Victory for Vets celebrates certified service dogs’ ‘graduation’

By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

For many veterans, the return to civilian life can be as difficult as the service that preceded it.

“It was a little difficult. It was hard to readjust,” said Daniel Estrella, of Syracuse. “I was trained for something and when I came out of here, it was a different deal.”

Estrella has spent more than 30 years trying to readjust. He served in the Army from 1979 to 1985, patrolling the border of what was then known as Czechoslovakia. His hand was severely injured by a simulator bomb and he underwent extensive surgery to repair it. On top of his physical injuries, Estrella has struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Before, I didn’t even want to get out of bed,” he said.

Fortunately, Estrella has found a new partner in his battle with PTSD: Drifter, a 14-month-old rescue dog. After months of training, Drifter and two other dogs celebrated their “graduation” as certified service dogs, thanks to Victory for Vets’ new service dog program. The graduation ceremony was held May 19 at the Cicero American Legion. In addition to Estrella and Drifter, Michael Loetz of Canastota and his dog, Lucy, and Chenango County veteran Ralph Felter and his dog, Marley, participated in the celebration.

Last year, the Liverpool-based nonprofit began a partnership with Helping Hounds Dog Rescue in DeWitt, Certified Canine Services and the Vet Center of Syracuse. According to Victory for Vets Founder Rick Carlesco, raising and training a typical service dog can cost $8,000 to $9,000. By teaming up with Helping Hounds and Certified Canine Services, Victory for Vets can train a dog for only $2,000 or $3,000.

“We’re not just helping vets, we’re helping a dog,” Carlesco said.

Carlesco and Heather Graham co-founded Victory for Vets in 2014 to raise awareness of PTSD and help connect Central New York veterans with much needed services. The organization began as a simple backyard barbecue to give back to local vets, and now it has raised more than $60,000 for the cause. Victory for Vets’ 6th Annual Music Fest is set to take place June 2 at Sharkey’s (see sidebar).

“What we do here saves lives,” Carlesco said. “The guys and gals who come back from seeing things that we can’t even imagine. It’s not just the war stuff. It’s the nurses and doctors who have to put these kids back together.”

Estrella first learned about Victory for Vets’ service dog program through a Vet Center event. From there, he was referred to a mental health screening. Then he was paired with Drifter, an exuberant black dog with white freckles dappled across his snout, back in December. The two are inseparable, according to Estrella’s wife, Evelyn.

“He doesn’t leave him alone,” she said.

Training Drifter has given Estrella a focus for his energy and thoughts.

“He’s motivated me to move around, to get up, to be active,” he said.

“It’s been a blessing for us,” Evelyn Estrella said.

Ralph Felter, a veteran of the Army and Marines who lives in Chenango County, heard about Victory for Vets’ service dog program through the VA. He has found that his service dog, Marley, has helped him greatly with his PTSD.

“It’s probably improved my social action at least 1,000% and improved my sleep patterns,” Felter said. “He’s got my back.”

Felter served in Beirut, Lebanon, in the 1980s.

“We were the peacekeepers, supposedly, and got butchered,” he said. “When I came home from Lebanon, it was hard back then.”

Like Daniel Estrella, Felter found the transition to civilian life difficult. He said veterans had no support when struggling to cope with their return.

“I talk to my friends on active duty and it hasn’t changed. One minute, you’re there; the next you’re home. It’s extremely hard to adjust,” he said. “It’s too much here to there. Maybe that’s why it took me 30 years to deal with it.”

Felter said the macho attitude prevalent in the armed forces didn’t help either. He said veterans like him were told “you’re not a man, you have to deal with that” when they tried to express what they were going through.

Going through the service dog training program has helped Felter. Not only has he gained a companion and a coping mechanism in Marley, but he connected with Estrella and Loetz during training as well. Talking to other veterans, while difficult, helps.

“It’s an exclusive club, and you don’t want to join,” Felter said.

Neil Mathews, who with his wife Rachel owns Certified Canine Services, said the three veterans have been “awesome” throughout the training process. He said the hardest part of training is matching the right dog with the right personality.

“It’s not just the dog. It’s a team. It’s the dog and the handler together,” he said. “It’s amazing to see what a dog can do [for a person]. We’re just thankful to be part of the process.”

While Mathews, Graham and Carlesco said they are happy to help local veterans, Felter said he is just as thankful for Victory for Vets and the service dog program.

“I thank God for Heather and everybody that does the program. It makes a hell of a difference,” Felter said.

To learn more about Victory for Vets’ service dog program, visit victory4vets.com or contact Heather Graham at 315-506-8304 or [email protected].