Pardon a few extra paragraphs for a good cause. The beginning of the article describes this reservist's tours in Iraq, his traumatic injuries as a result of an IED, and how a dog helped his way back to recovery. He wants to pass on this gift of healing....
SECOND HALF OF ARTICLE:
......According to Portillo, it was at the height of his physical and emotional anguish that an unlikely visitor changed everything. "They brought in a Red Cross therapy dog named Toffy," Portillo said. "She came in on a Tuesday and kept coming a few times a week. I noticed that I was starting to feel better. Her presence made me calmer and eased some of the anxiety and depression I was dealing with." The golden Labrador retriever continued to visit Portillo for the remainder of his stay. "She just changed my overall outlook," he said. "I couldn't believe it."
From Germany, Portillo was taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he received more treatment. "I realized then how much I missed Toffy and how much I benefited from her presence," Portillo said. "She helped me with emotional stress, as well as balance and other physical things. She was invaluable."
According to Portillo, Brooke, like most American veterans' hospitals, is underequipped and understaffed. "They don't have any therapy dogs," Portillo said. "That's not even something that is offered, and I know for a fact that it helps injured soldiers. There were 18- and 19-year-old kids there who have lost limbs. They have no family. They're alone. These dogs can help them lift their spirits and help them physically. But they're just told, 'Too bad.' "
Faced with what Portillo describes as a lack of government empathy or effort, he decided to take it upon himself to find and train therapy dogs for wounded servicemen, starting the nonprofit foundation Canines for Combat Wounded.
"I am just getting this thing off the ground," Portillo said. "There is so much good I want to do, but I need help. I don't have a lot of money. I'm two months behind on my mortgage, and I'm not getting money from the Army anymore until they decide what they will do with me a few months from now."
Portillo is looking for people who would be willing to donate time, money and services for his cause.
"We are donating puppies," said Portillo family friend Ira Watt of Sin City Presa in Henderson, a Presa Canario breeder. "We have given Ron five puppies, and he has trained his own dog Sonja, which he also got from us. He needs help raising money to have these dogs trained and placed with soldiers. We are helping in every way that we can, but he needs some community support."
Portillo said he plans to trudge on no matter what.
"I have contacted (talk show host) Oprah (Winfrey) and some other media agencies asking for help and got no response. But that doesn't change the need that exists. As long as there's a need, I will keep trying," he said.
To find out more about the foundation, visit www.caninesforcombatwounded.org.
http://www.viewnews.com/2007/VIEW-Jul-31-Tue-2007/anthem/15686869.html
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