VETERANS PROGRAM

Sergeant Chris Paiser of Plattsburgh, NY, was in the Army National Guard for 17 years. He was deployed to Iraq in 2004 with the 108th Infantry as a fire-team leader. On June 16, 2004, Chris’ life changed forever when 57mm Hellfire rockets hit the post exchange where Paiser had taken his team on a day off. Chris lost vision in both eyes….along with his independence. Through a contact at the Wounded Warrior program, Paiser met Eric Loori, Executive Director of Freedom Guide Dogs. He was particularly interested in Freedom’s Hometown Training program since it made sense to him to train with his dog in the community where he would be using his guide. And that is how Paiser’s guide dog, Ike, changed his life by providing freedom and independence.