A Navy veteran from upstate New York was given a new partner in life from a nonprofit in Monmouth County Sunday.
Shawn Ellis Murphy, who lives with PTSD, was given a service dog at the fifth annual Rebuilding Warriors fundraiser at the Headliner night club in Neptune.
The nonprofit provides highly trained and socialized service dogs to veterans diagnosed with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries at no charge.
"The suicide rate for of our veterans and first responders is outstandingly high," says Nancy Mullins, of Rebuilding Warriors.
Nancy Mullins and her husband, Navy veteran Jeff Mullins are behind the organization.
Jeff Mullins also suffers from PTSD, and relies on his service dog, Zoey, for comfort.
"People say well how do you train a dog for PTSD? It's a bond that the dog gets with the recipient. So once the dog know the person, everything clicks," he says.
Since its 2014 inception, Rebuilding Warriors has given 79 dogs to veterans and hopes to give about 10 more by the end of the year.