Former Area Marine Needs Help Getting Dog To Oklahoma

A local veteran who served in Afghanistan is desperate to see his best friend again. 

Austin Douglas graduated from Harrah High School, then went to Marine Boot Camp in 2008. He served in Afghanistan for one year, and has dealt with post-traumatic stress and severe depression ever since. 

His family flew to North Carolina and brought him back home a month ago, after he contemplated suicide. 

However, the family left Austin's dog Willow, a one-year-old Pit Bull Rottweiler mix, behind with a friend. 

“She's definitely more than a dog to me,” Austin said from his parents' home Tuesday. “She represents good things.” 

Austin's mother, Susan Carter, says she's been trying to work with the airlines, but she says it will cost around $500 to fly “Willow” home. 

Carter says other military families have volunteered to car pool to drive “Willow” to Oklahoma from North Carolina, but the dog gets extremely car sick. 

“The people who were caring for her called yesterday and told us they weren't going to be able to keep her any longer, and were going to have to take her to the pound,” she said. 

If you would like to help, just go to "Bring Willow Home" on gofundme.com.