One Vet + One Dog = 2 Lives Saved

We strongly believe there’s no better definition of “rescue” than a homeless dog that’s trained and paired with a person who will benefit from its companionship and supportive skills. As Ryan Onda of Semper Fi Service Dogs puts it, “One vet + One dog = 2 lives rescued”. 

Within Palm Beach County, there are multiple organizations dedicated to this purpose. Jake’s Pet Supply is honored to have positive relationships with leaders of several of these groups, and we think it’s important for people to be aware of them. The more publicity, the more donations they may receive. More importantly, we hope the publicity will ensure that veterans in need of their help will reach out for support.

The owners of Jake’s Pet Supply were introduced to Ryan Onda by Jeri Caprio, a dedicated animal advocate in Palm Beach County. When a woman like Jeri introduces you to someone with accolades of integrity, dedication, and compassion… you pay attention.

Ryan Onda served as a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare Defense Specialist in the United States Marine Corp. Over the past 20 years, he studied various training techniques from respected trainers and mentorship programs. Drawing on this experience, he developed a "Pack Training System” that’s designed to end the suffering of every Veteran with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), MST (Military Sexual Trauma), and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). A few years ago, Ryan and his wife Amanda decided to dedicate their lives to helping Veterans by working with abandoned dogs in need.

Johnathon Musgrave joined Ryan and Amanda to serve as the Veteran Liaison for SFSD. Having been stationed in the emergency department at the Naval Medical Center in Virginia, Johnathon witnessed the trauma of active-duty military arriving at the hospital with debilitating mental health issues. He knows firsthand the struggles Veterans deal with daily and has been working with various Veteran organizations since leaving the Military in 2015.

SFSD rescues dogs from shelters where they lived caged and alone. With an investment of time and training, all sizes are seen as worthy to be taught to be good dogs, to serve, and to love again. This same statement can probably describe the veterans themselves, many of whom feel lost and disconnected when they return home from service. Veterans are 60% more likely to separate or divorce than average Americans, and there are approximately 22 suicides a day of young veterans.

How do Semper Fi Service Dogs change the vets’ lives? As an example, many former vets suffer from severe nightmares. To mitigate these night terrors, a service dog can be trained to wake the vet as these start.  An Iraq War Veteran living with PTSD says his dog provides unconditional love, sensing when he is anxious, fearful, sad or sick and finding ways to comfort him.

Once a veteran applies and is qualified for one of the Semper Fi Service Dogs, they receive free training which otherwise could have cost thousands of dollars.

Additionally, once in the group, the vets receive support and camaraderie they hadn’t previously experienced. As one Iraq war veteran explains, "Once you are in the group, you are treated like family. I couldn't be happier with this organization. They are the best!"

Ryan’s mission is “to leave no veteran behind and never alone”. He wants every military veteran suffering from PTSD, TBI and/or MST to experience the love and loyalty that facilitates healing and recovery. If you know any qualified veterans who have suffered alone, we urge you to tell them about the Semper Fi Service Dogs organization.

To donate to SFSD by purchasing a gift card for their use, click here. 

To contact Johnathon or Ryan about the program, click here.