Pets for Vets – Healing
Vets and Saving Pets
By Sarah Miller
All across the world, dogs
are waiting to find their forever homes and our own nation’s veterans have
fought to protect us. Both the dogs and
our active duty just want to go home.
Many veterans come home
wounded but not all wounds are visible.
These invisible wounds are no less painful than the visible wounds and
can make it difficult for our veterans to transition back into life at home. Such invisible wounds can include post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, hypervigilance, panic disorders, and
depression.
Not only do the dogs need
the veterans, the veterans need their dogs.
Pets for Vets is a national program whose goal is to give back to those
who have served our country, thanking them for their service. To do so, they aim to lessen the emotional
wounds of veterans by matching them with a shelter or rescue dog that has been
specifically selected to match their personality. While not intended to be service dogs, the
dogs help provide a sense of comfort for the veterans.
Before the trainers can
complete a match, they meet with the veteran multiple times to get a sense of
who they are, what they’re looking for, and if a dog would be a good fit for
them. Then, they evaluate dogs from
rescues or shelters to find the best match.
These dogs are evaluated for their sociability, energy level, patience,
and tolerance. Once the trainer has
selected the dog, they train the dog for 6-8 weeks for rehabilitation and good
manners in order to fit their veteran’s lifestyle. After the training is complete, the dogs are
placed with their veterans. The specific
dogs have been kept a secret from the veteran and, on this day, both the
veteran and the dog are introduced to their new best friends.
Pets for Vets has many
chapters throughout the country.
Madison, WI has a local chapter that works to serve the veterans of
Wisconsin. I volunteer my time as a trainer
for Pets for Vets – Madison, WI. The
local chapter is looking to place two dogs with two veterans before the holiday
season in the Madison area. Keep an eye
out for their story this coming December.
Both the animals and the
veterans have been through traumatic events in their lives, and together they
can help each other heal. For more on how to get involved, please navigate to
the Pets for Vets website: www.petsforvets.com