SAN ANTONIO – The competition at the Battle Buddies Classic sporting clay shoot was fierce, but it was all for a good cause. The fundraiser benefited two nonprofit organizations — The Admiral Nimitz Foundation and Veterans Assistance Dogs of Texas.
The VA Dogs of Texas gives not just dogs, but also veterans, a second chance at a happy life.
"There you go, baby. This right here is unconditional love. There's no doubt about it," Vietnam War Army veteran John Bencken said of his 4-year-old chocolate Labrador, Suzie.
Bencken and Suzie are inseparable.
"She's been an absolute lifesaver. I mean, literally, I have been suicidal, and I don’t like to admit that. I think the only thing that really kept me from it was my faith, the Lord, and what it would do to my family," Bencken said.
Suzie was given to Bencken in December 2013 by VA Dogs of Texas to help with him with his post-traumatic stress disorder.
"What they call hypervigilance, aware of your surroundings, not being able to trust people, not being around large crowds, not being able to enjoy anymore the things you used to enjoy," Bencken said about his disorder.
"Not only are we wanting to do something for the veteran, but we're looking at animal welfare as well," said Larry Pottridge, director of development of VA Dogs of Texas.
Veterans Assistance Dogs of Texas is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that rescues dogs from shelters and then trains them to meet the specific needs of a particular veteran.
"My anxiety level was down. The flashbacks were greatly diminished, I don’t know. She’s just been a godsend to me," said Bencken, who is no longer on PTSD medication. “An animal like this, to me, is worth more than all the pills they have."
Suzie is the first dog the organization donated. The dogs, like Suzie, undergo about 10-14 months of training, which costs about $10,000 per dog. However, with the help of grants, donations and events like the Battle Buddies Classic clay shoot, VA Dogs of Texas is able to donate the dogs to veterans in need for free.
For more information about Veterans Assistance Dogs of Texas, visit http://www.vadogs.org.
For more information about the Admiral Nimitz Foundation, visit http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org.