Heroic dogs aren’t just those who alert a family to a burning home or a TV Lassie who saves Timmy after he’s fallen into a well.

For some military veterans, their heroic pets are the specially trained service dogs who help them cope with personal problems following their active duty - problems such as depression, anger or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

A program on such service dogs, which are provided by the Vets 2 Vets organization, was held Saturday morning at Bethany Wesleyan Church in Franklin Township. About 25 people attended, during which veterans who utilize the dogs explained the vital role the dogs play in their lives.

There was Cliff who said that without his dog, Dayton, a large chocolate lab, he might not be alive today.

“Don’t criticize anyone who tries to commit suicide,” he said. “It happens. It almost happened to me. Thank God it didn’t.”

He said he suffered from depression and to compound his woes, his wife died in her sleep.

Dayton entered his life and has made a big difference.

Denise VanSickle, treasurer of the local Vets 2 Vets chapter, said that the organization is run by veterans for veterans, and is operated strictly through donations.

She said volunteers are needed to house sit or foster the dogs for several weeks during the training period.

At the event were two full-grown chocolate Labs and two puppies. All the dogs were well behaved.

Mike Salalosky, a Desert Storm veteran, was with his dog Bartle. He said when he returned from Desert Storm, he was very angry. Although he didn’t take drugs, he did turn to gambling.

Then he met Lisa Roth, whom he eventually married. He said, “When I met Lisa, she saw something that was wrong. She said I had to get help or get out.”

Lisa had a dog Ava who “did more for me, not knowing, than I ever realized,” he said. “It took a long time to trust my therapist at the VA, and he’s a terrific guy.”

Once introduced to the Vet 2 Vet program, he found the additional support that he needed.

He no longer gambles. He said his new dog, Bartle, “keeps me in the present.” He said Bartle, “knows when my anxiety is high and he even knows when my sugar (level) is off.”

Mike and Bartle will become the first local graduates of the Vet 2 Vet service dog program.

VanSickle said the program doesn’t have enough dogs. She said not every dog is suited to be a service dog. “It’s genetic,” she said. “It’s in them. Plus, it’s their personality.”

The service dogs offered through Vet 2 Vet are qualifiers under the American With Disabilities Act, she said.

The Vet 2 Vet program is planning a Keep Them Alive rally on Sept. 23 at the West End Fairgrounds. A bike ride will begin in Palmerton.

For more information, visit the Vet 2 Vet Web site.