{"id":49691,"date":"2022-02-25T10:36:56","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T16:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?p=49691"},"modified":"2024-04-06T06:30:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T06:30:23","slug":"how-service-dogs-can-reduce-veteran-ptsd-and-save-lives","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/how-service-dogs-can-reduce-veteran-ptsd-and-save-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"How Service Dogs Can Reduce Veteran PTSD and Save Lives"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Mary Cortani, U.S. Army Veteran and Founder\/Executive Director of Operation Freedom Paws<\/p>\n

*This is an article from the Winter 2021-2022 issue of Combat Stress<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I am a Veteran who served in the Army from 1975 to1984. When I signed up to serve, I joined the Women\u2019s Army Corps which was absorbed into the Army shortly after my basic training. This was a tough time for women serving, as male troops did not really want us there. I survived and became an MP with a specialization of K9 handler and Army Master Instructor of K9 Education. As my service started at the tail end of the Vietnam War, I am a Vietnam Era Veteran. This was a time of a war within all military branches\u2026and a war that continues today \u2014 Military Sexual Trauma (MST).<\/p>\n

I am not a clinician or medical professional. I am a Veteran using what I have learned to continue to serve and help Veterans and Non-Veterans (civilians) heal through the use of amazing gifts called service dogs. Not every dog can be a service dog, but those who are change and save lives every day.<\/p>\n

Tough Transitions to Civilian Life<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every Veteran goes through a transition when coming out of the military and active duty. It is hard; I did not know how to fit in with non-Veterans. My world was and is black and white, right and wrong, and clear boundaries, just like it is with many other Veterans. Civilian life is filled with gray areas. It took me two years to figure out where I was going to live! Then I had to figure out what I was going to do, how I was going make a living, and survive. I lived with friends and worked 2-3 part-time jobs at the same time. I struggled.<\/p>\n

I finally went to school to become an electronic technician, followed by a degree in Computer Engineering. Fast forward to the early 2000\u2019s and I had the rug pulled out from under my feet again. I had worked hard to become an executive in a high-tech company. I was now much older and later in life; the career I had built was suddenly gone. I was let go from a very lucrative position, basically fired for the first time in my life. What was I going to do now? I would have to reinvent myself again.<\/p>\n

Finding my Future with Service Dogs<\/strong><\/p>\n

I had never stopped training dogs. In fact, I even did K9 search and rescue throughout the years. It took me a couple of years to figure out that I needed to go back to my passion, training dogs full-time. In 2007 I met a dog that would forever change the course of the rest of my life, CJ (pictured below), my heart dog. So, I decided to start a full-time dog training business (K9 Coach Plus) and became an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator in 2007.<\/p>\n

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CJ, Mary\u2019s search and rescue buddy and service dog task demo boy.<\/em><\/p>\n

In 2010, a Marine Veteran with suicidal ideation reached out to me to help him acquire a service dog. He had been on the waiting list of existing organizations for years. I realized I was uniquely positioned to help my fellow Veteran find a rescue dog and teach him how to train a dog to become a service dog, to help him develop the ability to communicate again, and to teach the dog to perform tasks that would help reduce his PTSD symptoms. Hence, Operation Freedom Paws (https:\/\/operationfreedompaws.org<\/a>\u00a0) was born out of K9 Coach Plus, and became a nonprofit and my life\u2019s passion.<\/p>\n

Operation Freedom Paws: Serving Veterans with PTSD and other Military Traumas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trying to understand what challenges and injuries face our Veterans sent me on a new journey of learning and understanding. What was Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and what were the other issues my fellow Veterans were dealing with? Combining my service and civilian training, I made that Marine a promise to help as best I could and that he was not alone.<\/p>\n

I founded Operation Freedom Paws after working with that first client. This led to the creation of a 48-week service dog training program based on my knowledge and hands-on experience to serve my fellow Veterans. Operation Freedom Paws became a nonprofit in September 2011. This year we will be celebrating 10 years as a nonprofit, while providing service dogs (83% of which are rescued dogs) and other services to our clients and their families over the last eleven and a half years.<\/p>\n

