Roy Sonne is a blind veteran from Ethan, South Dakota. After serving 5 years in the U.S. Army he was honorably discharged and became blind due to a medical condition where the retinas get detached from the eyes (according to his doctors). To gain back independence for his everyday life, Sonne applied to avail a service animal at the Veterans Benefits Administration Office in Sioux Falls. The process was slow and long and Sonne’s desire of having his own service animal never happened.

A service organization called Leader Dogs for the Blind held a two-day workshop with Craig Bennett as an attendee. Bennett who happened to be a veteran’s service officer in Mitchell met Sonne and helped him with the process to avail a service animal. “(Sonne) told me he had applied for a service dog through the Veterans Affairs office several years ago, but it had come to a stall,” Bennett said. “I was determined to help him with the application and the entire process.”

With help from Bennett and connections to the Palace City Lions Club (presided by Dennis Bohmont), Sonne was able to have Bryla, a 2-year-old black Labrador as his service dog.

Article source: The Daily Republic

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