Jerrid Barber and SPW Abel

I knew that I was going to need help 31 days after my return from my deployment in the Army when my brother committed suicide. That event sparked a lot of terrible emotions within our family. The Army made sure that I was going to counseling, and my doctor made sure I was taking my medication. Some days were good and others days not so good. About five years ago, my wife and kids told me that I needed to get back into counseling because I was not handling things well. I was missing a lot of family events because I could not handle being in crowds with a lot of people. I missed a lot of birthdays, zoo trips, and a lot of other small trips with my family. After years of counseling and medication, I felt like I was running out of options. The weight on my shoulders was getting very heavy, and my mental health was declining. I just happened to see an advertisement on the internet about service dogs for soldiers with PTSD. I started to do more research to see if a service dog would even be an option for me. I found out about Service Peace Warriors from an ad on craigslist. I sent them an email, and they responded very quickly, to my surprise. I didn't know what to expect, and I didn't want to get my hopes up too much. I had looked into another organization over on the westside, and they wanted almost $15,000 for a service dog. When I saw the ad for Service Peace Warriors, I figured they were going to be very similar or that I wouldn't qualify. In comes SPW Abel I actually was able to raise my service dog on my own. I asked Mary-Faith Murphy Mattox, owner of Service Peace Warriors, if that was an option. She was very apprehensive at first because of the commitment that it would be required from me to make sure Abel receives the training needed to be a certified Service Dog for PTSD. Abel and I did a lot of back and forth driving to Eltopia, Washington, for the training. I think because I was able to be with him from when he was a puppy, it has created a much stronger bond. Abel and I are two peas in a pod. He knows my routines and how I am. We are together every day, and he is simply my best friend. I retired two years ago from the Army, and there hasn't been a day that goes by that he and I have been apart.

February 28 · 2018

Roger Colling

I have known Mary for over 30 years; she has always been a very hardworking, genuine person. I volunteer at Service Peace Warriors and am close friends with her husband [ also an honest person ]. I get to see firsthand what it takes for time, money, and volunteering. Pulling something like this off correctly, this is more than a full-time job for her, and she does not get paid. What she and the other volunteers have achieved so far is impressive and more people are always getting on board. If you get out there, you can see firsthand how the animals are fed, housed, exercised, and cared for and have the opportunity to meet with one of the veterans that receive this fantastic, loving gift. You would want to help in any way you can. If this type of cause is interesting for you and if you ever took the time to get out to Eltopia and visit, You would probably want to be a part of this as well; Mary Mattox would welcome you with open arms, offer a tour and rundown on what they do. Mary, I'm impressed

Service dogs for veterans in Washington State with PTSD.

April 15, 2017

William Goss

Met Mary, Eric, and Diesel. Mary is a Godsend. She is a caring person and always a pleasure to talk to. Mary is a gift from God. For someone to do the things she does for a stranger (who quickly becomes a friend) is a fantastic thing. I am sure what Mary has done and continues to do has saved and changed lives. She understands the battle that many Vets fight daily. She cares, unlike many that say they care and understand but don't have a clue. Mary cares just as much about the Vet and the Animals. Thank you both for doing what you do. I look forward to working with you in the upcoming weeks to get Diesel and me on the same page. Again Thank you very much.

July 29, 2016

Clare Murphy

My sister, Mary-Faith Mattox Murphy, was born to work with animals. Mary-Faith grew up with our torturously violent and controlling mother. She was being fostered out and abused by various strangers. She was exposed to multiple traumas over a long 17-year period, starting from as young as a baby. As a consequence, Mary-Faith developed lifetime Complex PTSD. To cope with this, Mary-Faith can go out on her farm, pet her animals, train them, and be as happy as possible. Living with and raising animals has always been healing for her anxiety. Mary-Faith's deep knowing that animals are healing for humans, along with her genuine and passionate drive to help others, led her to develop Service Peace Warriors. Working with dogs and other animals has been Mary-Faith's lifesaver. It has always been natural to her. Although Mary-Faith does not understand what it would be like to be a soldier, not knowing if they were coming home to see their parents and family again, she has experienced complex PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Her symptoms were so bad that she ended up in the hospital with high blood pressure so high that she was on the verge of a stroke. At times she wanted to die so badly that she had to talk herself out of it. Mary-Faith's experience has led her to feel deep empathy for American veterans. Service Peace Warriors is her way of giving back what the soldiers do for us. Mary-Faith knows what a dog's comfort brings and how it changed her life. Having a dog enabled her to go places, do things, and talk to people that, before having a service dog, the symptoms of PTSD would block her from experiencing. Teaming up with a service dog opens up a new world to the Veteran with PTSD. It is not just the dog that makes a difference in the Veterans' lives. Members of the public tend to treat people with animals with kindness and compassion. So going to the grocery store with a service dog is healing because of the empathetic human connections. Strangers go out of their way to help the person with the dog. My sister is fair, just, kind, caring, and highly passionate about never causing harm to any person or any animal. She is one of the most respected people I know.

Service Dogs for Veterans in Washington and the Pacific Northwest