AUSTIN — “Right now, all they're really supposed to do is sleep and eat,” Debi Krakar explained of the pups that were just a few days old at the time.
While life may seem simple for the dogs now, Krakar consistently worked with them from the moment they were born.
Krakar trains service dogs through The Dog Alliance, however, this is the first time she has bred two dogs in hopes of a litter of future service dogs.
Even at just two weeks old, Krakar said every moment was a learning opportunity.
“At this age, they're like sponges,” said Krakar. They are learning every day, every moment. Everything you do with them is a learning experience.”
Krakar emphasized the importance of socializing the puppies at a young age.
“All these dogs are training to be service dogs,” she explained to some of the KVUE staff during an office visit with the dogs. “Coming in your office, the sounds and smells, all of you different people with glasses and hats, if they see you all now in this stage of development, for the rest of their lives hats won't be a problem; glasses won't be a problem; this environment won't be a problem, so thank you for helping us."
The dogs are training to be part of the Hounds for Heroes, which provides service dogs free of charge to veterans.
While the training can seem meticulous at times, Krakar never stops smiling.
“We do this because, at the end, we hand the leash to someone... We give them hope, and we give them a chance at improving their life or a second chance at their life,” Krakar said. “And we hand them a leash, and they have hope that the PTSD symptoms won't be there.”
People just like Patrick Stockwell.
Stockwell said it’s been six years since he’s been deployed, but he still struggles each day.
"Every day I think about my son-in-law,” said Stockwell. “I can't go without thinking about Scott."
Stockwell said he ran into his son-in-law while they were both deployed in Iraq.
They served alongside one another for 44 days.
“He was killed on Aug. 11, 2007, which was the day I was leaving to go back,” Stockwell remembered. “I found out the next day. I was pretty screwed up by the time. I was fortunate enough to escort his body back, and from that point on, I've had a lot of issues.”
Stockwell says he still deals with the guilt.
“Sometimes, I feel bad because I'm here, and he's not,” Stockwell said, as his eyes filled up with tears.
After coming to a realization a few years ago, Stockwell received a dog from The Dog Alliance.
Stockwell now credits that dog, Jenny, for saving his marriage.
"I have my wife and family back, there's no question,” said Stockwell, explaining how grateful he was and is for Jenny. “I mean it was bad there for a while; it was terrible. And I didn't see it -- that was the bad thing.”
Stockwell said he hopes other veterans will get a service dog too.
“There's a lot of people out there that don't want to say anything, but they need help,” said Stockwell, petting Jenny. “And this right here would be the perfect thing.