NELSONVILLE – Army veteran Desarae Paganelli, who served in the military from 1998 to 2011 as a military police officer, witnessed the good, bad and the ugly during her military career that spanned numerous assignments throughout the United States as well as Iraq — incidents resulting in her developing PTSD.
The Dutchess County native who currently lives in Nelsonville, admitted not knowing where she was headed following her military career and began to self-medicate.
“I realized there was a better way since I became isolated resulting from constantly working harder to prove myself after dealing with violence against me and my unit while serving,” she said.
Paganelli, 47, was determined to “re-find” herself. Her new lease on life came from an organization called K9’s for Warriors that provides highly trained service dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury or military sexual trauma.
Paganelli met with representatives of the Florida-based organization that focuses on mitigating the debilitating symptoms of service-connected traumas.
The organization’s website states: “We validate our methods through tireless research and make breakthroughs every day. Successfully guiding a veteran through the K9s for Warriors program and providing them with a service dog doesn’t just change the warrior’s life. It saves it.”
The majority of the canines are rescued from shelters or surrendered by their owners saving the animals from abandonment or euthanasia thus giving them purpose.
Sandy is one of those dogs.
After meeting the German shepherd, Paganelli “knew right away I had something to live for and care for and would never again feel alone. Sandy helped me to become part of a team again. She gives me reason to wake up and smile and stays by my side no matter what. Sandy motivates me each and every day. She is amazing and is the best dog in the world — super friendly who loves everyone. We run on the beach and ride in the car. Most of all Sandy helps me break the ice when meeting strangers. When I become nervous and a bit apprehensive, Sandy becomes my spirit knowing how to give me space when encountering others. She is my guardian angel allowing me to become part of society again.”
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