Chaplain Dog Training to Help Veterans and Service Members

From Arkansas Catholic:

Father Matt Garrison is strengthening his work with the military and veterans by training his dog Cletus to be a therapy dog.

The pastor of Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Barling and Sts. Sabina and Mary Church in Jenny Lind is also a chaplain for the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Wing.

The 2-year-old chocolate lab-weimaraner-doberman mix came into his life unexpectedly.

“I met Cletus in Helena the day after Christmas,” Father Garrison said, “and he came into the waiting room at the vet’s office, sat in front of me and put his paws into my lap. That was it. I packed his bags and brought him home. He and Jonah (the priest’s 10-year-old lab) get along great.”

In March, one of the members of the Air National Guard asked Father Garrison to consider training Cletus to be a therapy dog. He brought the dog to an interview at Service Dogs of Distinction in Fayetteville, and the directors agreed he would be a great match for their program.

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