Man’s best friend helps Veteran amputee

When his care team told Marine Corps Veteran Ron Godshall that it would be best to amputate his leg due to complications of diabetes, he thought about the things he would have to give up. Near the top of the list was competing in agility sports with his dogs, an activity he greatly enjoyed and had been involved with for years.

Dogs have always played a big part in Godshall’s life. In high school he worked at a dog kennel and became part of the team that trained the Canine Corps for the Norristown Police Department. He also worked at the local SPCA to care for and train some of the difficult rescued dogs, helping prepare them for adoption.

After serving two tours in Vietnam, returning to civilian life in 1968 proved challenging. He knew he needed to do something to handle the stress, so he returned to his dog training hobby. “Dogs played a really big part in my life keeping me straight. I had my share of problems when I came back, but the dogs were a good relief for me,” he shared.

During the last 55 years, his interest in dogs grew, and he evolved into the “go to” person for training in his area. After retiring from his career as a construction foreman 11 years ago, Godshall entered another kind of ring with his dogs—one where time, accuracy and physicality play vital roles: Dog Agility, a competitive sport where handlers are challenged to guide their trusty companions through pre-designated obstacle courses within a specific amount of time.

Positive attitude and custom prosthesis took him back to the ring

Eventually, the pain became too much. In 2020, Godshall began planning for the leg amputation. With a positive outlook, he worked closely with his Wilkes-Barre VA care team to get a custom prosthesis and rehabilitation therapy to eventually return to the ring with his dogs.

“When an amputation is planned, several VA medical center teams work together. Before the amputation, the surgical team meets with VA’s Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services to help determine what level amputation may be best and also provide Veterans with education about what to expect,” said Dr. Joseph Webster, director of the VA Amputation System of Care. “After the surgery, the rehabilitation services team—including a physician, physical therapist or occupational therapist and the prosthetist—collaborate to come up with the best plan for the Veteran to meet their goals going forward. We follow them for the rest of their lives to meet their changing needs.”

This Marine was not going to let life obstacles keep him down. Nearly two years after his surgery, a friend acquired a new dog, and she talked Godshall into training him to run agility while handling him from a motorized scooter. The new dog, Franco, was a Cocker Spaniel/Poodle mix (named for Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris). Franco demonstrated the confidence to take instruction from a distance.

Although his friend had taught the dog agility basics, Godshall took over training the pooch in November 2022. Just 10 months later, he and Franco were in the competition ring and they earned their first qualifying score in September 2023. “I’m so impressed with this little guy. He has captured my heart,” Franco said, pictured at right.

“Many Veterans stop doing things they enjoy because of extremity pain and complications, and they are concerned that an amputation is the end of things. But so many times we see an amputation becoming a beginning for them to gain their independence and get back to life,” said Webster.

VA provides over 5,000 prosthetic limbs annually to Veterans throughout the United States each year.

For Veterans who may want to develop new physical and creative activities, VA’s Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events offers several opportunities for health and healing through adaptive sports and therapeutic art programs. These are specialized competitive rehabilitation events to optimize Veterans’ independence, community engagement, well-being and quality of life.