Local Veteran & Service Dog Nationally Honored for #StillServing

Tampa FL

30 September, 2021

5:35 PM

Description

TAMPA BAY, FL — Mulberry resident Caleb Homer and his service dog Chloe are being recognized for their service to country and community in the national Veterans of Foreign Wars #StillServing campaign. The campaign honors veterans who continue to serve after the military, which this month coincides with National Service Dog Month, focusing on those who give back alongside their canine companions. Upon retiring from 13 years with the Navy, Homer suffered from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and other physical issues from combat. Homer originally got Chloe, a malnourished rescue, as a pet. He gradually trained Chloe to accompany him in public, do tasks to help him gain more independence and eventually to "alert" by breaking his attention and making him focus on her when his anxiety and depression were too high. One night she did exactly what she was trained to do, and it saved his life. Homer shares that he was in a particularly bad place mentally when Chloe pushed hard into his leg and barked repeatedly to stop him from ending his life. Knowing he owed his life to Chloe and feeling grateful to have survived, Homer realized there were likely other veterans who needed help. With Chloe as inspiration, Homer created Service Dog Interactions Inc.in 2018 to provide assistance to veterans who need service dogs but cannot afford the associated expenses. To date, Homer and Chloe have provided more than $5,000 in items and care for veterans and individuals with service dogs throughout the country. Additionally, they advocate for and provide education and training to businesses, community programs and organizations about the importance of service dogs. While Homer credits Chloe for initially enabling him to #StillServe, he continues because of other veterans, recalling one he met who skipped meals to pay for his service dog's food. Homer said it often only takes a small gesture like providing food or paying a vet bill to make an impact and said he is "honored to lighten the load for our nation's heroes." The VFW invites all veterans to share their stories of continued service here.