# @canineorg on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ6oLZRjpN_
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/36793754-canineorg-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/0bef31a21b.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-11-11T12:24:07.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Canine Companions (@canineorg) — https://gondola.cc/canineorg

## Caption

This is Samantha, Greg's daughter. Greg served in the usarmy during peacetime as a military policeman. He dedicated his career to serving fellow veterans as a clinical social worker in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system. 

Samantha knew that her dad struggled with his mental health, but she didn’t know the extent of it until they had some serious talks. She wondered if a trained #servicedog to assist with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) would be a key to his treatment. In 2022, Greg was matched with Service Dog Aster, who would change everything. 

“I have anxiety, depression, all stemming from PTSD,” Greg shared in his graduation speech. “I’ve tried medications, distraction, avoidance and isolation…I’m real good at that! But Aster won’t allow that to happen. He’s amazing.” 

Aster made a significant difference in Greg’s life, allowing him to enter public places with confidence by providing a buffer in crowds, retrieving items, and bringing joy to his days. 

Unfortunately, Greg passed away from cancer 20 months after receiving Aster. Samantha, a counselor at a VA facility, had an unusual request to honor her father – could Aster work with her as a facility dog to help more veterans? 

Weeks later, Samantha was welcomed to Team Training, where she was handed Aster’s leash as a new #facilitydog team. 

Together, Greg’s legacy, Samantha’s dream and Aster’s loving heart created something special: One Team, Three Heroes. 

“In his final days, I asked my dad if he thought Aster would like to work with other veterans,” Samantha recalls. “He smiled and said he thought Aster would love that. Now, it’s a reality.” 

Greg’s legacy lives on through the unconditional love and affection Aster brings to veterans each day by Samantha’s side. 

There are over 500 #veterans, children, adults and professionals waiting for their own Canine Companions dog. 💛💙

This #VeteransDay, show your support and help them match with life-changing #dogs at no cost. 🐕‍🦺

❤️ Every dollar you give is automatically matched up to $75,000 - that means, you'll make TWICE the difference!

➡️ Link in bio to donate now, or visit canine.org/veteransday.

## Stats

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## Tags

servicedog, facilitydog, dogs, veteransday, veterans

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