War Vets Heal With the Help of Shelter Dogs

Summary

1 in 4 war veterans will come home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Over four million healthy, adoptable animals will be euthanized in shelters this year. Dogs provide healing and comfort to vets.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

A 2009 Pentagon study found that one in four veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD, depression or anxiety. Veterans are coming home with feelings of abandonment and having a difficult time adjusting to civilian life. This includes depression, substance abuse and in the worst cases, violence and suicide. Working with the dogs and training them to help others has proven to be very beneficial to veterans and shelter dogs. The dogs eventually are paired with people in need.

How will this project solve this problem?

Canines With a Cause brings shelter dogs and returned veterans together. Spending time with a dog can lessen stress. Vets benefit from the healing companionship of the dog and shelter dogs' lives are saved by finding loving homes.

Potential Long Term Impact

Awareness will be brought to the plight of our vets suffering from PTSD as well as showing the benefits of training a shelter dog. Both the lives of vets and dogs will be saved in the long run as well as others who will utilize the service dog.

Project Message

"It is not just the shelter dogs being saved, we are enabling veterans to have another chance at living a normal life. The dogs offer no opinion or judgment, just unconditional love."
- Charlene Brewster, Friends of Animals Board of Trustees

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources

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