A rescue pup renewed this veteran's hope and joy!

Life after deployment for U.S. Navy veteran Angelique Williams was filled with physical and mental challenges. Falling into a depression, she saw little reason to go on. Then, a pup, rescued from the streets of Kuwait, came into her lifeand changed both their lives

- Gina Roberts-Grey

Glancing at the clock, Angelique Williams sighed sadly. She’d spent another day in bed. Living with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and mobility challenges since retiring from the U.S. Navy in 2009, Angelique had become depressed. She lacked the motivation or energy to do even simple tasks, much less participate in the activities that had once brought her so much joy—running, hiking, surfing, painting, drawing and even journaling. Months became years, as despair and hopelessness slowly swallowed Angelique. She even contemplated ending her life— and that terrified her.

I can’t go on this way, Angelique realized.

Angelique had heard about other struggling veterans who had gotten service dogs to help them. Having had—and loved— dogs throughout her life, Angelique knew how healing the unconditional love and loyalty of a pet can be, and her heart began to open to the idea.

Maybe I should get a dog. Maybe a furry friend is exactly what I need, she thought.

A four-legged lifeline

Angelique filled out an application with Paws of War, a nonprofit that rescues, trains and places shelter dogs (many from war-torn countries) with U.S. military veterans that suffer from the emotional effects of service. And in November 2021, she got the call.

“There’s a dog we’d like you to meet,” the woman said excitedly, telling her about Buddy, found emaciated by a soldier in Kuwait.

That poor guy, she thought.