When one Texas soldier was deployed to Afghanistan, his wife couldn’t wait for him to come home. However, when he did finally return, he wasn’t the same person that he was prior to his deployment.

McLean barely left his home for about three years after returning home. And when forced to go on small outings to the grocery store, he would rush in and out as quickly as possible. “[I was] scared to go out in public, not really wanting to do anything,” McLean said.

So when McLean and Kerrin found out that K9 for Warriors had approved their application for a service dog, they were thrilled since McLean’s medications made him feel like a ‘zombie’. “They called it a new leash on life,” he said. “I was looking for a second chance. I was lucky as hell.”

The minute McLean met his chocolate-colored lab named Merrick this past January, he instantly felt calmer and comfortable enough to leave his house again. “I don’t have to worry about watching my own back. He’s got me,” McLean said about Merrick, who is even trained to wake him up before he has a night terror. “Merrick brings the happiness out in McLean, the person I knew that he was prior,” Kerrin said.

Watch the entire video below to see how much this veteran’s life has changed since Merrick has come into his life.

Can you believe how much a service dog has helped this veteran with his PTSD? Let us know what you think in the comments below and please SHARE this with friends on Facebook.

[Featured image: Youtube/merrickpetcare]