Guide Dogs and Service Dogs Help Disabled Vets

Veterans Enjoy More Independence With Specially Trained Animals

Nov 2, 2009

Disabled U.S. veterans may suffer from a range of chronic conditions. America's Vet Dogs and Patriot Paws provide trained dogs to help them achieve more independence.

Two organizations offer programs that link disabled American veterans with specially trained dogs. America’s Vet Dogs provides guide dogs and service dogs for disabled American veterans and disabled servicemen on active duty. Patriot PAWS is an organization designed to help American disabled veterans enjoy a more independent life by pairing specially trained service dogs with veterans while also benefiting the dogs and trainers.

Can Animals Help People With Disabilities?

Studies have shown that animal-assisted therapy may provide numerous physical and emotional benefits when linked appropriately with a disabled person. According to Josh Fischman’s December 12, 2005 article in U.S. News & World Report entitled “The Pet Prescription,” some hospital patients experienced lower cortisol levels and higher numbers of endorphins, which might have positive effects on hypertension, diabetes, asthma, gastrointestinal disorders, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to that study, animals played a positive role in helping to reduce agitation and to improve appetite in people suffering from dementia as well.

Service and guide dogs extend beyond brief encounters as these animals live with the disabled person. The animals are trained to meet the unique needs of the disabled person and can provide companionship and may help veterans to adjust more quickly to life after a disability. Guide dogs and service dogs may not work well for everyone. The dogs require care and adequate facilities, and people who are allergic to dogs or who are frightened by dogs may find a better fit with other modes of recovery and rehabilitation.

America’s Vet Dogs Provides Guide Dogs and Service Dogs

America’s Vet Dogs Veteran's K-9 Corps recognizes the increased need for guide dogs and service dogs for the growing number of aging and disabled American veterans. This program seeks to honor honorably discharged American veterans and disabled servicemen on active duty and to recognize their sacrifice to the United States. America’s Vet Dogs program provides these animals at no cost. A local VA rehabilitation specialist can help ease the application process.

Once a veteran is accepted into the program, the program will evaluate special needs and pair a trained dog with the veteran. According to the America’s Vet Dog’s web site, they use a special dog breed and puppy raising program that uses several different dog breeds including:

Veterans and guide dogs are typically paired and trained for 25 days in formal group classes; however, some training might be done in the veteran’s home due to special needs. Service dog training may take four to six months of training before moving to the veteran's home, depending on the training needs. Follow-up training and home visits associated with guide dog and service dog training are available as needed.

Some of these Veteran's K-9 Corps service dogs were deployed to Iraq to help boost morale, curb stress, and improve mental health of soldiers who are currently serving in the military in Iraq as a sort of pet therapy. Dogs have also been involved in previous military efforts, such as the K-9 dog platoon used by the Marine Corps at Iwo Jima helped to deliver speedy messages and identify snipers.

Guide dogs and service dogs can also help soldiers to adjust to civilian life after service and can help both the veteran and others to shift focus from the disability to the dog while the animal can provide much needed unconditional companionship.

Patriot Paws Service Dogs Help Disabled Vets, Dogs and Trainers

Patriot Paws offers specially trained service dogs to American veterans with mobile disabilities. The training takes about 12 to 18 months, which costs about $20,000 to $30,000. Patriot Paws is a 501 (3) (c) organization and only charges a $25 application fee. Once accepted into the program, the veteran will receive an official letter and the veteran and dog will have a transitional training phase for two to three weeks, during which time the veteran is responsible for costs such as attendant care and transportation while learning to work with the dog.

Patriot PAWS service dogs might receive training to help with a variety of tasks, such as:

The Patriot Paws organization also benefits the dogs because they may come from area animal shelters and rescue groups after being carefully screened. This organization also seeks to retrain inmates while incarcerated. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice partners with Patriot Paws and allows specially selected prisoners to learn to train the service dogs while living in a dormitory-type atmosphere. Several of these trainers have been paroled and have put new skills to use by starting careers involving dog training.

Two Programs That Offer Specially Trained Dogs for Disabled Vets

America’s Vet Dogs and Patriot Paws are two organizations that seek to help improve the physical and emotional lives of American veterans by linking those who are disabled with a specially trained dog. By helping disabled vets to achieve greater independence and emotional health while providing physical assistance, a guide dog or service dog just might be an American veteran's best friend.

Readers are welcome to share their own stories of overcoming disabilities after military service.

The copyright of the article Guide Dogs and Service Dogs Help Disabled Vets in Seniors' Health/Medicare is owned by Katrena Wells. Permission to republish Guide Dogs and Service Dogs Help Disabled Vets in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.