by Carol Mowdy Bond | Photos courtesy of Ben Martin
When he was about 14 years old, Ben Martin began a long plunge into drug and alcohol dependency. But about eight years ago, he moved into a challenging transition toward recovery, started
a business, and eventually acquired a wonderful service dog.
“I’ve struggled with some sort of addiction my entire life,” says Martin, a native of Mustang, Oklahoma. “Addiction caused a lot of pain for me and my family, but those trials and tribulations made me stronger. I started out with AA and faith. After I found AA, it still took eight years of stumbling in and out of the program. I’m grateful for every step of that path.”
Martin has been sober from almost everything for eight years. And during spring 2025, he finally kicked his last habit. But he says, “I’m still in recovery and always will be. We never completely recover. We just get better.”
Martin, a military veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom who served from 1999 to 2003 and who was deployed, received his post–high school education in the U.S. Navy.
Caring for Trees and People
In 2017, Martin launched his business, R&B Trees. As Oklahoma City’s full-service premier tree company, R&B Trees offers expert tree care, including removal, storm-damage care, and everything in between.
Through R&B tree work, people noticed Martin’s compassionate and extensive investment in others who were in need of tree services that they could not afford. So in 2019, the Yukon Chamber of Commerce awarded Martin, who had moved to Yukon, the prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award for his significant and outstanding service to the community.
That same year, Martin started his nonprofit Share and Care Releaf. “We help people who can’t afford tree work, especially emergency or dangerous jobs,” he says. “We’ve helped single parents, disabled veterans, elderly folks, and other nonprofits. Over the years, we’ve done hundreds of thousands of dollars in free tree work.”
However, the addiction-recovery process was woven into the fabric of Martin’s life and career path, and he realized he needed more assistance. “I’ve suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), both from childhood and the Navy,” he says.
Finding the Right Dog at the Right Time
Searching for additional answers to personal issues, Martin noticed the service dog belonging to his good friend, David, who trains service canines for veterans. He told David he wanted a similar dog. David found a three-year-old full-blooded German shepherd named Stella who previously had belonged to a military veteran. But that veteran’s situation had changed, and Stella needed a new home.
So about two years ago, Stella joined Martin as his personal companion and highly valued member of the R&B Trees team.
“I needed a grounding presence who could help me manage PTSD, anger, emotional instability, and just getting through tough days,” Martin says. “Stella is really my rock. Having another soul that I’m 100 percent responsible for helps me stay centered. Stella and I depend on each other. It’s mutual. She helps me stay calm and emotionally steady.”
From the beginning, Stella has been an integral part of Martin’s life. Each morning, she goes for an early run with Martin, then heads to work with him. But when the crew is doing active tree work, which can be dangerous, Stella stays in the office or with staff at the shop.
“Everyone loves her like family,” says Martin. “She is a huge hit with customers. She listens incredibly well. She sits, stays, heels, and always comes when called. She gets along with all dogs, even cats, and she’s great with kids. She will let anyone approach and pet her, and she behaves perfectly in public. She is kind, loyal, and friendly to everyone. She never begs, alerts me when she needs out, and she is always calm. Stella adapts to every environment and wins people over with her behavior and gentle presence.”
Stella even goes on camping and hiking trips with Martin. “She is an excellent outdoor companion,” he says. “She loves water, stays close when she is off leash, and is just as happy relaxing as she is exploring.”
Stella also travels with Martin on a regular basis for work. He crisscrosses Oklahoma and travels the nation. “She’s my service dog for PTSD, so she is by my side when I’m on the road,” he says. “She has traveled to several states with me for storm work and personal trips. We travel across the country for emergency storm work. When disaster hits, we don’t always wait for a call. We just go where we’re needed.”
Martin says, “I’m truly grateful and blessed for the life I’ve lived. Sometimes I look around, and I can’t believe how everything is turning out and how far I’ve come. Recovery isn’t easy, but it’s possible. And for anyone who is struggling, I would strongly recommend looking into a service dog. Stella has helped me stay strong, focused, and emotionally steady through some of the hardest chapters of my life. The right dog at the right time can change everything.”
