You often hear the phrase, “Not all heroes wear capes.” Quite frequently, they can be found wearing a leash and a service vest. This is certainly the case for a gorgeous Black Lab named Beignet.
When Beignet begins to sense a seizure coming on in her handler, Marcey Phillips, the Commander of Conroe’s Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4709, the canine gets very persistent.
Phillips served in the Army from 2002 to 2010 and is a veteran of the war in Iraq. She recalls the genesis of her journey with Beignet, a 6-year-old service dog whose impact goes far beyond mere assistance. "It may start with her sitting in front of me. She gets a different look on her face, too," Phillips explains with a mixture of fondness and awe. "If I don’t listen to her, she’ll jump up in my lap and not let me stand up."
For Phillips, Beignet isn't just a canine companion; she's a lifeline that has enabled her to continue her work with the VFW, an organization close to her heart. "Beignet helps me show people that you can overcome the mental health stigma, and it’s OK to admit you need help," Phillips asserts. "She embodies resilience and the unwavering support that properly trained service dogs provide to veterans."
Phillips' journey towards recognizing her need for a service dog wasn't straightforward. Like many veterans, she initially hesitated to acknowledge the challenges she faced after returning from deployment. "I was in denial at first," she admits candidly. It was only after hearing about the United States Veterans Service Dogs program based in New Orleans, primarily intended for her husband—a fellow veteran—that Phillips began to reconsider.
"A friend suggested that I could benefit from having a service dog too," Phillips recounts, reflecting on the pivotal moment that set her on the path to meeting Beignet. The decision was driven by her experiences during and after her service in Iraq, where she began to experience seizure-like symptoms that would later escalate. "It felt like walking through giant cobwebs," she recalls of those initial symptoms, unaware at the time of their significance.
The turning point came when Phillips witnessed the effectiveness of service dogs in assisting her husband, who received his own service dog, Triton, to help with mobility issues. "Seeing how Triton made a difference in his life made me realize that I could benefit from a service dog too," Phillips shares. It wasn't long before Beignet entered their lives, named after the beloved New Orleans pastry covered in powdered sugar—a nod to her origins in the heart of Louisiana.
From the outset, Beignet proved to be highly capable and profoundly intuitive. "She caught on so fast with the seizure training," Phillips recalls with admiration. Beignet's training involved a unique method where Phillips' family would place a cotton ball in her cheek during a mild seizure, which would then be frozen and sent to the training facility. "She could hit on the scent so quickly, we knew she was a perfect fit," Phillips explains, highlighting Beignet's remarkable skill in scent detection.
However, Beignet's role extends far beyond seizure response. Over the years, she has become adept at providing support for Phillips' anxiety, depression, nightmares, and even discomfort in crowded environments. "It's fascinating how she responds differently based on what I need," Phillips marvels. "If a seizure is imminent, Beignet goes into alert mode. When I'm feeling anxious or low, she becomes incredibly affectionate."
Beignet's ability to adapt her responses based on Phillips' emotional and physical state underscores the depth of their bond. "She is very intuitive," Phillips affirms. "She’ll use pressure therapy, nudge me, or put her head on me as her way of saying ‘Hey, you need to chill.’" These subtle cues from Beignet often signal Phillips to reach for a device that helps mitigate the impact of an impending seizure, thereby averting the need for emergency medical intervention.
Phillips' advocacy extends beyond that personal gratitude. Through Beignet, she has found a powerful platform to educate others about the world of service dogs, the realities of the veteran community, and the vital role of organizations like the VFW in supporting veterans' well-being. "Beignet helps me teach people that overcoming mental health challenges is possible and that seeking help is a sign of strength," Phillips emphasizes.
Illustrating the profound bond that can develop between a service dog and its handler. Phillips' journey—from initial skepticism to profound appreciation—underscores the transformative potential of these specially trained animals in enhancing the lives of veterans coping with physical and emotional challenges post-service.
Theirs is a testament to the enduring bond between humans and animals, strengthened through unwavering support and companionship.
"Beignet helps me show people that you can overcome the mental health stigma."