Blake Ellis/The Independent

“It is an incredible feeling,” said Doug Potter, a Canadian military veteran who was presented with a service dog at the Battle Buddies Canine fundraiser.

The fundraiser, held Saturday in Lambton Shores, is now in its sixth year. Every year, it has raised $20,000 to give a new service dog to a veteran.

Potter, who lives in Colborne, has served in the military in communications and research over 20 years including service in Afghanistan in 2007.

Potter had turned down the offer of a service dog in the past, but in the last three years he has done a lot of work on himself, realizing a service dog would be beneficial for not only anxiety but due to the fact he has hearing loss.

Recently, a carbon monoxide alarm was going off in his trailer and Potter had to be saved by his neighbours because he didn’t hear the alarm going off.

His service dog is a five week old puppy.

Battle Buddies Canine is the brainchild of Rob Lalonde who held the first fundraiser in 2021. His plan was to hold a barbecue with a dunk tank and a 50/50 draw, with a goal of raising $2,500.

That first year, it was a larger event than he ever envisioned with $20,000 being raised.

“I had no idea I had the ability to do anything like this,” said Lalonde. Since then, the event has been held every year to pair more veterans with service dogs.

In the military, a battle buddy is someone who always has your back. The veterans are dealing with post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. By giving veteran a service dog – his own battle buddy – it ensures that veteran gets the support they need and never feels alone.

A battle buddy service dog gives a veteran a sense of security, especially when out in public. The dog knows if the veteran is getting upset and will lead him out of a disturbing situation.