Noteboom The Law Firm

Circle of Change Program Aims to Heal Veterans and Dogs

April 19, 2010 - Not every veteran returning from deployment blends seamlessly back into society as if he or she never left. Some veterans have more problems fitting back into the lives they left behind than others. Those who do return from combat with PTSD or other mental health issues commonly isolate themselves and avoid public interaction.

This is where dogs can help. The Circle of Change was started in 2008 and aims to help veterans suffering from mental trauma ease their way back into the society they left. In the program, veterans work with abused and neglected dogs while the veterans work through their own mental health issues.

The Circle of Change program lasts 13 weeks and 4 programs run back-to-back every year. Every program consists of 6-8 veterans working in a group environment and training their assigned dogs. The program is not like other programs in that veterans are not given dogs at the end of the program. Instead, the program is set up so veterans are not able to bond with one specific animal.

Both the volunteers for the program and the veterans involved with the program speak to Circle of Change's success. Making the veterans responsible for the dogs shows the veterans they must be trusted and forces the veterans to improve themselves so that they may be relied upon.

The program is not funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and last year existed on an $11,000 budget. Nor is the program a VA approved method of treatment. Last week the Military Order of the Purple Heart gave a $5,000 grant to the program. The grant money will be used to help the VA evaluate the program and decide if it is something the VA could possibly fund in the future.

Right now, the only positive testimony about the program comes from the participants and that is not enough for the VA. Hopefully the future will prove the program successful and will in turn drive more veterans to join.