When Xenia native Doug Targett looks back on his life, the memories are heavy with sacrifice, service, and survival. “I graduated in June of 1968 and went into the service in September of ‘68,” Doug recalls. “I went into a special unit called the Army Security Agency. We wore army uniforms, but our orders didn’t come out of the Pentagon; they came from the National Security Agency.”
His service took him from Korea to Okinawa, and eventually to Vietnam, where he was part of the 146th Aviation 224th Battalion Radio Research Group. But the cost was steep. “It’s one of the reasons my body is crumbling beneath me,” Doug shares. “I have PTSD. I’ve gotten prostate cancer from exposure to Agent Orange.”
The scars of war followed Doug home, too. “Ever since I got back from Vietnam, I couldn’t sleep at night. I’d be lucky to get 3 or 4 hours of sleep.”
But everything changed when Doug was matched with Alfred (“Alfie”), his 4 Paws for Ability service dog. “He’s been a life changer for me,” Doug says with a smile. “I get a good 8 hours of sleep a night. If something happens in the middle of the night, he’ll wake me up and comfort me. He offers mobility assistance, so if I drop something, he’ll pick it up for me. One trick I’ve taught him is how to take my socks off at night.”
More than practical tasks, Alfie gives Doug something every veteran deserves: peace. “I think one of the problems you have with men in the military is our ego. They say ‘I don’t need an animal to get through life…’ They think they’re giving up their independence by getting an animal. Well, they’re badly mistaken. An animal will do so much for you. He knows when I’m happy. He knows when I’m sad. He’s there for me. What a difference Alfie has been for me.”
Doug remembers the day he learned Alfie’s placement had been covered, “I don’t know where all the money came from, but the Barks made that possible. When my wife found out that our dog would be paid for, she broke down and cried.” That moment forged a bond that has kept Doug coming back to see the Barks year after year.
The “Barks” being Robin & Don Bark.
On October 18, 2016, their son, Brandon Bark, tragically lost his life in a car accident on I-75 in Troy, Ohio, just weeks before joining the Marines. Determined to honor his passion for service, the Bark family created the Brandon Bark Memorial Golf Outing to continue Brandon’s legacy and raise critical funds to cover the costs of a service dog for veterans. Since their inception, they’ve raised over $115,000 and even donated a car to 4 Paws for Ability.
“I’ve been going to the Barkstrong Golf Outing ever since I’ve had Alfie to show my support for all they do to support veterans. They’re wonderful people, and I think it’s amazing that they dedicate their lives & time to helping 4 Paws. You don’t find people like this every day. What they’re doing is a game-changer for a lot of people.”
Now, Doug is preparing to welcome his next service dog once Alfie retires. “I’m getting a new service dog next year, but Alfie stays with me, so nobody has to worry about him,” he says with a laugh.
This year’s 9th Annual Brandon Bark Memorial Golf Outing on Saturday, August 23rd, will raise the funds needed to make that possible. For Doug, it’s more than just a golf outing; it’s the next step toward hope, healing, and independence.
“When I first came to 4 Paws for the first time, I was amazed to see all the different things these service dogs do for special needs children. You can see the relief in the families’ eyes from knowing they finally have help,” Doug says. “It’s a privilege to know that they want to help me out.”
Supporting this year’s event means ensuring that veterans like Doug will continue to experience the life-changing love of a service dog.