Those who own pets know the healing effects that animals can have on them. Pets are known to relieve stress, promote physical activity and give endless love and affection to their owners. That's the basis for K9s For Warriors, a service that connects therapy dogs with veterans to alleviate stress during life after service – specifically if they've served post 9/11.
About the program
The service spends months training each dog to respond to certain symptoms of distress in a gentle, reassuring way. According to the program's website, the dogs are taught to show affection when sensing signs of anxiety, to check rooms before allowing owners to enter, and other precautionary practices to ease stress and encourage independence. Depending on the person's exact needs, a dog with specific training is chosen to be a veteran's companion.
Labrador and golden retrievers are the most popular choices for service dogs, since they have a natural inclination to please and they're mild mannered. They, along with German shepherds and other similar breeds, are easy to train and can provide a great deal of stress relief and assistance to those in need.
How it's helped others
Army veteran David Towne is just one person who's seen value from the program, reported the Red Bluff Daily News. He and his family were presented with Pito, a loving German shepherd who recently graduated from the K9 Academy with the credentials to provide him with assistance and companionship. Joining the family on Christmas morning, Pito immediately brought happiness to the whole family.
Testimonials on the K9s For Warriors website also show the benefits of these animals on their owners.
"My dog makes me feel like I have someone to watch my back. He is always happy to see me no matter what," a veteran told the source.
The veteran's service dog graduated from the program in 2014 and has already helped him gain independence in the short time they've been together. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, dogs provide their owners with invaluable assistance – even if they haven't yet been trained as service dogs.
"These dogs can really sense your mood. They know when you're having a bad day," John Crofut, a 71-year-old Vietnam Veteran who is training a dog for service, told the source. "They give you companionship without judgment. [The dog] doesn't need to know why I have the symptoms I have. He just wants to be with me."