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Since opening its doors a little over a year ago, Bravo Zulu House in rural Winnebago built a community specifically for military veterans struggling with PTSD and recovering from alcohol and/or drug addiction.

Now the sober living home is adding canine therapy to help support the veterans it serves, and in the process, they’re saving the dogs, too. 

On Aug. 21, Bravo Zulu House held a ribbon cutting to open its new kennels and to welcome its first station dog, a 4-year-old white golden retriever named Kolbe, who has been nicknamed “Polar” by the residents for its coat that resembles that of a polar bear. 

The group K9s for Warriors rescued Kolbe from a shelter and trained him. While he’s considered “too friendly” to be a service dog, CEO Daniel Bean, 61, said Kolbe’s perfectly suited for the job of providing these veterans with daily companionship and emotional support.

“We’re trying to show the country the power of the dog,” Bean said. “They’re very therapeutic for humans, and I think the more people that have dogs, the better. Let’s just face it: If my dog doesn’t like you, then I don’t like you. So, dogs have a way of knowing, and I think dogs really do work wonders for humans.”

The partnership with Bravo Zulu House and K9s for Warriors is to enhance the canine therapy program. Tim Murray, 67, and servant leader for Bravo Zulu House, said the dogs are rescued from shelters and are trained to serve those who served their country and suffer from wounds such as post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries and military sexual trauma — conditions that have often led to substance use disorders.

“We’re saving two lives instead of one,” he said. “The unconditional love from a dog really can make the difference between somebody having the motivation to do what they need to do to not only stay sober but to address some of the demons that they have with their PTSD. 

Bravo Zulu House, Murray said, also allows its residents to bring their own dogs into the home. And the residents of the sober living community said having their dogs with them throughout their stay helped them commit to their treatment and recovery program.

Juan De Leon, 34, of Garden City, Minn., is a veteran of the Minnesota National Guard. He and his 2-year-old Siberian husky, Ace, had moved into Bravo Zulu House earlier this month.

“At nights, he’ll sleep with me and he’ll lay on my chest just to make sure Dad goes to bed at peace,” De Leon said. “Because my whole life, I’ve been on flight mode, and ever since I’ve got him, I’ve been able to get more than four hours of sleep, which is really nice.”

The husky was adopted from a situation in which he was being mistreated, De Leon said. The two have been inseparable since.

“Ace helped me just like God did. He never leaves my side … and he sits there. He listens,” De Leon said. “He understands. And again, he just never leaves my side. He’s always attached to me, and I’m eternally grateful.”

For other veterans, their dogs helped them connect with their house mates and build friendships. John Randall, 43, of Wichita, Kan., and a Marine Corps veteran, brought his 3-year-old German Shepherd, Zeus.

“The guys seem really great, and I just want to be the best version of myself,” Randall said. “That’s what we do here at Bravo Zulu.”

Bravo Zulu House is planning to build another sober living home in Mankato, which will be for women who have served in the military, suffer from PTSD and are recovering from addiction. 

The nonprofit has raised about half of the $2 million it needs for the house. It has already closed on the property, and it plans to start construction on the home this fall.

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The dogs are rescued from shelters and are trained to serve those who served their country and suffer from wounds such as post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries and military sexual trauma — conditions that have often led to substance use disorders.

A man lies on the grass while cuddling with a dog.

Hannah Yang | MPR News

A man speaks into a microphone at a podium in front of a sign reading, "Koch Family Kennels: For loyal & healing companions."

A man poses for a photo and kneels down with his husky under a tree.

A man poses for a photo while kneeling down with his German shepherd.

'The power of the dog': Bravo Zulu Sober House introduces canine therapy for veterans with PTSD

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