Many of us say that our dogs are our best friends, which is true, but for some people, they are way more than that. They are the key to a better life as well.
For veterans, service dogs and companion dogs provide more than just emotional support, especially for people dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Specialized service dogs not only perform specific tasks that help with these conditions, but recent studies show that they can also reduce the amount of medication some veterans require for treatment and alleviate their overall symptoms.
While not every circumstance is unique to military service, there are distinct moments in a veteran’s life when a companion dog or service animal might be just what the doctor ordered. In honor of Veteran’s Day, we want to take a moment to shed light on the care and training of more service dogs, so that every veteran in need can benefit from this life-saving bond.
Data About Veterans
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has reported that approximately 30% of veterans experience symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from experiencing war and/or assault.
Other veterans may have sustained an injury during their time in the military, or experience vision or hearing loss. If a veteran is experiencing significant physical, mental, or mobile limitations in their day-to-day life due to these disabilities, they may qualify for a Service Dog or an ESA.
Many veterans upon separating from service feel lost without the structure, discipline and routine associated with military culture. Some return to a life that they no longer recognize. Still others feel disconnected even from close friends or family and many struggle to translate their military skills into a civilian job. Overall more than a quarter of veterans report difficulty re-entering life after the military. This figure is higher among post-9/11 veterans, as well as those who were seriously injured or experienced a traumatic event.
