POLSON -- For two years after his traumatic brain injury, veteran Bill Austin was mired in depression.

But days after he met an over-sized therapy dog named Jay, Austin’s life changed.

Jay is a Merle Great Dane who stands about three-feet tall at the shoulder and has a snout as long as a veteran’s dedication. Bill, who looks like he is still in fighting shape, isn’t much taller.

“He helps me move when my legs don’t want to work,” Austin said. “He helps me remember to take my medicine. When I have a nightmare, he licks my face to wake me up. He is also hyper vigilant. He tries to stand between me and any threats, passively blocking people away.”

Austin’s 30-year career spanned two tours with an Army Air Guard Unit in Iraq in 2003-04 and in Afghanistan from 2009-12. But an accident left him with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD, and he was medically discharged.

He moved to the Polson area about a year ago with his wife, Janet, who stood by him through both tours, his injuries and ongoing recovery. Sunday, May 18, was their 23rd anniversary.

After his discharge, Austin said he was told to find his own therapy for his physical and psychological recovery.

Wounded Warriors has a program that trains therapy dogs for free and donates them to vets struggling with physical and psychological challenges.

“We moved to Montana because Montana has a lot of veterans and we could help,” Bill said.

Janet fell in love with Jay and strengthened her love for Bill.

“Jay changed his life,” she said. “A couple of days after Jay came, Bill started to smile. It was the first time in two years.”

www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Wounded Warrior Project

2223 Alaskan Way, Suite 220, Seattle, WA 98121

Telephone: 206.441.7096 Fax: 206.441.2506

The Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit, veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, service and events for wounded

veterans of the military actions following the events of 9/11/2001.