Every day, our brave servicemen and women stand ready to protect us. But for many, the hardest battle is the one they face after returning home: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When this happens, who stands ready to protect them? Often, it’s a service dog. June is National PTSD Awareness Month and a great time to spotlight organizations that help veterans obtain or train these heroic service dogs.
What service dogs do
Service dogs are highly compassionate, intelligent animals who are specially trained to alleviate anxiety and mental health conditions experienced by veterans and others with PTSD. According to the US Department of Federal Affairs, up to 20% of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD each year.
Finding the best option
There are a variety of organizations that either provide veterans suffering from PTSD with service dogs or assist in the process of training their own dogs to help.
According to Educating Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD), its Project HEAL “honors and empowers Veterans with combat-related physical and/or psychiatric disabilities including amputees, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), by providing specifically educated Service Dogs for veterans to increase independence and make a positive difference in every aspect of their lives.”
Stand With Me is an organization that helps veterans with mental disabilities train their own dogs. Its fundraising efforts help veterans get the therapeutic support they need. The organization also provides help to veterans who need to obtain a canine candidate for the program but do not own a dog.
Engaging breeder support
Many breeders have contributed to Stand with Me’s efforts in various ways. Some have provided direct assistance. Others have generously donated puppies from their litters to help eliminate costs. Still others have provided military discounts to veterans buying a puppy from their litter.
