All Saints’ Episcopal School

Psychiatric Service Dogs

For Veterans with PTSD

Brianna Vinson

Junior Honors Thesis

Ms. Wittenbraker

Mr. Parks

Dr. Meg Pope

April 29, 2016

Acknowledgements I am grateful for support and guidance from my advisors Ms. Wittenbraker and Mr. Parks. Thank you for all your help with research, writing, editing, and even presenting. Also, I would like to thank my outside-mentor, Dr. Meg Pope, for your expertise and help during the research process. This thesis paper would not have been possible without the help of my three mentors. I would like to thank my mom and dad for reading my paper a thousand times over and over again in an effort to appease me and edit it to perfection. I also would like to thank Emma Speaker for giving me the idea to pursue this topic and for helping me whenever I got writer’s block and also Virginia Leidner for helping me with my presentation. Lastly, I want to share my appreciation towards the men, women, and veterans who have served our country and still do today. Your bravery and commitment does not go unrecognized and you will forever be the true superheroes in this world.

1. Introduction to Service Dogs

There is no way to place a value on what service dogs do for humans. There are

inconceivable levels of sacrifice, bravery, willpower and friendship involved with the assistance

and companionship they provide for people on a daily basis. They do what doctors and medicine

cannot; they help people when times are hard, and most importantly, they provide people with

hope. According to the Humane Society, an average of 66.7% of pet owners consider their dogs

to be family members (“Humane Society”). Today, millions of people suffer from disabilities or

traumas that make it hard to handle even the simple tasks that they have to face everyday. This is

where service dogs come into play. The ultimate goal for a service dog, after they are trained, is

to diminish the restricting disorders of its handler’s health, mobility, emotions and their ability to

act socially. The simple act of caring for a pet helps people become less frightened and more

self-sufficient and confident in themselves. Through owning a pet, one can prove that it is

possible for them to take care of another living creature (Landau). Pets are different than service

dogs. Even though someone’s cat or dog may make them feel happy and calmer, the benefits that

service dogs provide are much more intricate and more complex to understand.

It is common knowledge that visually impaired/disabled people can benefit immensely

from seeing-eye dogs, but people who suffer from psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety

and even schizophrenia can also rely on hard working service dogs to help them (Fields-Meyer).

Their disabilities may be hard to see but the work service dogs do for them is very effective.

“Although service dogs are able to perform a phenomenal number of physical tasks that are of

incalculable value, that is the easy part. What they do emotionally is beyond description” (Scott

XI). There is a lot of prejudice against people who suffer from a mental illness or disorder. There

is a common stigma that these people are dangerous and unpredictable. Yet, they are not

anymore dangerous than those not suffering from mental illnesses. In fact, according to data

from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, only three percent

of people with mental illness are deemed violent, which leaves 97 percent of people with mental

illness not prone to violent tendencies (“Scattergood Foundation”). Most of these people are just

misunderstood, but with the right care and assistance, they can show the world that they too can

be productive members of society.

Many argue that the emotional effects that service dogs have on the disabled is a hoax

and that these animals only help people physically. For instance, when one sees a woman

without any noticeable physical disabilities walk into a grocery store with her service dog, it is

easy to assume that the dog is not certified. This is because the dog does not seem to be helping

her physically in any way. However, the reality behind the situation is that the dog is doing more

for her emotionally than is visually apparent. Service dogs do more behind the scenes for their

handlers. When one looks beyond the physical aid that they provide, one can see the psychiatric

work that they do. Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs) are a relatively new type of service dog,

which specialize in helping people both emotionally and socially. They are able to form

relationships with their handlers that, in turn, play an essential role in the treatment and

management of their illness or disorder. These two major biases, one on violent mental illness

tendencies and the other on service dogs not helping people mentally, complicate both the

research process and findings on PSDs. For many people who suffer from psychiatric

disabilities, especially post-traumatic stress, psychiatric service dogs improve the psychological

and social quality of life through emotional support and physical aid.

2. History and Categorization of Service Dogs

Dogs have been used for human companionship for much longer than they have been

used as service animals. Humans and dogs have enjoyed a special and mutually beneficial

relationship for thousands and thousands of years and in ancient times dogs lived side by side

with the locals, hunting and taking care of each other (Fournier). Dogs were known to protect

people from harm and notify them of danger. A fresco was even found in an ancient Roman city,

which portrayed a blind man being led by his dog and Chinese scrolls also exist that depict dogs

helping people (“History of the Service Dog”). In the 1700s, dogs were used in Europe to track

down wounded soldiers and carry messages to the front lines (“History of the Service Dog”). The

history of pets is interwoven with the development of animal domestication, and it is most likely

that thedog was also one of the very first household pets. In 1929, one of the first service dog

training schools, Seeing Eye, Inc., was established in Nashville, Tennessee. The school trained

dogs to help guide the blind (Fossum). Later on, in the 1960s, the use of dogs for enhancing the

lives of people with disabilities became even more widespread (Fossum). The first recorded

therapeutic use of animals in the U.S. occurred during World War II at an Army Air Corps

recovery hospital in Pawling, New York (Shubert 21). Animal-assisted therapy began in the

Army in 2007 when the Surgeon General, Gale Pollock, approved the request to send two dogs

to Iraq in order to provide a degree of stress relief to the soldiers (Spires 27). These dogs were

not only used for military purposes, they were often times used in therapeutic situations for

children and adults.

