St. Louis veteran uses Goldendoodle to resume crossing guard duty

James Poggi is a Marine Corps veteran working in aviation who now relies on a Goldendoodle named Teddy to perform daily tasks. Poggi suffered five back surgeries and a below-the-knee amputation during his active service. These injuries followed multiple accidents, hard landings, physical therapy mishaps, a car crash, and a case of spinal meningitis.

“You go from being six foot three, 250 pounds and able to travel halfway across the world and do whatever they ask you to do, to being relying on wheelchairs, walkers, mobility devices, things like that, you become a vulnerable person that you never thought you’d be,” Poggi said. His wife, who serves as his caregiver, suggested the family get a service dog to ease the emotional strain of his condition.

Teddy now retrieves dropped items, picks up keys, and fetches Poggi’s cell phone. The dog also carries objects, a task Poggi says he enjoys. Poggi described the bond as similar to having a battle buddy. “He always, always better have your back. And that’s how it is. He’s always got my back,” Poggi said.

Poggi trained Teddy at Dog Training Elite St. Louis. The facility prepares dogs for obedience, therapy, protection, and service roles. Poggi noted that the trainers simulate real-world experiences that cannot be learned from books alone. Matt Willis, the owner of the training company, stated that service dogs address both physical limitations and post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans.

Willis said the interaction with a dog causes chemical changes in the body that provide necessary emotional uplift. He acknowledged that while the government attempts to care for veterans, gaps exist in the system. A private donor grant will now help cover part of the training costs for ten veterans or active military members. The grant pays 30 percent of the training fees for each selected individual.

Poggi will return to his job as a school crossing guard in Mascoutah next school year. He plans to work full time on the corner every day, rain or shine, with Teddy by his side. A 2024 survey of approximately 600 veterans found that about four in 10 did not have a service dog for PTSD but wanted one. A 2024 study also linked service dogs to lower rates of anxiety and depression in veterans with PTSD.

The Department of Veterans Affairs does not currently provide service dogs for mental health conditions. The agency is still studying the potential benefits of these interventions for veterans.