What I have learned throughout those years is that healing doesn\u2019t happen in isolation. PTSD affects families when untreated. It can destroy families and lives. But healing can save families and lives, and the use of a service dog can bridge the gap of family members\u2019 need for understanding of why their loved one is changed.<\/p>\n

To date, Operation Freedom Paws has helped over 460 Clients and their families. We have also rescued 380 dogs to be trained as healers for Veterans, first responders and civilians. Our program uses mentor trainers who have graduated from the program. These trainers have become employees who lead classes in our 48-week program. They help each client train a dog assigned to meet the client\u2019s specific medical needs.<\/p>\n

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PTSD: An Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) captured the American public\u2019s consciousness when the American Psychiatric Association added this diagnosis to its\u00a0D<\/em>iagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders<\/em>1<\/sup>\u00a0after thousands of Vietnam Veterans were identified as having serious mental health problems from their service a decade or more after their return from war. These symptoms were part of a cluster specific to war trauma that include physical (headache, fatigue, sleep problems, dizziness, and sensory sensitivity), cognitive (memory, problems focusing, slowed thinking, trouble putting thoughts into words) and emotional (depression, angry outbursts, personality changes, panic, hopelessness, avoidance) distress.<\/p>\n

Moral Injury<\/strong><\/p>\n

Moral injury \u201cinvolves psychological and spiritual wounds that result from experiences that conflict with one\u2019s deeply held beliefs of right and wrong.\u201d2<\/sup>\u00a0In the military, Service Members can experience Moral Injury on the battlefield, such as deep remorse for killing children or witnessing horrific acts of war; in garrison, such as being raped by peers or leaders, or failing to report witnessing harassment\/rape of others; or institutional betrayal (by chain of command or government, such as for failures to fix known problems or legitimate grievances). Any of these traumas can have lifetime impact on Veterans. Many Veterans have experienced more than one moral injury and carry deep wounds for their lifetimes. Service Dogs are one of many healing options to alleviate these wounds and help Veterans reconnect to themselves, their families, and their communities.<\/p>\n

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)<\/strong><\/p>\n

TBI occurs from a sudden blow or jolt to the head. Brain injury often occurs during some type of trauma, such as an accident, blast, or a fall. Often when people refer to TBI, they are mistakenly talking about the symptoms that occur following a TBI. Actually, a TBI is the injury, not the symptoms.\u00a0<\/em>TBI\u2019s among Servicemembers and Veterans are one of the signature injuries of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. They can result in psychological, neurological, and physical needs where a service dog can provide significant help.<\/p>\n

How Service Dogs Help Veterans<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is a lack of understanding and a limited body of evidence-based research demonstrating how service dogs can help individuals with invisible wounds and injuries. We are a visual society; what we cannot see we do not believe. Dr. Shauna Springer, Chief Psychologist with The Stella Centers and leading trauma expert, says it best: \u201ceven though PTSD is said to be an invisible wound, it is NOT\u00a0invisible<\/em>\u00a0with the right scan.\u201d3<\/sup>\u00a0She is referring to high intensity MRI scans that can show brain activity at the micro-level which is not always apparent on older scanning equipment.<\/p>\n

While PTSD is evidenced in physiological changes in the brain that can only be seen with such scans, it is my experience that these changes can also be detected by a trained service dog\u2019s nose. Physical changes can be noticed by another person. However, while biological and chemical changes are invisible to the human eye, they are readily perceived by a dog\u2019s nose and observable in the dog\u2019s reactions to those changes. A dog\u2019s keen sense of smell to human and environmental changes has been evidenced in my 45 years of training many kinds of dogs in different capacities, including Sentry, Patrol\/Apprehension, Explosive Detection, Narcotics, and Search and Rescue. My understanding from Scent Dog training while in the military is that 60% of a dog\u2019s brain is dedicated to the sense of smell. Dogs can smell at least 10,000 times better than we can.<\/p>\n

