Norma & Riggs
"I have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) because of severe abuse as a child. I was abused any way that a child can be abused. At age 8 or 9, I was taken away from my natural mother and put into foster homes. I testified against her and all of her boyfriends and husband, so I ended up in 13 foster homes by the age of 11 ½ years old. Some of the foster homes were just as bad as being with my natural mom and her latest, and some were very kind to me.
"At 12½ years old, I was adopted by a good family (Jim and Nancy Howes). They did their best to give me what I needed but in the end I ended up marrying at 16, my choice, to an abusive person. After I had my first son, I divorced my husband, started drugs and drinking. I attempted therapy but dropped out. I was 17 years old. I turned myself in to the Department of Child and Family Services. I sobered up, expecting my second son in 1987. I got my first son back, now 2 years old.
"Because of my depression, I lost both boys. I attempted suicide and ended up in the hospital. That is when I was diagnosed with PTSD and severe depression with other symptoms that go along with PTSD, drug and alcohol dependency. Also in 1991, I had my third son, and I started taking my therapy seriously.
"My adoptive parents adopted my second son, since he had lived with them his whole life. I graduated from high school finally in 1996 after many attempts and became a substitute teacher in May 1999, so I felt I could take on the world.
"I met my husband in 2000 and married him. He was verbally abusive and emotionally and physically abusive when I would have panic attacks. After 3 years of abuse, he threatened to have me and my son, Ben, killed or kidnapped to Mexico. He would deny me my medications and took every penny that I had. I would have to lie about how much money I received or earned to feed my family or pay the rent. He would have people watch me to make sure I did not step out of line. The only people I was allowed to see were an elderly friend and his family.
"I left him last year. By that time, I was so scared that neighbors snuck me out. I had to leave my cat, my friends and my job. I was having panic attacks 2 or 3 times daily. The ambulance would have to come at least once a week. They were so bad that medications were not working and neither was therapy. My kid, Ben, would sleep with a baseball bat in his bed. There were times he would not come home until 9 or 9:30 at night. He started sluffing school, becoming out of control. I was not able to get out of my apartment. I became so scared and depressed that I would never be able to go out.
"When I called Gateway To Canine Partnerships and explained my situation, they told me about Riggs and that's when I started thinking maybe there was hope. My only problem was getting to the interview. I almost didn't show for it. When I got to the interview, I was in the middle—close to the end—of a major panic attack. I was telling Ben the best thing to do was to go home, but I'm very glad I didn't. When I met Linda Robinson (GCP's executive director), she was very caring and concerned. After relaxing somewhat, she told me I was definitely getting Riggs.
"My biggest concern was that I'm scared of dogs and how was I going to pay for him, even though I was told that all I would have to pay for were the interview and classes. It sounded too good to be true. So I went to my Bishop to pay my rent and lights so that I could get Riggs and whatever I needed for him.
"Thanks to a heaven-sent family, the Hoskins, who gave me Riggs, my life and my son's life has been changed for the better. I can go out and do the things I need and want to do.
"I now go out to eat, to the library, shopping, to volunteer at Welfare Square—everyday things that I used to take for granted. I've only had one panic attack in the past month that I've had Riggs. I'm a lot calmer now, so Ben now comes home after school. He has stopped sleeping with a baseball bat and starting to improve on going to school. Sometimes he even does homework.
"When I'm walking down the streets, people will ask me why I'm training Riggs. I can tell them he helps me with my panic attacks and they're amazed that dogs are trained for that. Riggs gives me the chance to tell people about different uses for service dogs.
"It really feels good to laugh again even if it's at Riggs. But most of all, it feels really great to live and to see my child laugh again.
"Even though Riggs is my service dog, he not only helps me get around but he helps my son feel safe. We have a joke that if my husband ever comes around, Riggs can lick him until the police come. (Hopefully, this won't happen.)
"I would like to thank my Angels at Gateway To Canine Partnerships: Linda, for understanding and not making me feel like a freak and the introduction to Riggs, and Wendy, for her patience with me. Even though they're not staff, I would like to thank Carson and Karen. They gave me the best gift of all, Riggs. Without all these people I would not be able to do the things that I'm doing and I'm sure that my son would not be doing as well now. Recovery is slow, but we now have hope."
