. You know, it's just when there was a a case that you got called out on. So I and then 9-11 hit, and I had I had I'm I'm sorry, I'm bragging, but this is true. I had one of the best dogs in the world. I trained, I had my black German shepherd, his name was Ruber. Uh, we we've been featured all over the place, but he he was so tremendous, and I was not in that world at that time, the search world. And and I felt so helpless because of 9-11. What could I do? And so I, when the the guys on that, the law enforcement officers that I was working with, I when they said cadaver, I said, okay, we're I'm gonna found a cadaver dog team because I'd already done scent detection, was certified in the scent detection and all that. Um uh I'm a certified master trainer, so that was part of my my training. But so I asked them if I found this and I teach you, would you want to be on this team? And of course they all said yes. So um, so we started started training and we set up crime scenes. I can't even tell you how many rubble piles I climbed and how many. Every weekend was was setting up a crime scene, and we each took turns once I taught them um to set it up so nobody would know where, like no one would know where anything was planted, you know, so you can't lead yourself over there. Um, so I didn't know how I was gonna face my first recovery, but I did. And then I went on to some design. I I did, I worked with FEMA with the um uh after Katrina in the lower night ninth ward. I was yeah, that was pretty rough.

SPEAKER_03 36:49

That was a rough time. I was I was a young specialist in the Colorado National Guard. Did you get sent there? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:57

Oh it was rough, yeah. So yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:01

Zero out of five stars in that experience.

SPEAKER_01 37:04

Minus, it's minus zero. Yes, that was the one of the worst things I've ever experienced. And then I got sent to um Natalie Holloway's case in Aruba.

SPEAKER_02 37:14

And then I got no way.

Cadaver Dogs And Disaster Deployments

SPEAKER_01 37:16

Yeah. And then I got sent to Texas after Hurricane Ike and they were missing 400 people where I saw cows in trees and all sorts of stuff there. Um, but that was something that caught that allowed me to grow. I faced my fears and things that I didn't think I could do, um, didn't know how I was gonna do it. But I had the most amazing dog. And and so we flew together, we went to, you know, wherever we got called out, and uh, and I became stronger myself, you know, pushing yourself to do something you think you can't. And then when my dog died, um, he got very sick after Katrina, but but worked some more. But um when he died, I my heart, I couldn't do it anymore. And uh so we uh after eight years, I I bowed out of that, but I still wanted to help. So when the veterans were coming in, I saw the need, I saw the hurt, I saw the pain, and I just had I just had to do something. And I don't want them, why should they have to pay to get help for being injured in the military's military service to our country? I think that's horrible for any veteran or active military to have to pay for it.

SPEAKER_03 38:44

I think the the the great the great thing about your journey and your story is that there are so many you know, we always talk about relevant experience and having healers and providers that have that background or at least have a a somewhat of a understanding of what it takes to to perform the job or what it takes to to be a service member. And uh, you know, trauma-informed care is is a big buzzword that's thrown out there, but your lived experience it it's perfect um for working with veterans. It's absolutely perfect. You have the experience of of doing incredible work, high demand, with you know, sadly, it it is directly connected to lots of loss, a lot of of horrible things, and and having to navigate that world and still find yourself, you know, somewhat normal, finding balance, finding that far, but we'll yeah. You know, but how did you handle all the stressors and and all the craziness of that career field? Because there there is some connection, there is some some lessons that I would I would think uh uh are powerful to share with the audience as far as like what kept you on the right side of the line, so to speak.

SPEAKER_01 40:09

Quite honestly, it's my faith. My faith is very strong in God. And I and God is the one that told me to found this organization. And and I I stepped out with nothing. You know, I did it, I I used my own money to to start. I mean, I just I didn't know how I was gonna do it, but sometimes you have to step out of the boat, you know, you have to you have to try to walk on the water, and that's that's where I am. I it's there's there's something bigger in in all of us. There's something bigger. For me, it's God. And I and I'm not ashamed to say it. I'm proud to say it. And and um that's what keeps me focused when I I can't feel like I can't do anymore. Um finding finding bodies, right? I when I interview with my vets, I would tell them, listen, I am not a veteran, but I can tell you what I've done. My and and they'll go, oh Miss Mary, you are you're a veteran. You're a veteran. Because I want I want to earn their respect as well. I haven't been where they've been, but they haven't been where I've been either. So um, you know, it's it's it made us my my vets respect me and I respect them for what we've had to do, good or bad. And um, I think for me, just my pastor would say, Do you have anybody to talk to? You can't you can't take all this on your own. And uh I had you know, I I didn't talk about it a lot because a lot of it was so confidential, I couldn't talk about cases or anything sometimes. But um I I don't just God got me through. I can tell you one thing, and if we have time still.

SPEAKER_02 41:58

Yeah, absolutely.

