Service dogs are trained on performing tasks to for the benefit of a person who has a psychological, and physical disability. They are mainly used for PTSD therapy and have been proven to be of great benefit to the veterans. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are reactions that are brought by the traumatic events which do not disappear for a period of time and is characterized by insomnia, paranoia, psychosis and other mentally related conditions occasioned by traumatic events (Crowe et al. 5). Most of the veterans suffer from PTSD when they get home from their line of duties and have a lot of difficulties in getting back to their normal family lives. Forming the thesis of this paper is the need to highlight how service dogs are of great benefit to the veterans.
Benefits of Service Dog to Disabled Veterans
Kloep, Megan, Hunter, and Kertz (425), service dog provides support to the veterans who are disabled emotionally as they act as a partner and provides love unconditionally. Veterans who are disabled are able to get assistance from the service dogs, for example, they are able to provide transportation of items such as grocery from the stores, they help in carrying bags and also by use of their mouth they can be able to carry items for instance water bottles. The dogs also help in providing mobility to the veteran’s wheelchair which is operated manually. By use of their paws and teeth the service dogs can turn off and on switches for lighting in a room. There are also service dogs that are trained in the operation of touch lamps.
When the veteran is in need of removing shoes, pants, jackets or any other clothes the service dog can be of great help in removing such apparel by use of their teeth they are able to remove gently the clothes which have been of great help to the disabled veterans. Also, the dogs can be used in retrieving items such as phone, medication or any other device. This is mainly used by veterans who use wheelchair where it can be difficult to get dropped items. They are also used in to take items on high counters through standing by their back feet. For instance, if the veteran has trouble in paying at the counter in the supermarket the dog can be of assistance to deliver the money to the cashier (Crowe et al. 7).
Most of the veterans in the wheelchair have difficulties of getting in and out of it; the service dog can be of assistance in the provision of stability to the veterans. They also provide assistance in basic routine tasks such as giving a cup of water to the veteran. The service dog serves as confidants and friends to the veterans. They help veterans with a post-war disability such as amputation, mobility, and other impairments. They also help in reducing depression, flashbacks, and panic attacks. Most of the veterans sleep well peaceful, safe in the knowledge that dog is watching them throughout the night. Training the dog positively enables the veterans to have goals and purposes in life since they see they are impacting positively in their life and also receive immense love from the service dogs. For example, the dog can be the main reason why the veteran goes for exercise or moves around with purposes of getting out of home since they provide company.
The bond between the service dog and the veterans has been of great use in reducing PTSD symptoms which the disabled veterans could be experiencing. This is achieved by reducing oxytocin levels which is of great assistance in overcoming paranoia and improving the veterans trust to their family and friends. When the service dog helps the veteran it enables them to have the feeling of safety and protection and therefore reduces anxiety, depression, and thoughts of committing suicide (Carper, Teri, Bartone, and Petty 195).
The medication of veterans who are disabled is very high and the psychiatric sessions are quite expensive. Service dogs help in reducing these costs when they are used instead of drug therapy. They help in reduction of stress for both the veteran and his or her family (Holly Katherine 2017). Through performing a specific task, service dog helps disabled veterans, for instance, turning on lights, opening doors, for instance, opening a cabinet, refrigerator door, regular sized doors. They are able to close large doors through standing on their back legs and opening the door through their front legs. Also, they are able to close doors through the use of their noses. The service dogs also help in picking items, calling emergency calls and many other which is of great help to the disabled veterans. They are also able to keep an eye on the veteran in the ATM for security purposes.
Conclusion
Service dogs are of great help to the veterans and they should be used to help them in the recovery of psychologically related disorders that acquired from traumatizing events during and after war situations. Other than providing essential help to the veterans, service dogs are also known to provide perfect companionship as the veterans recover from their afflictions. Dog companionship is therefore believed to provide therapeutic healing of the body, mind, and soul while under the care of war veterans. It is therefore recommended that officers attached to service dogs during the war should also be left to adopt them when they return home from war.
Works cited
Carper, Teri L., Anne S. Bartone, and Frederick C. Petty. "Animal Companions and Military Veterans: How Dogs Can Help America’s Heroes." Men and Their Dogs. Springer, Cham, 2016. 195-214.
Crowe, Terry K., et al. "Veterans transitioning from isolation to integration: a look at veteran/service dog partnerships." Disability and rehabilitation (2017): 1-9.
Kloep, Megan L., Richard H. Hunter, and Sarah J. Kertz. "Examining the effects of a novel training program and use of psychiatric service dogs for military-related PTSD and associated symptoms." American Journal of Orthopsychiatry87.4 (2017): 425.
Robinson, Holly Katherine. "HOPE is a 4-Legged Word: How Service Dogs Can Help Veterans Suffering from Combat-Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." (2017).
