Noteboom The Law Firm

Paws4Vets Offers Veterans and Prisoners Help Through Service Dogs

It is not unusual for a veteran or wounded solider to experience depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and/or agoraphobia. All those symptoms stand in the way of veterans successfully reintegrating into civilian life. Some veterans begin to abuse various substances, which only leads to more problems.

There are a variety of treatments used to combat these issues. A nonprofit  called Paws4Vets (also known as Paws4Prisons and Paws4People) provide psychiatric rehabilitative assistance dogs, which have been trained by prisoners to help those suffering from a variety of health challenges.

The organization engages both state- and federally-held prisoners in their program. The prisoners train the service dogs, and once fully trained, the dogs are matched with veterans, civilians, and children suffering from such disabilities as:

 

• neurological;
• physical;
• emotional; and/or
• psychological.

 

The program not only helps the recipients of the dogs, but the prisoners training the dogs. While the prisoners build discipline and responsibility, the hopes are the dogs will help instill self-esteem and confidence in the veterans.

Approximately 20 soldiers and veterans with emotional and physical issues have received service dogs from the organization to date.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.