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Service Dog-In-Training Back Home After Escape, Days Of Worry For Veteran

SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) —  A service dog-in-training is back home after an escape that caused his owner -- a military vet -- a lot of sleepless nights.

CBS2's Greg Mills spoke to John Silva about the happy reunion with his emotional service companion, Twix.

"I've never had a connection with another animal like I've had with him," Silva says.

A week ago, while he was at school and his wife Rachel at work, Twix escaped from the backyard by crawling under a fence.

He took off for the first time in his life.

Silva put up fliers about his lost dog immediately and put the word out on social media.

The military veteran said he was lost without Twix.

"He is my life really. If it wasn't for him I don't know where I'd be without him, to be completely honest with you," Silva said.

He served six years in the US Army including a tour of duty in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. He is considered 40 percent disabled and suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a term that he despises.

Twix serves as his stress and anxiety reliever.

"This dog means everything to me. There's no words to describe how much he means to me or how much he helps me on a daily basis," Silva says.

Of course, Silva also loves his wife Rachel. But he and Twix have a special bond. The dog checks every room in the house to ensure Silva is safe. He feels safe and secure when the dog is by his side.

And when the dog disappeared?

"I didn't want to do anything. I didn't want to get out of bed," Silva says.

He forced himself to get out of bed to search for Twix and hang more fliers. Silva and a volunteer with the Wounded Warrior Pack -- a group that trains service dogs for veterans -- searched for Twix together.

A woman found Twix roaming around a shopping center a few blocks from Silva's house. She took Twix to her home in Arrowbear and then turned him over to a foster family.

Thanks to social media, they were able to contact Silva Thursday night.

"As soon as I saw the picture I knew it was him. it was definitely overwhelming," Silva says

Up next? The fence will be patched and Twix will undergo about two more months of training before he is certified an official service dog.

 

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