BEFORE Ron found Yogi he was suicidal, suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and had become a recluse.
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Ron is an Australian Defence Force veteran and is among those successful candidates who have been accepted into the Defence Community Dogs program.
The program is run behind bars in Bathurst Correctional Centre and pairs up rescue dogs with inmates for an intensive training program to produce assistance dogs for veterans.
- Read more: Lola the dog changes the life of this veteran
- Read more: Inmate says program has changed his life
Ron is one of the programs success stories who was invited along to Thursdays graduation of the latest batch of dogs from the jail.
He received his dog Yogi one year ago and said it had changed his life.
I used to have 20 night terrors a month and Id wake up after 1.5 hours and couldnt get back to sleep, he said.
I didnt go out and I literally bunked in my home because I was scared of everything.
Today I stand tall and proud to hand over my boy Harry to the veteran because I know it will change his life forever.
- Bathurst Correctional Centre inmate
For me, Yogi was a magic bullet.
At Thursdays graduation two inmates, who cannot be named, handed over their beloved dogs that they have been training for months so they could begin a much-needed journey with two deserving veterans.
Harry the golden retriever graduated with flying colours and was handed over to a veteran called Callen.
The inmate who had trained Harry for the past 10 months addressed the crowd and, amid tears, explained how being involved in the program had changed him.
Its given me the skills and confidence that I will take with me into the real world, he said.
When Harry came I had to care for him like a parent would for a child so the bond I have with him will last a lifetime.
As he handed the dog over to Callen, he said: This is my best friend Harry.
Today I stand tall and proud to hand over my boy Harry to the veteran because I know it will change his life forever, the inmate said.
Another dog Archie also graduated and was handed over to veteran Keith.
Defence Community Dogs overseer Kylie Fogarty explained to those at the graduation the time, effort and commitment that training a dog was for each inmate and how it also changed their lives as well as that of the veteran.
You can appreciate how difficult it can be to let them go, she said.