New York-Based Dog Training Facility Pairs Its First Trained Shelter Dog with Veteran First Responder

Nicole Panetta is a former EMT and firefighter of Cohoes who was struggling with depression and anxiety. Her doctor suggested getting a service animal but she was also facing financial hurdles. As Nicole researched, insurance companies do not pay for service animals and these service dogs cost from $25,000 to $45,000 making her feel hopeless.

But when she heard about Operation at Ease (OAE) last year, she applied for the program and got paired with Oakley, a shelter dog from Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. Panetta is currently recovering from substance addiction. She said, “Being in recovery is a struggle every day and he’s [Oakley] helped me with that. I haven’t even thought about using a drug or drink. It’s amazing.”

OAE is an organization that provides service animal training for shelter dogs and pairs them with veterans in need. Nicole is one of the first responders to receive a service animal when they expanded their program. The organization now needs more funding for the program expansion. If you’re interested to donate or require more information about OAE and their program, you can visit operationatease.org.

Source: THE DAILY GAZETTE

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