TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – We all know the saying that a dog is man’s best friend. This story is proof of that.
We met Molly, the service dog, and her new family at Woodlands Park in Perrysburg on Friday. Robert Conner’s story resembles that of many other men and women who serve our country. After standing on the front lines of wars around the world, he fought PTSD.
“I could never go out alone without looking over my shoulders,” says Conner. “I was very vigilant. I only slept an hour or two a night. “
But that all changed when he met Molly. Although they’ve only been together since January, it’s easy to see that there is already an unbreakable bond between the two of them.
“You can’t chisel the smile off my face,” he says. “She gave me hope. I haven’t had that for a long time. “
Robert served in the U.S. Navy for 15 years, both on active duty and in the reserves. He had several business trips to Iraq and Afghanistan.
His wife Tiffani says it got worse after every mission.
“Every time he came home there were more mental health problems,” explains Tiffani. “It was getting worse and worse. He was depressed and we weren’t sure if he was even stable at home. We were never sure how he would react to things. “
Robert took medication and went through various therapies, but Tiffani says that nothing really seemed to work until Molly.
Molly is from an organization called the K9s for Warriors. Robert went to the Florida facility in January to train with his new partner for several weeks.
“I couldn’t have asked for another gift,” says Conner, who believes Molly really gave him meaning in life and confidence in himself. “You gave me back the gift of my life.”
Robert says his entire family is forever grateful for this.
“I have no words to express the joy I get every morning when I get up and know that I have a fight buddy to help me get through,” he says.
Robert says Molly received her early training in a prison program before she was sent to K9s for Warriors. The cost of her education at K9s for Warriors was paid for by a donor, and Robert was able to meet the family who made the donation when he and Molly graduated.
To learn more about what K9s for Warriors does or to make a donation, connect with k9sforwarriors.org.
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