The daughter of a local man has started a Go Fund Me page for her father in the hopes the community will donate so he can get a service dog.
Corianna Underwood is hoping to raise $25,000 for her father, Mike Underwood, who has been diagnosed with PTSD and wants a service dog to deal with his panic attacks.
Locals know Mike as a stand-up comedian and someone who has also been involved with the Sea to Sky Toastmasters for a long time.
The service dog will be specially trained to detect when a panic attack is starting and will be able to calm Mike down, Corianna said.
She said there has been a lack of available dogs that are specifically trained for PTSD, and prices have gone up drastically in the time of pandemic.
From the purchase of a puppy to boarding and private and group training, the costs to have a service dog all add up to $25,000.
Mike worked in private security for a major hotel chain in Vancouver and developed PTSD after years of dealing with emergency situations.
Corianna said security guards are not considered first responders even though they are witness to disturbing incidents.
They also do not receive the same kind of training as other first responders and don’t qualify for the same benefits.
Without these benefits, Mike can’t often afford the same help, she added.
She is hoping the community will support her father.
“He has been pain painstakingly fighting the disorder ever since, and with no exact cure for it, having a service dog is the next best step in his life long recovery,” she said.
Judi says
Have you spoken to the hotel chain in Vancouver about a donation first? Lots of Squamish people are happy to help but the place he worked that created the PTSD should hold some responsibility as well!