Companions in Recovery: How Service Dogs Are Saving Veterans

As many as 20 veterans out of 100 from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts have PTSD, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

This month saw the approval of a significant bipartisan legislation, the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers, or PAWS, for Veterans Therapy Act, by Congress. This law aims at facilitating the pairing of veterans with their own service dogs and now awaits the signature of the avid dog enthusiast, President Joe Biden, who is anticipated to endorse it.

Following the enactment, the Department of Veterans Affairs is set to collaborate with entities like K9s for Warriors, a charitable organization based in Florida that dedicates itself to offering service dogs to veterans. The initiative, outlined to span five years, is expected to commence on January 1, 2022, as shared by Rory Diamond, the CEO of K9s for Warriors. Diamond expressed optimism about the legislative move, viewing it as a critical preliminary stride toward combating veteran suicide.

The program has shown promising results, with 72 percent of the over 700 veterans who participated in the K9s for Warriors program having had suicide attempts prior to receiving their service dogs, as per Diamond's statement.

The urgency for such a program is underscored by the increasing PTSD cases among veterans, especially those returning from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, with as many as 20 in every 100 veterans affected according to the VA. The pandemic has exacerbated the stress levels for veterans, with a notable surge in calls to the veterans crisis line by over 15 percent last year. Moreover, PTSD is believed to be widely underreported.

Veteran suicide remains a critical issue, with nearly 90,000 veterans having taken their own lives from 2005 to 2018, a figure that is on the rise, based on the latest VA report.

Stephens is a 36-year-old combat veteran who served in Basra, Iraq, from 2009 to 2010, working on radio equipment for her unit. She was diagnosed with PTSD in 2011. Despite Stephens not bearing visible scars, she carries the invisible wounds from combat's aftermath. Post her Iraq deployment, Stephens found herself in a perpetual state of alertness, unable to relax, which was not alleviated by the medication prescribed post-PTSD diagnosis.

Her battle with PTSD spiraled into a seven-year drug dependency. Before encountering Bobbi, Stephens was on the brink of suicide, having even deliberated the pros and cons of such an act. What saved her was the love and support from her girlfriend and the anticipation of starting service dog training after a four-month waitlist period.

The training at K9s for Warriors camp with Bobbi was transformative. It involved various public outings, such as visits to malls and restaurants - places Stephens had previously avoided. The training focuses on building a deep connection between the veteran and the dog, with the latter being trained to recognize and alleviate signs of anxiety in the veteran.

Maggie O’Haire, an associate professor of human-animal interaction at Purdue University who collaborates with K9s for Warriors, highlighted the paramount role of these dogs in calming or comforting veterans with anxiety. Her research underlines the impact of service dogs in significantly reducing PTSD severity in veterans. A 2020 VA report corroborated this, indicating fewer suicidal behaviors and ideations among veterans paired with PTSD-trained service dogs compared to those with emotional support animals. These dogs are trained in various tasks tailored to the veteran's needs, including “lap,” akin to deep pressure therapy, which significantly aids in calming the veterans.

The presence of these dogs does not negate the need for medical consultations or medications but rather encourages veterans to seek out treatment. With Bobbi’s companionship, Stephens celebrates three years of sobriety and a newfound zest for life, attributing her turnaround to the trust and respect she learned to afford herself, mirrored in her relationship with Bobbi.