Salvador Dog Names

One of Brazil's favorite heroes is Edson Arantes do Nascimento. Who is this, do you ask? He is Pele, a Brazilian footballer who is hailed as the greatest player of all time. Our spotlight dog shares a name with this revered athlete.

Have you known people who served in various wartime locations who returned from their deployment with PTSD?  PTSD is a viable disabling disease which has come to the forefront of our society in the past two or three decades, and it is affecting more and more of our returning military personnel - these are the same people who often don’t get the help they need to live somewhat normal lives.  Our pop culture dog today is a product of that help that so many desperately need.

Pele, a yellow Labrador, trained by Puppies Behind Bars and is part of their Dog Tags Program.  The organization works with prison inmates who teach puppies for about 18 months to fill the needs of the disabled and handicapped.  The Dog Tags Program is a part of that Puppies Behind Bars that makes service dogs available to wounded warrior veterans.  Pele came to the aid of a Navy medic who, having served two tours in Iraq, come home with nightmares, sleeplessness, fears, and emptiness as many wounded warriors have in the past and continue to do. 

Pele became the forever best friend of Chris Goehner and changed Chris’s life for the better.  Pele helps Chris in many ways as Chris deals with people and places in a more normal manner.  For example, with the companionship and help from Pele, Chris has decreased one of his PTSD medications from 600 mg per day to just 25 mg per day.  Do you wonder how a dog can do this?

Pele helps Chris when he has nightmares waking him by jumping onto his bed.  Pele keeps Chris from accidentally hitting his wife while sleeping in bed by jumping into bed and mouthing Chris’ arm. And if Chris is in a group of people and Pele senses that someone is about to set Chris off, he tugs him out of the room by his shirt sleeve.  Chris says the bond is so strong that he and Pele are inseparable, a situation that Chris’ wife has come to appreciate as she has watched the positive changes noted in her husband's behavior.  

The coolest part about Pele is that he comes from a program that involves imprisoned former military veterans training the pups.  These vets committed crimes and are serving their time, but they are giving gifts to other military vets in the form of these four-legged best friends who have healing in their licks and nuzzles.