Boris Levinson is the therapist who is believed to be the father of animal-assisted therapy

(Spires 22). He was a child psychiatrist who discovered that he could help reach children’s inner

emotions and thoughts during therapy sessions when he had his dog with him in the room. He

observed that children felt much calmer and at home during his therapy sessions because they

felt more relaxed when a dog was in the room (Eggiman). In 1964, Dr. Levinson coined the term

“pet therapy” and began researching and writing on the subject (Hughes). Only recently have

service dogs been used in the United States specifically for veterans who have psychological

conditions, which include severe anxiety, trauma or other anxiety related disorders. They offer an

alternative treatment for those that need more than what traditional medicine can do for them

(Scott XV). Service dogs have proven to be essential in making a difference in people’s lives,

even though not all the facts and results are absolute. Anyone can see that the relationship

between humans and their dogs is extremely special and can help those struggling internally or

externally.

There are multiple types of service dogs and each has its own very distinct characteristics

and qualities. Assistance Dogs International defines three types of service dogs in the following

ways: guide dogs are ones that help the blind and visually impaired; hearing dogs for the deaf

and hard of hearing, and service dogs for people suffering from mental and/or physical

disabilities (Finely ix). The third category can include trained dogs for medical response,

mobility aid, and psychiatric services. The research of this paper will focus on the latter. The

service dogs that are trained for helping those who suffer from mental illnesses have a very

distinct job requirement. In order to qualify to receive a service animal, one must have some sort

of physical or mental disability. Often times the animal is “prescribed” to the person in need by a

psychologist or therapist with a letter that specifically states that a service dog is required for the

person to perform at least one task that the person is unable to perform for him/herself during

certain events (“NSAR”). Others may have an emotional support animal because of a mental

illness/disability, which can also provide therapeutic support to a disabled or elderly person

through companionship and affection. Only those actually disabled by a psychiatric impairment

would be able to qualify for a PSD. Whether the dog is a guide dog, hearing dog, or mental

health dog, each and every one of them helps to beneficially affect the lives’ of their handlers.

The work that they do is extremely important and the effects that they have on those suffering

from mental illnesses are very significant.

3. Service Dog Training and Legal Rights

A service dog performs tasks that help to alleviate the symptoms of their handler, but

because each person experiences their disabilities differently, each dog is trained specifically for

the individual it will help and learns certain tasks that will make their life easier. In order to

become certified service dogs, each dog must go through a rigorous and specialized training

process. They can either be bred in selective breeding programs or be rescued from animal

shelters and once trained, they are identified by a harness or vest that includes some sort of

badge.

There are varying perspectives on what qualities are necessary of a service dog. Some

argue that only particular dogs can handle the pressure that the service training requires of them.

“It takes a dog with a unique temperament to be properly suited for this work, and there can be

animal welfare issues when improperly selected or trained dogs become mental health service

dogs (Landau).” Scientists have been able to rank the top 100 intelligent breeds, with Border

Collies at the top of the list (Kershaw). The most intelligent breeds, Poodles, Retrievers,

Labradors and Shepherds can learn as many as 250 words, signs and signals, while most other

dogs can learn on average 165 (Kershaw). Although intelligence is not the only requisite when it

comes to service dogs, it does make the training process easier and the dog’s skills more reliable.

On the other hand, there are still many people today that use a variety of dogs as service dogs,

including smaller, toy breeds and even massive, large breed dogs. If the dog is performing its job

well and helping to have a positive effect on the life of its handler, the breed or size of the dog

should not matter.

The training is very intense and PSDs must be handled properly in order for people to

benefit from them. In many cases, disabled veterans are used to train PSDs and they provide

them free of charge to other disabled veterans. By doing this, they are encouraged to surmount

their own problems by providing a companion to another. The state of Texas requires a service

dog to graduate from a recognized training organization. In order to qualify as a certified PSD

and receive all the benefits that come from this, service dogs need to go through a training

process and graduate.

In the past, service dog training facilities have had a reputation of being deemed

inhumane. Some have said that the punishment of these animals for misbehaving can be very

harsh and unnecessary. It is not common, but there are still a few training facilities today that

make the mistake of over-punishing the animals they are training. Knowing the difference

between positive reinforcement and negative punishment can differentiate a reliable, trustworthy

service dog from an animal whose actions and emotions are uncontrollable and less reliable. By

reinforcing the animal’s positive behaviors, one increases the chance of a good behavior

repeating itself (Bain 2). It teaches the dog that its actions are encouraged and it also specifies

which actions the trainer wants it to repeat. On the other hand, punishment decreases the chance

of an unwanted behavior occurring, but causes fear and self-doubt in the service dog, which

hinders its progression in the training process (3). Instead of teaching the animal what one wants

it to do, the trainer is teaching it what not to do, which is less beneficial to its training (2). “It’s

serious business, preparing dogs to perform specific tasks for disabled people” (Scott XIV). The

training facilities that are deemed inhumane must be shutdown to stop animal abuse and to

prevent the outcome of an unpredictable and temperamental certified service animal. Any service

dog in training must be treated with respect and care in order for it to be the best emotional

support dog for its future handler. If the animal itself has emotional trust problems then it will

most likely not be suitable for a person with mental and/or emotional disorders.

