Business
Ailbe Astor is the Veteran Services Coordinator at Freedom Service Dogs of America. FSD helps veterans and active-duty military find new levels of confidence and independence with these specially trained dogs. Ailbe went into the Marine Corps right out of high school. Even when he got out, he continued to work with veterans and be around veterans, so he never really had a tough transition period. He is so passionate about matching these wonderful dogs with vets who can benefit from them. He shares a little bit about the program and the rigorous training that the dogs go through. He also shares how the purpose of the dog is to help the client reintegrate into society and do the things that they want to do, not just the same old thing that they have been doing. It’s about freedom and independence. He also talks to us about the process to get a dog, and how he works hard to gain the trust of the vet to make the perfect match. He also shares tips like applying right away. You can always change your mind, because there is a two to three year waiting list. Highlights from This Episode: [00:47] Ailbe served in the Marine Corps in the 90s straight out of high school. [01:25] When he got out, he started working with vets and never stopped. [02:33] One of the toughest parts about transitioning is losing the known entities that you can trust. [02:55] Ailbe is the Veteran Services Coordinator at Freedom Service Dogs of America or like his wife calls him, the dog matcher. [03:07] He meets with veterans and gets to know them a little better before matching them with dogs. [03:52] He wants to match the personalities according to personality, energy, and what the vet does day-to-day. [05:46] The goal of getting the dog is to help the vet reintegrate back into society. Which includes pushing outside of their comfort zone. [06:46] Freedom Service Dogs has been around for 33 years. The founder ended up getting paralyzed in an accident and eventually discovered the benefits of a service dog and wanted to share with others. [08:23] The dogs now help with physical disabilities, PTSD, and people on the spectrum. [09:10] Once they get the dogs they go through an established curriculum. They work with prisoners for two months, and then move on to other training. [10:24] Dogs can help create space in crowds or a bubble. [12:06] They have a very robust group of volunteers at the facility and fosters for the weekend. [13:31] Operation Freedom is an umbrella for any program that serves veterans. [14:31] They take dogs to all of the places that the veterans would go like the grocery store, the VA, and the airport. [15:27] They also send the trainer to the client's home to introduce the dog to environments and replicate anything that they can. [18:27] Ailbe shares a story of a veteran that was able to go to the movies for the first time in years. [21:07] They go all over to find dogs to put into the program. [23:08] There is no shortage of vets in need. They frequently find the program. After therapy and meds, they usually discover service dogs. Many of the people they see have been in treatment for a long time. [25:00] The interview for the potential vet is very intensive. Ailbe really needs to find out who they are and gain their trust to match them to the correct dog. [30:35] The dogs get lifetime support with a trainer. [31:59] The VA is working on a program to offer vouchers for service dogs. They do offer pet coverage. [33:23] Ailbe knows that service dogs add value to the lives of those with PTSD. [36:43] Start the process, the moment you think you might be interested in a service dog. A two to three-year wait can be a devastating piece of information. There's no harm in applying and changing your mind. [38:04] Focus on improving yourself while you're waiting to get your dog. Links and Resources Freedom Service Dogs Freedom Service Dogs on Facebook Freedom Service Dogs on Instagram Freedom Service Dogs on LinkedIn Ailbe Astor on LinkedIn