War veterans find peace of mind with pets

(CBS News)  For too many veterans, the battles don't end when they come home from war. Combat stress has no easy cure. But one vet found peace was a lot closer than he thought and now he's helping others find it, too. CBS News correspondent Chip Reid has his story.
Dave Sharpe calls his pit bull Cheyenne his savior, and that's no exaggeration. When she was just a puppy, she saved his life
Sharpe served with the U.S. Air Force security forces in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. After two near-death experiences, he returned home with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Before I met her, I was a wreck," said Sharpe. "I was out of control, I would start fights for no reason."
Deeply depressed and filled with rage, he decided to end his misery with his pistol.
"[I] cocked it back, put it right in my mouth and I sat there and cried for about a minute or two," Sharpe recalled. "I was this close to pulling the trigger."
That's when Cheyenne, who was then six months old, came to his rescue.
"She came up behind me and she licked my ear, said Sharpe. "And she gave me this look of, 'What are you doing man, who's going to let me sleep in your bed? Listen, if you take care of me, I'll take care of you.'"
Sharpe realized at that moment he had something to live for. But he didn't stop there, as he decided that what saved him might save others like him

By Chip Reid

 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/25/eveningnews/main20083157.shtml