For example, Diabetic Detection Dogs can smell changes in blood sugar levels in humans, detecting a change in the chemistry of the human body. Our body chemistry also changes with trauma. It changes every time the \u201cfight or flight\u201d reflex kicks in. Dogs can alert the handler\/owner to these changes as they are occurring, so that the handler can take action to mitigate the stress accompanying traumatic memories, flashbacks, or nightmares. These alerts are known as service dogs\u2019 tasks.<\/p>\n

Dogs communicate with body language. An alert can be a nudge, a wet nose, or a paw that wakes individuals up from nightmares related to their trauma and brings them back to the present. Service dogs lessen anxiety and isolation. A dog can act as the Veteran\u2019s eyes and ears, as well as a gate guard between a Veteran and strangers. These dogs provide safety to allow Veterans to rest and relax. Many of our clients report that they have experienced improved sleep and increased trust in their environment since having their dogs.<\/p>\n

When a Veteran enters into a hypervigilant state and becomes agitated, his or her service dog leans in or uses his nose to touch the Veteran\u2019s arm, or touches\/licks the hand, effectively saying, \u201cfocus on me, I have got you.\u201d Veteran handlers can also train their service dogs to set safe boundaries in public to reduce their stress, enable them to feel safe, and re-engage in their communities. Examples of where service dogs help set boundaries with strangers and in potentially threatening situations include grocery stores, banks, workspaces, social engagements, and restaurants. When a Veteran begins to feel uncomfortable in a situation around someone else, he\/she can issue a command to the service dog to \u201cblock.\u201d The dog will respond by standing between the Veteran and the perceived threat\/approaching individual(s). Here at Operation Freedom Paws we have a list of over 130 commands. Examples of tasks include:<\/p>\n

Block, Watch My Back, Post, Pressure, Lap, Find Exit, Get Meds, and Get Help.<\/p>\n

Operation Freedom Paws: Trainer\/Dog Examples<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Operation Freedom Paws we train each Veteran to train the dog that has been matched with him\/her for their specific medical needs. Having Veterans train their dog or puppy gives them a mission, versus being given a dog already trained. By training the dogs themselves, Veterans gain confidence, a sense of purpose, and learn to recognize their own emotions, reduce anger, and become more engaged with family and friends. Similarly, each assigned dog learns specific commands from a single trainer\/owner, forms a bond with their Veteran from the beginning of training, and does not have to retrain with the Veteran after being trained by another person. (Some service dog organizations assign dogs already trained, others do not.)<\/p>\n

Example 1:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Operation Freedom Paws Veteran Service Dog Team, Chau and Apollo. Chau suffers from military service-related PTSD. He has shared with Operation Freedom Paws that being paired with his service dog right before the COVID-19 pandemic saved his life. \u201cApollo is the light of my life that has pulled me out of the darkness.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Chau with Apollo (Picture\u00a0<\/em>Courtesy of Vicki Topaz<\/p>\n

Example 2:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Operation Freedom Paws Veteran Service Dog Team, Kim and Artemis. Kim is a frontline healthcare worker who has experienced military service-related PTSD and a confluence of triggers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Kim shared, \u201cWhen I am driving down the road and she steps forward onto the center console and leans against my right shoulder or kisses my cheek, I know she is communicating. She is reminding me to stay present because I am in my head too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

When a Veteran with PTSD is experiencing any physical, cognitive, and\/or emotional symptoms listed earlier, a service dog can alert and mediate the symptom before it becomes a crisis.<\/p>\n

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How a Service Dog Helps\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A service dog\u2019s alert system works like an early warning detection system for its trainer\u2019s changes in body chemistry. The dog prompts an individual to take action, such as taking medication or implementing coping skills they have been taught in our service dog training program. Service dogs can help Veterans with PTSD, MST, Moral Injury, and\/or TBI to re-establish trust with an animal when trust of people has been severely disrupted. Operation Freedom Paws\u2019 clients often come into the program very guarded and non-communicative. When they are matched and start working with their service dogs in training, they learn to trust in the communication between themselves and their dogs, and slowly that trust expands to include people. These dogs help Veterans move toward positive outcomes in their lives. Trauma and broken trust can also be devastating to relationships and families. By establishing new trust with their service dogs, individuals can transform a cycle of trauma into a cycle of healing within their families.<\/p>\n

