(Rachel Claytor/MNS)
WASHINGTON –They are nicknamed ‘man’s best friend’ for good reason. In the past, assistance dogs have been used as guide dogs to help people with hearing or visual disabilities. And these days, groups like Fidos For Freedom train assistance dogs as partners for people with physical disabilities. Puppies of different breeds like Labradors and golden retrievers are trained to do tasks like picking up dropped objects, opening and closing doors, and even turning on and off a light switch.
But the role of the service dog is expanding to include helping people with mental illnesses. Some veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder say having a service dog can make a big difference in their everyday lives. Ric O’Donnell has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder since serving during the Vietnam War. He got his service dog, Smokee, almost two years ago. He said Smokee’s company has made a big difference in his life.
“Before I couldn’t go to the movies or be in large crowds. I would get real jumpy. But now it’s a lot easier,” O’Donnell said.
Almost one-third of vets returning from war in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD, according to a Rand study. Veterans’ advocacy groups like Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America say more programs that provide service dogs to vets are needed.
“Service dogs provide two things that service members are absolutely ingrained to want, and that’s a mission and a buddy,” said Tom Tarantino, a legislative associate at IAVA.
There is legislation in Congress for a pilot program to provide service dogs to vets through the Veterans Affairs. But some worry the wording of the bills will exclude veterans with purely psychological needs.
O’Donnell may not have visible injuries, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t serious. It’s taken a long time for the mental health world to even identify PTSD as an illness. He hopes more veterans have the opportunity to get a service dog.
“With a dog, it’s like you’ve got a life partner,” O’Donnell said. “He doesn’t care about the PTSD. He just cares about ‘take me for a walk’ and what he’s going to eat.”