Chooses as best man at his wedding the dog that has been helping him since he lost a leg

A dog was the best man at a touching wedding because the groom, his owner, wanted him to be part of that special day because from the hardest moment of his life he became his best companion.

Justin Lansford, a U.S. Army veteran, proposed to his girlfriend Carol Balmes and from the moment of the engagement he knew that his best friend would be the best man at his wedding.

But it was someone with a tail and four legs: Gabe, his service dog.

The couple met in 2012 when Justin was a soldier serving in Afghanistan, where he suffered an injury that caused the amputation of one of his legs.

After the serious accident, the military decided to arrange for Justin to be transferred to his home country for medical treatment.

“I was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, we were in eastern Afghanistan since early 2012, we hit an explosive that overturned the vehicle I was riding in.

My femurs were injured and my left leg had to be amputated,” Justin recounted.

It was not an easy situation for this soldier to deal with the consequences of the injuries he sustained, his disability and post-traumatic stress disorder from the war.

So he required the accompaniment of a service dog to ensure his recovery.

While Justin was recovering at Walter Reade National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, he met Gabe, a service dog thanks to Warrior Canine Connection, a charity that trains service dogs to support wounded soldiers.

From the first meeting between Justin and Gabe there was a great connection, an unconditional friendship began that will never end.

Gabe has helped Justin through the entire process of his physical and emotional recovery, he has become his inseparable friend.

“He helps me with a number of things. I can lean on him as I get close to the ground, if I fall, he comes running to my side and I can use him to support me and pick me up,” Justin recounted.

In 2014 Justin presented his girlfriend Carol with an engagement ring and they celebrated their marriage a year later in Largo, Florida.

At the wedding, Gabe filled a very special role: he was the best man at his best friend’s wedding.

Justin was pleased to have him present on that special day to acknowledge how important he was in his life.

The dog walked with the bride and groom down the aisle and even carried the wedding rings, he played an impeccable role in each of the tasks he had to fulfill during the ceremony.

The service dog also played a starring role in the wedding.

All the guests were very touched by the presence and performance of Gabe, an extraordinary dog that proves that they are loyal animals and capable of giving all their love.

Five years have passed since the wedding and the couple has shared many memories with Gabe.

Images of Justin and Gabe’s celebration and story have been thrilling the networks since they went viral to commemorate their love.

Gabe is still Justin’s service dog, but beyond that, he is part of their family.

As a thank you, Justin has volunteered to care for puppies for Warrior Canine Connections, along with Gabe they train dogs to serve the same function of helping soldiers in need.

Justin met a puppy named PJ who he became very fond of while training him, when he had to leave for his new home he suffered greatly, although luckily he moved so close to home that they get to see each other very often.