Glenn Close Interviews Iraq War Vet in Newest “Lively Licks” Blog Posting
In her "Lively Licks" blog at FetchDog. com, actress Glenn Close interviews Bill Campbell, the first Iraq war veteran to receive a canine companion through the Dog Tags program. Bill and his yellow Lab, Pax, show us how the unique bond between man and dog can help people recover from serious physical and emotional trauma.
Portland, Me., (PRWEB) June 16, 2008
“If Pax were a car he’d be a 1970 Dodge Charger. Yellow, of course.” Former Army Sgt. Bill Campbell describes his dog this way and shares a lot of other heart-warming anecdotes in his “Lively Licks” interview with actress Glenn Close, posted today at FetchDog. com (http://www. fetchdog. com).
Pax is Labrador, not a car, and he and his fellow service dogs from Puppies Behind Bars (PBB) are busy brightening the lives of injured U. S. soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s part of the Dog Tags Program, initiated by Puppies Behind Bars in 2007 to supply service dogs, free of charge, to veterans who suffer from physical injuries or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Bill was injured by a roadside bomb just outside the Green Zone in Baghdad; the explosion caused traumatic brain injury and ongoing post-traumatic stress. He suffered nightmares, fear of open places and forgetfulness. Now, Bill and Pax confidently patrol the green streets of Mason County Oregon where they live. Pax’s sensitivity to Bill’s needs is so strong that he even reminds Campbell to take his medicine, and wakes him when he oversleeps. Sgt. Campbell is the first soldier in the country to receive a Dog Tags dog.
Bill shares his story with Ms. Close in the newest “Lively Licks” blog posting at FetchDog. com. Created by Ms. Close because of her life-long love of dogs, “Lively Licks” embraces the real life stories of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things in their lives thanks to man’s best friend.
“Since coming back from Iraq I have a poor sense of personal security,” says Campbell. “Pax is an extra set of eyes and ears and a great set at that. I trust him to alert me if something is out of the ordinary. He has freed me to do things like go running or enjoy one of my favorite hobbies, photography.”
In concert with Bill’s amazing story of courage and canine camaraderie, FetchDog has created a special “charity shop” in honor of Mr. Campbell. A percentage of all product sales logged through Bill’s shopping area in FetchDog will be donated to the Dog Tags program, whose motto is ‘service dogs for those who’ve served us.’
About FetchDog
FetchDog began as the dream of a bunch of dog-crazy friends with a common complaint—why was there no great place online to shop for our dogs or to connect with dog experts and other dog lovers?
We wanted products that were sturdy, practical, yet beautiful to look at; thoughtfully-designed items that would complement our lives and our lifestyles. Naturally healthy food, treats, and health care products free of chemicals and byproducts. Most of all, we wanted all these things in one convenient place.
That’s FetchDog. Shop with us, share with us, at http://www. fetchdog. com.
About Puppies Behind Bars
Based in New York City, Puppies Behind Bars trains prison inmates to raise service dogs for the disabled and explosive detection canines for law enforcement. Through new programs like “Dog Tags,” Puppies Behind Bars is extending its helping paws to injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information visit http://www. puppiesbehindbars. com.
###
