A service dog was provided to one of our veterans through the generosity of a benefactor. (2013)
Originally published December 17, 2013
In 2013, Texas businessman Al Micallef of JMK International made a remarkable gift. He donated a Wüstenberger-Land service German shepherd to an American veteran living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
How the Gift Came About
Mr. Micallef was a longtime friend and supporter of Wüstenberger-Land. He had seen first-hand how much a well-trained service dog can change a person’s daily life. Inspired to give back, he asked us whether we knew a veteran he could help.
That veteran was Greg Vincent.
Greg’s Story
Greg served as a combat engineer during a seven-month deployment in Iraq in 1990. There, he was exposed to the nerve agent Sarin and saw battlefield action, which together left him with disabling PTSD. He could no longer work, and everyday tasks became a struggle alongside the emotional toll of his service.
Meet Prudence
Prudence, a specially trained female German shepherd, became Greg’s constant companion. She gave him emotional support and helped him with everyday activities.
“She makes me feel like I have a purpose in life now,” Greg said. “My PTSD will most likely always be there, but it’s so nice to have her here to greet me in the early morning hours when I can’t sleep, and she’s very loveable also.”
Years of Training Behind Every Service Dog
“It takes many years of training to make one of these German shepherds ready for use as a service dog,” explained Jeannette Kempkes, co-owner of Wüstenberger-Land.
That same commitment to German bloodlines, health and professional training is behind every dog we place today, from family companions to elite personal protection dogs.
