Jacksboro nonprofit aids veterans, first responders with dogs

JACKSBORO(KFDX/KJTL)—ANorthTexasveteranisusinghisownexperiencetomakeiteasierforotherveteransandfirstresponderstogetthehelptheyneed.ThroughaJacksboro-basednon-profit,he’strainingservicedogsatnocost.Now,oneofthosedogsisgettingnationalattention. Asaveteranlivingwithseizures,JoshuaBurnsideknowsfirsthandhowlife-changingaservicedogcanbe.Yearsago,whenheneededhelphimself,theprocessnearlystoppedhimbeforeitstarted. “Therewerelikethreeorfouryearwaitlists,andspecificallyforthebreedthatIwanted,whichwasBelgianMalinois.Itwasunheardof.Igotalotofpushback,theywerepushinglabsandalltheseotherbreeds,”Burnsidesaid. Eventually,hepaid$25,000togetthedogheneeded,butthebitterexperienceledtothecreationofHiatusK9,anonprofitbasedinJacksboro. “WebreedandtrainBelgianMalinoisspecifically.Wetrainthemtobeservicedogsandthenwegivethemtoveteransandfirstresponders,”Burnsidesaid. Thesedogsaretrainedtodofarmorethanprovidecompanionship. “Wetrainthem,any