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Rx K9 – 5 Ways Dogs Help Veterans
by M. Gardner
Have you ever noticed what happens when a friendly dog walks into a room? The mood changes. People light up. That’s the power of the human-animal bond. This dynamic relationship between people and dogs can have such a positive influence on our health and well-being. So did you know that veterans are including dogs as a prescribed part of their overall mental health and PTSD treatment?
These aren’t just any kind of dogs, either; these are expertly trained service dogs that work and perform specific tasks based on the individual needs of the veteran with whom they are teamed. Service dogs also have the highest level of access rights, unlike therapy and emotional support dogs, so they can enter public establishments, live with their owner, and fly in the aircraft cabin with their owner as protected by several laws: the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the federal Air Carrier Access Act.
Let’s take a look at 5 ways a service dog could help you with your mental health challenges.
TRUST - Dogs are loyal so knowing that your service dog is always there for you and that you can depend on it can help you trust people again.
SAFETY - At any time of day or night, your service dog performs tasks specific to your personal needs. It can do room and perimeter searches to reassure you it’s safe to enter. Or, it can help you navigate in crowds keeping space between you and other people. Also, your service dog can “cover your six” to alert you if someone comes up from behind.
CONNECTION - The bond between a person and their service dog is a special partnership. Your service dog needs your care too, which can help provide a sense of purpose and reduce feelings of loneliness. Since it needs exercise too, both of you can enjoy being active outside where you could also engage with other people.
MINDFULNESS - Your service dog can pick up on subtle changes in your heart rate, mood, and stress. Then, it can help you calm down from a flashback, nightmare or panic attack by having you focus on it instead and bring you back to the present.
QUALITY OF LIFE - The constant companionship of your service dog for assistance can help make daily activities easier. It might perform practical tasks such as retrieving items and turning lights on. Or, it can provide you with unconditional love and support that helps you deal with your emotions.
How would a veteran even get a service dog? It begins with a discussion with your healthcare provider about your interest, followed by an official mental health or PTSD diagnosis, and lastly a decision about whether adding a service dog to your treatment would be appropriate. While a service dog can help with overall symptoms it is not a cure. And, thanks to the dedication of Cole Lyle, a former Marine and passionate veterans’ advocate, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act was signed into law in 2021. This provides service dog coverage to veterans with mental illness through the Veterans Administration benefits.
Where could you find a service dog specifically trained to help with mental health and PTSD? Start with the non-profit organization, Assistance Dogs International (ADI). It accredits not-for-profit programs which place assistance dogs. The accreditation process is thorough as it evaluates members against standards for dog training, dog care, ethics and client engagement. An accredited program is one of the best ways to have confidence not only that the service dog has the right training and skills needed to support the veteran but also that the program is prepared to support the team of you and your service dog.
Another resource is the Association of Service Dog Providers for Veterans which helps you identify and connect with organizations that exclusively serve veterans’ needs. Some highly respected and ADI accredited programs are: K9s for Warriors, whose service dogs are also rescue dogs; NEADS World Class Service Dogs has three veterans programs including one for PTSD that requires living within a 3 hour drive of their Massachusetts headquarters; and Canine Companions, a nationally renowned organization, has local ties with the Texas health system Baylor Scott & White, to help place service dogs with veterans.
The combination of a steady, confident, highly trained service dog and specific task work is powerful. Every once in a while, a dog could enter your life and change everything.
by M. Gardner
Have you ever noticed what happens when a friendly dog walks into a room? The mood changes. People light up. That’s the power of the human-animal bond. This dynamic relationship between people and dogs can have such a positive influence on our health and well-being. So did you know that veterans are including dogs as a prescribed part of their overall mental health and PTSD treatment?
These aren’t just any kind of dogs, either; these are expertly trained service dogs that work and perform specific tasks based on the individual needs of the veteran with whom they are teamed. Service dogs also have the highest level of access rights, unlike therapy and emotional support dogs, so they can enter public establishments, live with their owner, and fly in the aircraft cabin with their owner as protected by several laws: the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the federal Air Carrier Access Act.
Let’s take a look at 5 ways a service dog could help you with your mental health challenges.
TRUST - Dogs are loyal so knowing that your service dog is always there for you and that you can depend on it can help you trust people again.
SAFETY - At any time of day or night, your service dog performs tasks specific to your personal needs. It can do room and perimeter searches to reassure you it’s safe to enter. Or, it can help you navigate in crowds keeping space between you and other people. Also, your service dog can “cover your six” to alert you if someone comes up from behind.
CONNECTION - The bond between a person and their service dog is a special partnership. Your service dog needs your care too, which can help provide a sense of purpose and reduce feelings of loneliness. Since it needs exercise too, both of you can enjoy being active outside where you could also engage with other people.
MINDFULNESS - Your service dog can pick up on subtle changes in your heart rate, mood, and stress. Then, it can help you calm down from a flashback, nightmare or panic attack by having you focus on it instead and bring you back to the present.
QUALITY OF LIFE - The constant companionship of your service dog for assistance can help make daily activities easier. It might perform practical tasks such as retrieving items and turning lights on. Or, it can provide you with unconditional love and support that helps you deal with your emotions.
How would a veteran even get a service dog? It begins with a discussion with your healthcare provider about your interest, followed by an official mental health or PTSD diagnosis, and lastly a decision about whether adding a service dog to your treatment would be appropriate. While a service dog can help with overall symptoms it is not a cure. And, thanks to the dedication of Cole Lyle, a former Marine and passionate veterans’ advocate, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act was signed into law in 2021. This provides service dog coverage to veterans with mental illness through the Veterans Administration benefits.
Where could you find a service dog specifically trained to help with mental health and PTSD? Start with the non-profit organization, Assistance Dogs International (ADI). It accredits not-for-profit programs which place assistance dogs. The accreditation process is thorough as it evaluates members against standards for dog training, dog care, ethics and client engagement. An accredited program is one of the best ways to have confidence not only that the service dog has the right training and skills needed to support the veteran but also that the program is prepared to support the team of you and your service dog.
Another resource is the Association of Service Dog Providers for Veterans which helps you identify and connect with organizations that exclusively serve veterans’ needs. Some highly respected and ADI accredited programs are: K9s for Warriors, whose service dogs are also rescue dogs; NEADS World Class Service Dogs has three veterans programs including one for PTSD that requires living within a 3 hour drive of their Massachusetts headquarters; and Canine Companions, a nationally renowned organization, has local ties with the Texas health system Baylor Scott & White, to help place service dogs with veterans.
The combination of a steady, confident, highly trained service dog and specific task work is powerful. Every once in a while, a dog could enter your life and change everything.
To become a member and receive our services, please apply on our Liberty Medical Center of Texas Form and learn more about how we can help you today.
