This veteran is using his service dog to regain independence

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (InvestigateTV) - Veteran James Poggi served in the Marine Corps working in aviation. His time in the military led to a lifelong strain on his body, including five back surgeries and a below-the-knee amputation.

“You go from being six foot three, 250 pounds and able to travel halfway across the world and do whatever they ask you to do, to being relying on wheelchairs, walkers, mobility devices, things like that, you become a vulnerable person that you never thought you’d be,” Poggi said.

Poggi said he was in multiple accidents, hard landings, PT accidents and a car crash. He also developed spinal meningitis.

“And that was all while I was active,” he said.

To help ease some of the emotional toll, Poggi’s wife, who is also his caregiver, suggested he get a service dog.

Service dog provides daily support

Poggi got Teddy, a Goldendoodle, who serves as his service dog and daily lifeline.

“You never went anywhere without your battle buddy. And he always, always better have your back. And that’s how it is. He’s always got my back,” Poggi said.

The dog helped Poggi regain his independence by taking care of tasks many people take for granted.

“His favorite thing is to retrieve, to help me carry things,” he said. “If I drop my keys or anything like that, I’ll pick them up for me. He can retrieve my cell phone for me and things like that.”

Poggi said Teddy brought back something harder to replace: joy.

“I love my children very, very much, but it is right up there with another child,” he said.

There’s growing evidence that service dogs can alleviate some symptoms. A 2024 study found the canines are associated with lower rates of anxiety and depression in veterans with PTSD.

Training prepares dogs for real-world scenarios

Poggi took Teddy to Dog Training Elite St. Louis, where they train dogs for everything from basic obedience to advanced therapy, protection and service work.

“The way DTE trains, it looks like a facility, but they turn this thing into like a real-world scenario,” Poggi said. “They prepare you and your service animal for real world experiences that you just you’re not going to get out of that book.”

Matt Willis, owner of Dog Training Elite St. Louis, said service dogs can be important for veterans, helping with both physical limitations and PTSD.

“Dogs just-they change your feeling, the chemical changes in your body with that interaction. And that’s exactly the uplift that these guys and ladies need,” Willis said.

Willis said veterans have been through traumatic things, both physically, emotionally and mentally.

“While you know our government and the system tries to do what they can, there’s obviously some gaps in that care for our veterans,” he said.

Grant to help veterans get service dogs

A private donor grant will help cover part of the cost for service dog training for 10 veterans or active military members in need.

“They wanted it to go towards veterans and military personnel for service dog training. So what we’ve done is divide that money up to where we are able to help 10 veterans in need. Can be active military or veterans. And so it basically pays 30% of their training costs for those 10 veterans,” Willis said.

“And that’s the kind of people that are out there that see the benefit of what these dogs can do,” he said.

Teddy will return to work with Poggi, resuming his job as a school crossing guard in Mascoutah.

“Next school year, I’ll be back full-time out on the corner every day, rain or shine. He’s out there with me. He’s got the got a little crossing guard hut and everything,” Poggi said.

A 2024 survey of about 600 veterans revealed about four in 10 never had a PTSD service dog but would like one.

It’s important to note the VA doesn’t provide service dogs for mental health conditions, including PTSD and is still studying the potential benefits of such interventions.