Working with service dogs changed Jerry Lyda’s life, he said in a presentation to the Columbia County Exchange Club Thursday at West Lake Country Club.
“It’s been so rewarding in so many ways. You can’t even imagine,” Lyda said. Lyda, the founder of Veterans K9 Solutions, explained how his father-in-law, a veteran with multiple tours of duty, came home with PTSD and had a service dog aid that helped in easing the transition.
“The dog aids not only the veteran but their spouse, their family, the community,” Lyda said. His service dog, Rogue, a 10-year-old German shepherd, sat calmly while his handler spoke with pride about the foundation’s efforts.
Lyda himself served aboard aircraft carriers during the Vietnam War, which badly damaged his hearing. He had been training dogs since he was a teenager, and the gears began to turn on combining his knowledge of dogs with his desire to connect veterans to them.
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Veterans K9 Solutions is a non-profit organization that aims to rescue dogs, rehabilitate them, and connect them with a veteran in need of assistance.
“It’s not the breed; it’s the deed,” Lyda said of adopting any kind of dog for potential service. Pit bull, German shepherd, it doesn’t matter. Lyda said that 95-percent of rescue dogs can be used in service capacities, and there is a rigorous 33-week training program that helps both the veteran and dog learn to work together to overcome obstacles.
Lyda spoke on the struggles of having service dogs recognized by the VA and federal legislation for PTSD-related service, as it’s more difficult than acquiring funding for a service dog that aids someone with just hearing-or sight-related issues. The founder reiterated that education and continuing to get the word out about the organization’s mission is key to changing that over time.
“Providing a veteran–free of charge–with a dog that helps them get back their quality of life is what it’s all about,” Lyda said. “When they sign on the line to lay down their life for our country, that’s it for me,” he said, holding back tears. “I want to help them all I can.”
Learn more about the organization and ways to get involved at https://www.veteransk9solutions.org/
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
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