Noteboom The Law Firm

Paws For Vets Helps Veterans With PTSD

June 9, 2010 - Many veterans are not familiar enough with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to recognize when they may be suffering from the disorder. The unfortunate situation is those loved ones around the veteran suffer just as much as the veteran, if not more.

Michele Malloy, an Orlando woman, founded the non-profit organization Paws for Vets to help veterans suffering from PTSD. Pets for Vets is Malloy's grassroots effort to supply veterans with psychiatric service and trainer dogs and she speaks to the helpfulness of working with the dogs from experience. While attempting to recover from an emotional trauma she was introduced to the therapeutic advantages of working with dogs.

The functions dogs can serve far outnumber what therapists and medicine are capable of performing. Veterans with psychological wounds find new purpose in training dogs, which usually translates into forcing them out of their house. Dogs can also be trained to sense panic attacks before they rise to the level of being a full-fledged attack and try to get the veteran back into focus by doing such things as licking the veteran's face. Finally, the bond that develops between the two is irreplaceable and provides a sense of comfort.

The Psychiatric Service Dog Society in Arlington, Virginia approximates between 5,000 and 10,000 of these dogs in service. A Department of Defense (DoD) study found 82% of people suffering from PTSD felt their symptoms decrease with the presence of the dog. 40% of those veterans reported using less medication once partnered with the dog as well.

Malloy could not wait to share the benefits she discovered so she formed Paws for Vets. Now the veterans involved with the program sing the praises of the benefits they're getting from the program.