A veteran suffering from PTSD who has searched far and wide for a therapy dog is finally getting help from right here in the Tampa Bay area.
- Army veteran Erik Babb suffers from panic attacks, suicidal thoughts
- Babb's wife allergic to most dog breeds
- 832 Deputy Dogs in Inverness stepped in to help
Erik Babb traveled to Tampa from Alaska in search of a new best friend.
Babb is an army veteran who suffers from PTSD. He's been looking for a therapy dog to help him with panic attacks and suicidal thoughts, but his wife is allergic to everything but purebred Portuguese water dogs.
"I kept looking and looking for dogs, and my doctors, they said 'Hey, there has to be a dog out there for you. We know a dog is the next step to get you to open up,'" Babb said.
He sent out emails to dozens of breeders asking for help. Most of them, according to Babb, responded with price quotes in the thousands of dollars, which he couldn't afford.
When Duke Snodgrass and his organization, 832 Deputy Dogs in Inverness, heard about Babb's situation, he decided to help.
Snodgrass normally places dogs with law enforcement agencies, but he also enjoys working with veterans.
He is giving Babb a 4-month-old puppy for free.
"We talked on the phone and I just feel like I know him and the heartache he's been through," said Snodgrass. "For us to actually be able to hand him something that's going to be able to help with that, maybe not fix it but help, what more are you on this earth for?"
Babb and the puppy bonded almost immediately. He joked that he will have to get used to the puppy's breath.
He's already named the puppy "Matai" after a Samoan chief.
"It's like Christmas, but early," said Babb. "You know, it's the perfect gift. Normally you don't get what you really want for Christmas but now I actually got what I want so I'm happy. I'm a happy dude right now to be honest with you."
He said he can't wait to take Matai home to Alaska to meet the rest of his family.
Babb said the VA has agreed to pay to train the puppy as a service dog.