For some people, everything happens for a reason.

Three days after Sgt. Jason Wideman said goodbye to the service dog that helped pull him out of the pit of post-traumatic stress disorder, his family is working to bring the same solution to other military men and women in the same situation.

"We know there is no out, but there is help,” said Jason’s wife, Karla Wideman. “We found that with service dogs, and we just can't wait now for, you know, the next step."

For the Widemans, the next step comes in the form of Midnight Sun Service Dogs. Four days ago, the family had said goodbye to Scotty, a service dog they had been training with through the group Alaska Assistance Dogs.

After a disagreement over training requirements led AAD to reclaim the 2-year-old golden retriever, the Widemans are now looking for new puppies – not only for Jason, but for MSSD’s 15 military clients as well.

"Now, he'll really be there with these men he's mentoring,” Karla said, describing the training and bonding process behind every service dog. “He’ll be there, training these puppies."

April Merchant, one of the organization’s trainers and co-founders, said the group has an even bigger goal: breaking ground on a multi-purpose facility where military men and women could simultaneously work with PTSD service dogs while training puppies for other veterans.

"It will be to house homeless veterans and to get them back into the work community,” Merchant said. “To get them the services that they need to become whole again."

Meanwhile, Merchant and the Widemans continue to work with volunteers, veterans and breeders from around the state to provide an escape from the disorder effecting so many Alaska military men and women.

While it took just one dog to change their family’s life, it took a promise to pay it forward to change dozens more.