Faith After Katrina And Carrying Trauma

SPEAKER_01 41:59

When I was in New Orleans um in that horrible mess, and we were fed by the Salvation Army, and we we had to be decontaminated twice a day, and so did our dogs. Um and uh we were in the lower ninth ward, which was really nasty. Um, and all the houses that had markings on them saying this, this, and this, well, the markings weren't right, so there was you know still bodies where they said there weren't and different places like that, because we went six weeks after the water receded because we couldn't get in um to to go into the homes and stuff at that time. But I met this little little woman from from New Orleans, um, little black woman, and she was just precious. But they she had come over to the command post where we were with the um Red Cross was there feeding us, and uh she said, What am I gonna do now? She said, I have they're gonna send me away to someplace. And uh she wanted to go back and see her home. And I said, I ma'am, there's nothing there to see. I I can't it's too contaminated. You you can't go back there. Um, but the governor had gotten on and said, Oh, everybody can go, you know, go look at their homes. Well, when your home was 29 feet underwater, because the highest part, two-story houses, I saw the water lines at the top. We had people still stuck in attics that didn't make it. You know, so so I had to say to her, I know it all looks awful. And I've tried to figure out how to say that. I said, but God is still here. And she goes, Oh, honey, I know that. She was, she said, Can I have your can I take your picture? Um, and I think sometimes I was sent there just for her because I was able to give her a hug and I was able to let let her pet my my dog and and relate to her a little bit. Um that made me feel good for her, you know. Um I don't know, I've had I've had a lot of different experiences where more in the search work, but again I got asked actually to go to Iraq to do body recovery, to recover our soldiers. I did several times. I turned it down. Because you have to know your place in life. And for veterans in in um active military, I have friends that are active military. I I you know and I have all I have every branch and every rank you can imagine in here um for training. Uh and I know what their stories sometimes I wish I hadn't heard their stories. But I listen because sometimes you just need to talk and you need somebody that's not going to judge and and just listen. But I was only female on the team so people tended to navigate to me more I guess because the guys were like you know uh a a little more standoffish than I was. I've had drowning victims where my dog's alerted in the boat in the in the middle of the lake or wherever and then the family's all on the on the shoreline. And then when you try to get out of the boat and they're grabbing your clothes and holding on to you, you know it's it puts life in a different perspective for you. So I appreciate every day that I have and every day that I can maybe make a little bit of a difference in the life of a person and a dog, I'm all for it.

SPEAKER_03 45:44

Well you're certainly doing it Mary I mean 800 plus veterans.

SPEAKER_01 45:48

We're gonna have a 500th graduate by July.

SPEAKER_03 45:52

I'm so excited yeah that's incredible and that's like I said earlier we need more programs we need more people are willing to get in into the space however you can help. I mean there's there's an avenue for helping veterans in a million different ways you you want to start a nonprofit helping veterans with woodworking with welding with with anything. There are so many different ways that people can heal because it's not always you know what works for me won't always necessarily work for you. I love to share everything that I've used in hopes it can be a tool for you. But I have to admit sometimes for certain individuals one avenue just won't work. Something won't won't click for them. But maybe something like this maybe getting a companion maybe that's the the the gateway to healing and I think we all have have to have that approach it it can't be rigid.

SPEAKER_01 46:42

You can't tell people you have to absolutely do this this and this it's hard you know funding wise for nonprofits all of us everybody struggles with that and they come here thinking you know they're getting everything for free but they're thinking that oh well the VA pays you we we've never had a penny from the VA ever and so you know we work hard to keep the doors open uh and get the word out like this this is I'm sure be a a big help letting people know we're here to help and we're not asking anything of our veterans. Let us help you. That's all we're asking. Let us help you.

SPEAKER_03 47:17

Absolutely what do you guys got coming pipeline as far as fundraisers or events to help boost uh some of the revenue well we're such a small staff I mean we when there's only like uh there's 12 of us I think that and everybody's working three jobs so we've got a uh fundraiser that's being put on uh in St.

SPEAKER_01 47:37

Augustine for us uh April the week after Saturday after Easter uh with the Eagles uh is every year does a huge fundraiser for us and they've they've just wrapped around us uh even being in St. Augustine so far away uh that's the next one coming up mostly the fundraisers are done for us we don't have the manpower to do our own fundraising um so we we just make sure that we support and our veterans come out and help support those that are doing the fundraisers for us. So uh St. Augustine Eagles doing a big bike run uh and then and a lot of the guys love that so they'll come for that and uh we have one veteran that bought uh um motorcycle his sidecar and his malama is uh riding in the sidecar with goggles on and uh and canine partners on the side so that's good advertisement it is and uh a fun fact I didn't know that doggles was a real word yes doggles is a real word that's a that's a proper nomenclature for goggles for dogs yes it is yeah and I was like you don't church it up like no that's really what you call them I was like yeah yeah they're great man seeing these animals on uh on the objective are are amazing and I think that's what gives people the idea that's what a service animal is but reality is it can be a small you know doodle it can be uh a lab it can be a chihuahua slash pit bull hybrid yeah like I have I have a um I have a Yorkie I have a Yorkie that saved in my program early on that saved his his veteran's life yeah a little bit of Yorkie um that's right so it it's just amazing what they can do and if you're ever this way come visit so we can show you right now absolutely you know yeah we'll be moving back down to Florida here in the next couple months which is exciting.

