Dogs Help Soldiers Battle PTSD In U.S. Army
Written by Vegetarian Star on July 3rd, 2010 in Animal Issues.
During this 4th of July as we celebrate freedom and independence, it’s a great time think about the men and women who serve and fight to protect ours. And the animals that help them.
Recent statements made by the Army Surgeon General’s special assistant for mental health, Col. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, M.D., at the annual convention of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), informed that the army is using dogs to help soldiers recover from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“Animals are not just cute,” Ritchie said. “They provide support.”
Ritchie statements during the the 2010 NAMI Convention symposium on “Veterans and Military Mental Health,” which focused on the needs of veterans and soldiers returning from Iraq and Afganishtan were consistent with a NAMI report released last year, “Depression: Gaps and Guideposts,” which found about 20% of the people living with depression have used animal therapy in treatment and about 54% found it “extremely helpful” or “quite a bit helpful.”
For soldiers who already own a dog or cat, it’s important to know the animal is being cared for while they’re deployed and a Hawaiian Humane Society created Pets for Patriots, a program that offers temporary homes for pets with military owners.
Pets for Patriots also partners with veterinarians to give 10% discounts on services to military pets for the life of their care and helps service members find animal adoption that fits their needs.
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