Oklahoma Marine Veteran Finds Support Through Rescue Dog

Gonzalez describes her bond with Tux as profound. They spend quality time together outdoors, and she believes their friendship has provided both of them with the grounding and sense of purpose they needed. As a decorated Marine combat veteran, Gonzalez was among the last to leave Afghanistan after five years of active duty. Upon returning home, she recognized the need for therapy.

"Just take that and move on with the rest of your life like nothing happened. That's tough to go through," Gonzalez stated.

She reported experiencing about a decade of nightmares and persistent loneliness, often feeling isolated even in social settings. "It just was hard to ground myself, hard to feel worth. I wanted to take my mental health more seriously," she added.

Gonzalez's therapist referred her to One Veteran, One Dog, Two Lives Saved. Tracy Rosecrans, who leads the organization, was motivated to act due to the alarming number of veteran suicides — averaging 22 daily, with Oklahoma ranking high in such statistics. This issue resonated with her.

In Gonzalez's situation, Rosecrans learned of a dog at a shelter that had been overlooked. After the introduction, a meaningful friendship developed.

Gonzalez noted that Tux has transformed her mornings, providing her with a reason to rise. "He’s a reason to wake up every morning. He doesn’t let me sleep in because he’s hungry," she explained. The companionship offers Gonzalez safety and tranquility, particularly during anxious moments.

Routine tasks have become more manageable since Tux joined her. "Going to the grocery store was not fun. I had to wear AirPods to tune it out and make sure I had my meds. But with him, he’s making it fun. He’s like, yeah, let’s look at cookies. That one smells good," she shared. The pair underwent training together, and Tux is now a certified service dog, accompanying Gonzalez almost everywhere she goes.

Rosecrans expressed the organization's mission: "We would love to take out the suicide rate for veterans and euthanasia for dogs. It will take a lot, but we’re on a mission."

The organization invites veterans who relate to this story to apply for their own companion dog. Currently, they are only offering companion dogs but aim to provide service dogs with the help of volunteer trainers. Those interested can visit the One Veteran, One Dog, Two Lives Saved website for more information. If you or someone you know is in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line is available at 988, pressing 1 for immediate support.