Local Luke Simon is being seen around town with his new companion dog Sarg Kester.
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Sarg Kester, a 16-month-old purebred blue cattle dog, wears a red training coat but will, when fully trained, progress on to his blue coat.
Sarg Kester comes from the Whiskey's Wish: Dogs Saving Soldiers’ Lives foundation, which trains companion dogs for war veterans, retired police, paramedics and emergency service personnel.
Mr Simon, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his service in the army, was advised by his psychologist to seek a companion dog, and he has not looked back.
"From the first minute we met he would take my instructions to sit, lay, toilet, etc. On the first night, Sarg Kester woke me from a nightmare by licking the back of my neck,” he said.
"It was amazing. I'm so happy."
Mr Simon contacted Whiskey's Wish for a dog and its founder, Scott Jackman, himself a PTSD sufferer, had the perfect match for the Oberon local.
Mr Jackman served in East Timor and Afghanistan and was medically discharged in 2013.
“I had an assistance dog trained in Bathurst,” he said. “After the death of my assistance dog I was deeply devastated.
"In an effort to support and assist in my rehabilitation, close family and friends encouraged me to help others.
"That's how I got involved and my mother actually trains the dogs. She can have up to three dogs at one time.
"I will be back to check on Luke regularly to see if everything is going right for both Luke and Sarg.
"It generally takes about two years for companion dogs to move on to their blue accreditation."
Mr Simon said those who meet a person with a service dog should remember that the dog is working and shouldn’t be interrupted while it is performing its tasks.
"Speak to me first and I will instruct Sarg that someone will pat him,” he said.
“This will be life changing for me. I am so happy."
Mr Simon said it's just as the organisation's slogan says - dogs saving soldiers’ lives.