BBAR to surprise wounded War Veteran with service dog
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JACKSON, Tenn.,–Beyond Bars Animal Rescue said it’s taking animal rescue a step further with it’s latest mission of uniting an American War Hero with a service dog.
The west Tennessee nonprofit will be surprising John Hayes, a veteran who fought in Afghanistan before being wounded when an IED exploded and left him critically wounded four years ago.
“He had many blood transfusions, over 70 surgeries in five months, flatlined many times,” according to Hayes’ wife Janel. Hayes is now a double amputee from the waist down. Family members said Hayes has tried to get a service dog for several years through the VA services in Florida where he lives. “He lost both of his legs, half of his pelvis, and a lot of the use in his arms,” according to BBAR.
Shee-ra is a German shepherd puppy who will be donated to Hayes to be his service dog. Shee-ra is currently in Chicago, but will catch a flight to Atlanta Georgia Friday April 24th. From Atlanta Owen said she and other members of the BBAR rescue group will drive to St. Augustine Florida to surprise Hayes with the pup.
BBAR President Whitney Owen said among the physical challenges Hayes has to face daily, Shee-ra will help Hayes deal with some of the anxiety he faces now. Hayes’s wife writes in an email,”A dog that will be trained to just be there for him and even have the possibility to help him get things if he drops them will mean the world to him.”
Once Hayes and Shee-ra are united the duo will need to spend time training in Virginia, according to Owen.
BBAR has set up a Go Fund Me page with the goal of raising $10,000 to cover expenses for transporting Shee-ra, travel to and from Virginia for Hayes and the pup. “The goal is to make it so John doesn’t have to pay any out of pocket expenses for the life of the dog,” said Owen.