Example 3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Veteran Service Dog Team, Adonis and Smokey. Since graduating from the OFP program, Adonis has started a new job, become a mentor-trainer to new clients in the OFP Certified Service Dog Training Program, and welcomed his daughter into the world.<\/p>\n

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Research on Service Dogs for PTSD<\/strong><\/p>\n

While research on the effectiveness of service dogs for PTSD is limited, a recent study conducted by VA compared service dog versus emotional support dog pairing in improving the quality of life for Veterans with PTSD.4<\/sup>\u00a0This study confirmed the benefits of service dogs over emotional support dogs, and the VA has moved forward in referring Veterans for service dogs and providing some funding for associated costs.<\/p>\n

More research needs to be done. Operation Freedom Paws is currently participating in a John Hopkins University research program with seven other service dog organizations. This study is being conducted by Jeremy Ramirez for his doctoral dissertation to determine the effects of service dogs on Veterans with PTSD. We look forward to the results of his study, due out in 2022. We also strongly encourage other researchers to undertake such studies with Veterans with military moral injury, military sexual trauma, and traumatic brain injuries. Such studies will build a body of evidence to expand service dog programs and access within the Veterans Administration, where many Veterans go for their only source of treatment.<\/p>\n

OFP Outcome Data, Limitations, and Partnerships<\/strong><\/p>\n

Service dogs are making a real impact on the lives of our Veteran clients with military-connected PTSD. Operation Freedom Paws Post-Program Survey results from a group June 2020 documented significant decreases in suicidal ideation, levels of anger, and amount of medication being taken. The survey, completed by 75 Program graduates, also showed a self-reported increase in the level of communication and quality of life.<\/p>\n

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Limitations:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Service dogs are just one tool that should be part of a client\u2019s tool belt. A service dog should be used in combination with other treatment modalities such as individual and group therapy, expressive arts therapies, EMDR, and others. There is no one size fits all; service dogs will not work for everyone and should not be the only treatment. Nor are they the magic pill that will cure everything.<\/p>\n

OFP is always looking for other services, treatments and tools that complement our program to help our clients on their healing journeys OFP has partnered with The Stella Center and its Chief Psychologist Dr. Shauna Springer, leaders in medical trauma, to advance the healing of individuals with PTSD by combining our healing modalities. According to Stella, PTSD is a biological injury where the response in the brain to an individual\u2019s constant \u201cflight or fight\u201d state can be seen on an MRI.5 The Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is a biological treatment that helps to \u201creset\u201d an individual\u2019s brain and help return it back to its baseline prior to the trauma.6<\/sup><\/p>\n

OFP supports the use of the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) as we have had Veteran graduates of our program undergo this treatment with positive outcomes beyond what they have received from their service dogs. The shift to \u201creset\u201d baseline appears to help restore positive imagery and quiet the internal \u201cnoise,\u201d as indicated in the example below.<\/p>\n

Example 4:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(client with SGB intervention): Adonis, a Veteran client referenced earlier in this article, received the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) after completion of our program. Adonis had already become a mentor-trainer and a father before he underwent the Stellate Ganglion Block treatment. He reported that the treatment led to his first positive dream about his military service.<\/p>\n

This example illustrates the need for Veterans to find complementary treatment interventions beyond their service dogs in order move them forward toward hope and restoration of positive thoughts and memories. I always advise and encourage our Veteran clients to have their service dogs with them 24\/7, while they must pursue other treatments for their military-related traumas.<\/p>\n

PTSD Dogs Fall Under Psychiatric Service Dogs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Psychiatric Service Dogs is a broad category describing service dogs that can provide support to individuals with a wide range of mental illnesses, and PTSD dogs are included in this classification. Psychiatric Service Dogs are often cross trained for other physical and cognitive disabilities as well.<\/p>\n

Examples of tasks:<\/em><\/p>\n