Rescued Service Dog Helps Veteran Find Healing and Love
After returning from service as a Marine, Quinton needed Moly’s love.
Since 2013, Petco Love has celebrated the love that we share with our pets through our annual Love Stories campaign. In partnership with BOBS® from Skechers®, we’re excited to celebrate the special connection between Quinton and Moly, an adopted dog from K9s for Warriors.
Quinton + Moly’s Winning Love Story
When I met Moly, we were both frightened, unsure of our future, and searching for certainty. Finding each other saved both of our lives.
When I returned home from my service as a Marine, I found daily life nearly impossible. My PTSD symptoms left me hypervigilant and anxious when doing everyday activities – tasks as simple as going to the grocery store. Before getting out of my car, I would spend 20 minutes in the parking lot, meticulously scanning cars and people, quietly reassuring myself with the phrase “in and out” before finally mustering the nerve to go inside. That all changed when I received my service dog, Moly.
Moly was one of 31 dogs seized as a result of an animal cruelty investigation. She was in bad shape, scared, and unsure about the outside world. Despite her condition and the trauma she experienced, K9s For Warriors saw her potential, and rescued her. She began training to become a service dog, regaining her strength and her trust in humans along the way.
Moly was a rescue, then she rescued me. When I met Moly in December 2022, I was finally excited for my future for the first time in a long time. I can’t put into words the love, compassion, and sense of belonging that Moly and I share. When I am feeling sorry for myself, Moly comes over and lays her head on my lap, staring into my eyes. She’s telling me that I am loved, and a deep, wonderful feeling washes over me. Moly is my best friend and knowing that she is always by my side makes my worries disappear. Now I hardly ever find myself being hypervigilant or letting my mind run rampant, because I know Moly’s “got my six.”
Our bond is so special because Moly has walked in my shoes, and I in her paws. We both were desperate for a second chance at life, and we provide that for each other every day now.
