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The Role of Companion Dogs in the VA Maryland Health Care System Whole Health(y) GeroFit Program
| Contributor(s):: Ortmeyer, Heidi K., Giffuni, Jamie, Etchberger, Danielle, Katzel, Leslie
GeroFit is a gym-based exercise program that promotes health and wellness among older sedentary veterans. The aims of the current study were to determine whether providing a companion dog as an alternative to gym-based exercise would similarly affect whole health outcomes. A total of 15 (n =...
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Therapeutic and Economic Benefits of Service Dogs Versus Emotional Support Dogs for Veterans With PTSD
| Contributor(s):: Richerson, Joan T., Wagner, Todd H., Abrams, Thad, Skelton, Kelly, Biswas, Kousick, Illarmo, Samantha, McSherry, Frances, Fallon, Michael T., Frakt, Austin, Pizer, Steven, Magruder, Kathryn M., Groer, Shirley, Dorn, Patricia A., Huang, Grant D., Stock, Eileen M.
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Paws for Purple Hearts
Paws for Purple Hearts is the first organization of its kind to offer Canine Assisted Warrior Therapy® (formerly referred to as Canine Assisted Therapeutic Intervention). We began in 2006 as a research program at the prestigious Bergin College of Canine Studies together with the Menlo Park...
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Potential Mechanisms of Action and Outcomes of Equine-Assisted Services for Veterans with a History of Trauma: A Narrative Review of the Literature
| Contributor(s):: Marchand, W. R.
Equine-assisted services (EASs) are being increasingly used as complementary interventions for military veterans who have experienced trauma. However, there is limited evidence of benefit for this population and almost no literature describing the desired potential outcomes and possible...
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Assistance dogs help reduce mental health symptoms among Australian Defence Force veterans and emergency services personnel: A pilot study
| Contributor(s):: Hansen, C., Iannos, M., Van Hooff, M.
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Effectiveness of Operation K9 Assistance Dogs on Suicidality in Australian Veterans with PTSD: A 12-Month Mixed-Methods Follow-Up Study
| Contributor(s):: Sherman, M., Hutchinson, A. D., Bowen, H., Iannos, M., Van Hooff, M.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a pervasive disorder among both current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members. Studies have shown current psychological and pharmacological treatments for PTSD are suboptimal in veterans, with high dropout rates and poor adherence to...
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Benefits and Challenges of Having a Service Dog Among Veterans in Recovery from Substance Use Harms
| Contributor(s):: Dell, Colleen Anne, Kosteniuk, Brynn, Bentley, Erin
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Dogs2DogTags
D2DT creates an opportunity to save at risk, rescued, or donated dogs, train them, and place them with deserving service members who have been diagnosed with post combat stress and anxiety. The purpose is to provide the veteran, at no cost, a trained dog that they can gain a constant companion...
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Soul to Soles Connection
Soul to Soles Connection, a 501 (c) 3 organization, is dedicated to the mental health of America’s active military, Veterans and their families/caregivers. Participants, suffering from trauma, PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) or Military Sexual Trauma (MST), are offered the time to...
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Canine-assisted therapy: The impact of service dog partnership on symptoms of PTSD in veterans
| Contributor(s):: Katherine Ankenbauer
This literature review will seek to review and analyze the efficacy of Canine-Assisted Therapy as a complementary method for combat veterans suffering symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress .Disorder (PTSD), with a particular focus on those who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation...
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Hounds Helping Heroes Heal
Any U.S. Military Veteran that has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD ) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is eligible and encouraged to apply for an ESA/Service Dog through H4 – Hounds Helping Heroes Heal. Once the application and screening process is completed, the appropriate dog will...
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Therapeutic Benefits of Certified Canines for Veterans with War-Related Trauma Disorders
| Contributor(s):: Erin Caspers
This paper explored the therapeutic benefits of certified service canines for veterans with war-related trauma disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. A review of the literature was conducted, followed by a pilot study using interviews and thematic...
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Equine Assisted Programs for Military Service Members: A Program Evaluation Using Importance-Performance Analysis
| Contributor(s):: Taylor Hooker
Developing research, anecdotal evidence and a growing focus on non-pharmacological interventions for veterans with post-traumatic stress support the use equine-therapy as a therapeutic outlet; however, programmatic factors that contribute to veteran’s desire to attend such programs are...
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Service Dogs Alabama
Service Dogs Alabama is dedicated to providing medical and psychiatric Service Dogs to children, adults, and Veterans with disabilities and Intervention Facility Dogs for schools, youth facilities, and courtrooms.
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Forever Amber
Our special needs horses provide emotional therapy to military veterans and others who suffer emotionally, through an EAGALA equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) program. We advocate for animal welfare, providing rehabilitation and permanent retirement to horses and other animals...
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Outcomes of Participation in a Service Dog Training Program for Veterans with PTSD
| Contributor(s):: Scotland-Coogan, Diane, Whitworth, James D., Wharton, Tracy
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Reading the mind in the eyes in PTSD: Limited Moderation by the presence of a service dog
| Contributor(s):: Woodward, S. H., Jamison, A. L., Khan, C., Gala, S., Bhowmick, C., Villasenor, D., Tamayo, G., Puckett, M., Parker, K. J.
Persons with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently experience relationship failures in family and occupational domains resulting in loss of social supports. Prior research has implicated impairments in social cognition. The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) measures a key...
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Pets for Heroes
Pets for heroes is a non-profit organization based out of Columbus, Ohio. Our mission is to rescue animals and train them to fit the needs of our local Veterans and First Responders. Every day Veterans and First Responders put their lives at risk protecting and recusing others. We want to come...
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The Effects of Animal- Assisted Therapy on the Health and Well- Being of Military Veterans: A Systematic Scoping Review and Recommendations for Future Research
| Contributor(s):: Brooke Fonseka, Fiona Marshall, Laura J. Edwards
Veterans of the armed forces may have experienced a range of physical and psychological traumas during their service, which can lead to long-standing problems with health and well-being, sometimes compounded with challenges accessing and engaging with support. Animal-assisted therapies (AAT)...
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Therapeutic Benefits of Certified Canines for Veterans with War-Related Trauma Disorders
| Contributor(s):: Lauren Smith
Veterans and their service dogs share a special relationship that is not only a friendship but a working relationship as well. They each give each other something that they cannot get on their own. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the relationship between veterans and their service...
