A Service Dog for Kerry
help for someone determined to make a difference“Hi! My name is Kerry. I’m 24 years old, I’m in my last year of law school, and I’m a rape survivor.”
I want to tell you that everything is fine now; that I’ve gotten over it. In a lot of ways, I have. I’m about to finish law school and pursue a career in prosecuting sex crimes. I’ve forgiven myself and come to terms with the fact that I can’t always be in control of what happens in my life. However, I still struggle on a daily basis.
I had diagnosed anxiety and depression before he raped me. Now, I have PTSD. Nightmares. Hyperawareness. I don’t feel safe in my own body. No one can ever give that back to me or make it all okay, but I can learn to rebuild. I can learn to heal.
I can’t go on this journey by myself–most people can’t. That’s why I am seeking the help of a service dog.
I need a service dog by my side to help me stay on the right path. She will interrupt self-harming behaviors and remind me I am not to blame. She will be there with me during a panic attack to bring me back to center and show me I’m safe. She will get me out of bed when the world seems too scary to face. She will help me heal.
My dream is to one day train service dogs to come into the court room with me and help rape victims testify. If I’m going to do that, I have to first show myself that I deserve the love and unwavering support that I believe those victims need. Those are the most important things a service dog can offer.