SPEAKER_03 49:35

I missed I I miss Northwest Florida. Didn't realize how much of a Florida boy I became in the last last few few decades it's just been uh it's it was remarkable to move away uh I will say everybody has to venture away and experience life outside of like I I will tell you if you're listening if you're a veteran and you stayed in the local area for too long and you you need change shake it up go move somewhere for a year two years figure out if that's really where you want your home base to be and if it is you'll feel it immediately but push away from the safety of the shore go somewhere else I was lucky and fortunate I'm I'm a spouse these days so we uh we we had to move up here um but it was a blessing um everything that we've been able to I've been able to accomplish or our family's been able to to grow in the last few years um that's cool so Alabama's been good to us in that regard but respectfully I'm excited to get back to Florida just to let everybody know too I mean our program is six months long but we have veterans that come from 47 counties out of the state in the state of Florida and veterans that come from out of state a lot of them have a an address here where they can they can stay somewhere here nearby but we have vets I have vets that drive from Georgia every week that to come here because we're one of the few organizations that allow them to use their own dog.

How To Apply And Support Program

SPEAKER_01 50:59

And so that's important to so many of them if they don't need us to get a dog for them. But but we have veterans from all over the United States that come we've got RV park that's down the road that they they'll rent an RV and bring their dog so they can be here for the six months of training and then they know they have to come back every year to recertify. I've had them come back from from Hawaii to recertify.

SPEAKER_03 51:23

Oh man yeah so uh that's a way to do it uh we love them yeah Mary I can't thank you enough to be here but before I let you go please give us your uh your top five pet owners must or or things that we should be looking at as responsible pet owners wow top five what's the most important things is is um being aware of what of your dog what you're feeding your dog exercising your dog making sure that you give them ground rules just like you would with children should give children ground rules um there has to be bad at that but there has to be boundaries you know like my dog knows he never can go through an open door unless I tell him if I open a garage door a fence a gate the door to the house I can run out he'll stop right before because until I tell him he can go out keeps your dog safe um you know just make it a make it a relationship a team and then incorporate your family with it teach your kids how to train a dog that's so much fun and it and it just makes everything the bond with the dog better and the family unit is something everybody can do together. Absolutely and um real quick Mary before we wrap up um where can people get a hold of you? Where can they go? What are your social media channels? Boy I don't even I have somebody that does that so I'm not sure but we've got Twitter we've um uh got we've got a Facebook page you we're on YouTube canine partners for patriots go to our YouTube channel we've got all sort of videos of our uh veterans working their dogs and training um our website uh canine letterk number nine partners for patriots dot com or dot org um and uh look us up we're we're always here we'll do our best to answer any emails um any questions anybody has uh right away so and again we don't really have a waiting list um veterans can apply as long as they do their paperwork get everything in um we'll get right back to them within a within a few days and then bring them in for an interview and then the longest part is matching them with the right dog which could be two weeks it could be it could be two months but but they are invited to be in here through all that time so they've got support immediately absolutely that's awesome and I'll I'll get a if you could uh I will connect after this though I make sure I get all the links okay and put in the episode description and that's uh that's the spiel right there guys pause you know the deal go to the episode description click those links subscribe follow yeah dare I say communicate with mayor and her team of wonderful volunteers and expert dog handlers uh if you're a veteran in need reach out connect maybe you live in the area maybe you're looking for a fresh new start or feel yourself stalling in your healing journey maybe this could be the new thing for you maybe this could be the beginning of a brand new and wonderful relationship because I will tell you one of the greatest things on earth my entire life uh has been able to be a responsible pet owner especially for for dogs and then when I got married cats came into my life and they're not bad pretty cool but I'm pretty partial to my dogs shout out to you blue and Marley you you guys are are sleeping right now.

SPEAKER_01 54:53

Well my dog's name is Justice and I have my big black lab named Justice and he was named Justice because there's no justice in this world so I made my own. And I just want to thank you Danny for having me on. It's been a pleasure.

SPEAKER_03 55:08

Absolutely absolutely Mary again thank you so much for what you're doing. Thank you for being here to everybody listening thank you guys for tuning in and we'll see y'all next time. Till then take care