K-LOVE’s Positive People – by Rafael Sierra, Jr. (complete podcast available) (more Positive People stories)
Navy Veteran Brandon Hayward is helping fellow veterans struggling with mental health issues find hope. Hayward began Paw 1st, an initiative that trains and gifts service dogs to military veterans in the Phoenix area.
“What’s in my heart? The joy of helping my fellow man. Another brother or sister in arms. The joy that that gives me – just to give back.”
Hayward began Paw 1st out of a need he saw in the veteran community. He explains seeing some vets not get the proper mental health support, which motivated him to begin the Paw 1st initiative.
“Mental health is really important and especially veterans’ mental health.” Hayward says his “mission is to “break the stigma of that and get the people the help that they need.”
So far, Hayward has gifted one service animal, but is in the process of providing more. He says the results have been positive and the service dog has intermingled with the vet and his new family perfectly. “I get updates daily,” he says. “He [veteran] sends me pictures on how we’ve changed his life, so I know we’re doing something good.”
Click our full podcast interview below: