Photo (left to right): ES Sergeant Darrell Malone, Puppy Dog Ranch Founder and President Laurie West and Vice President Kevin Rodriguez; front, Diesel.

In December of 2011, a young pitbull, neglected and no longer wanted, was tied to the front gate of a home in Arenas Valley, NM. Lucky for this dog, the gate he was tied to belonged to Puppy Dog Ranch – Grant County's first and only no-kill, no cage rescue organization. There he was welcomed and named Diesel. The volunteers of Puppy Dog Ranch loved and cared for Diesel for nearly 3 years while searching for a qualified adoptive home.

Meanwhile over 100 miles away, Sergeant Darrell Malone of the U.S. Army, after several deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD, as it is known, is a disorder that can result from highly traumatic experiences and is often seen in those that have witnessed the atrocities of war or traumas in their personal lives. In 2014, Sgt. Malone began searching for a therapy dog which led him to an organization called American Service Dogs, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Puppy Dog Ranch had teamed up with ASD to create a perfect partnership by PDR providing socialized, "balanced" dog candidates and ASD provides training that will not only lead to a dogs' forever home but will give the dog a special job and place in the world.

At ASD the dogs are taught basic obedience first and foremost. After that, they begin training for various aspects of therapy help. This special training can take time – service work can take twn to twelve weeks for basic emotional support/PTSD support/Autism support dogs. The more advanced dogs that are trained to assist with brace and balance, mobility assistance, hearing impairment, or allergies can take anywhere from four months to two years. The speed of completion depends on the breed, temperament and age of the dog as well as the client's dedication to both of their training regiments.

Puppy Dog Ranch is proud to report that Diesel had been chosen to become Sergeant Malone's therapy dog. Jared Latham, Lead Trainer and Facility Manager at ASD says, "Diesel is excelling in his training and is surpassing our expectations with record speed! His training focuses on positive reinforcement and he is extremely sociable and playful with the other dogs in our facility," When Diesel graduates from his training, the third chapter of his life will begin. Nowadays, Diesel and his 'person' are inseparable.

But Diesel isn't the only lucky dog in the Puppy Dog Ranch pack. Presley, a pitbull/lab/heeler mix who lived at Puppy Dog Ranch for over 1 ½ years, has joined the program to become a therapy dog and Asia,a shih tzuh rescued from Bayard Animal Control and taken to Puppy Dog Ranch, is being trained by none other than PDR's lead volunteer, Jean Cox, to become an emotional support dog. Asia accompanies Jean everywhere she goes – restaurants, grocery stores, movie theatres, and road trips, and is a Puppy Dog Ranch Furry Ambassador. You will recognize Asia by her proudly wearing her Service Dog vest throughout Grant County! Jean Cox is also in training to become an Obedience Trainer and is currently training Cara, a rescued min pin from Puppy Dog Ranch.

Puppy Dog Ranch is the first and only No Kill, No Cage Rescue in southwest New Mexico. Established in 2009, they are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity and operates solely on donations and a volunteer staff. Having rescued over 200 dogs, they have placed 150 dogs in 'furever' homes and they continue to maintain a 99% adoption success rate by carefully qualifying applicants and matching the dog's personality and energy level to the adopter's lifestyle. They also encourage a "sleepover", up to a week, prior to any adoption. Adopters have traveled from many states to adopt on of PDR's dogs. PDR is open by appointment 10-5 Tuesday through Friday and 10-2 Saturdays at 27 Twin Sisters Creek Road, Arenas Valley, NM 88022. They can be contacted at (575) 313-7232, puppydogranch@ymail.com. Puppy Dog Ranch volunteers care for over 35 dogs who live at the Ranch and currently have 15+ dogs available for adoption. Their website is www.puppydogranch.org and you can also follow them on Facebook at Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue and Sanctuary and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/puppydogranch .