The legal rights of service dogs and their owners have been called into question many

times in the past and continue to do so today. In 1986, the Air Carrier Access Act was created to

allow public access rights for those suffering from disabilities and who have a service dog

(“ADA”). The U.S. Department of Transportation defines an individual with a disability as “any

individual who has a physical or mental impairment that, on a permanent or temporary basis,

substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is

regarded as having such an impairment” (“U.S. Department of Transportation”). This is

important because it says that those with mental impairments have equal rights to those that

suffer from physical disabilities. The next act created to protect the rights of service dogs was the

Fair Housing Amendment Act, which prohibited discrimination in the sale or rental of a dwelling

based on if the person had a disability, which was essential in helping those with service dogs to

be able to live anywhere they wanted (Fossum). Next, was the Americans with Disabilities Act,

which granted public access to service dogs and their handlers on a national level (“ADA”).

These three federal laws have made life so much easier for those who suffer from mental

illnesses or physical disabilities because they provide a sense of security and trust that these

people can move and live their lives consistently with their service dogs by their side.

The discussion about whether or not untrained dogs like emotional support dogs, should

have the same legal rights as certified service dogs is always pertinent whenever a legal issue

arises. As the number of people who rely on service dogs increases, so have complaints by both

animal owners, who believe they were discriminated against, and others who were convinced

others were trying to gain special treatment for their pets (Miller). Emotional support dogs are

not specifically task trained like other service dogs, including PSDs, which go through a

meticulous training process. In fact little training is required at all, and they are not generally

taken anywhere pets would not ordinarily go without permission. While a dog’s companionship

may offer emotional support, this does not qualify as a certified service dog under the ADA, and

so it does not give the handler the legal right to take that dog out in public as a legitimate service

dog (Froling). Nonetheless the legal rights of PSDs are different. They are real working service

dogs that should have the same rights as any other certified service animal. The Americans with

Disabilities Act provides that these dogs are not pets, but are working service dogs with legal

rights to all public spaces (“ADA”). Public access as it applies to service dogs allows the dog to

be taken anywhere that the general public is admitted. This includes all forms of public

transportation, hospitals, restaurants, places of worship, and malls (Schwartz). It is the specially

trained tasks performed on command that legally exempts a service dog and his disabled handler

from the common “No Pets Allowed” policies of public accommodation under the ADA.

Although these acts do help make a difference on the legal rights of service dogs, their

application to PSDs is still hindered by the discrimination they receive due to the less visible

nature of their service and the disbelief and suspicions that subsequently arise.

This controversy appears with PSDs being deemed true service dogs, meaning that they

share the same legal rights as guide dogs and hearing dogs. There is a lot of gray area when it

comes to having these trained service dogs in restaurants, public transportation, or other places

that pets are not usually allowed (Landau). There are states in the U.S. who have statutory

definitions of service dogs intentionally phrased to exclude PSDs meaning that PSD owners have

limited rights under laws in these states. If a person suffering from a psychiatric disability has a

fully trained PSD that qualifies under the ADA, they would still have regular protections, but no

additional ones (“Service Dog Central”). This causes problems for the both the handler and their

service animal and is the reason why there is a stigma against PSDs.

Dogs that help people with mental and emotional disorders are working service dogs just

like the others. The Americans with Disabilities Act plainly states that any disability can be

defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life

activities (“ADA”). A mental impairment or disability is something that does just this, it restricts

a person’s ability to live their life, as others would do. The stigma that is commonly placed on

people who suffer from mental illnesses makes the options for treatment few and the amount of

people willing to seek them even fewer. PSDs are a safe and reliable solution that is too often

overlooked. They provide the same amount of aid to those with mental illnesses as those with

physical disabilities and because of this they should receive the exact same legal rights as any

other service dog.

4. Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs)

PSDs are a distinct type of service dog, which focus on helping those suffering from

mental and/or emotional disorders. They are uniquely trained to help those with mental illnesses.

In order to qualify legally, a licensed therapist must authorize or “prescribe” a PSD to the one

suffering from an illness or disorder. They are primarily used for patients suffering from mental

illnesses including, and of particular importance to this research, post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD). The Mayo Clinic defines PTSD as a mental health condition that is triggered by a

terrifying event or the witnessing of a terrible event (“Mayo Clinic”). In a report on PSDs, Dr.

James Gillet, a Professor of Sociology, and Rachel Weldrick, a Professor in Social Psychology,

were able to define these animals in the following way, “Psychiatric Service Dogs assist

individuals with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive

or destructive behaviors, or mitigating behavior health disabilities in other ways” (Gillet &

Weldrick 36). These dogs are extremely hard working and perform tasks that many would say,

are impossible. “The most important service by far is the companionship that the dogs provide,

particularly to individuals who may have been experiencing considerable isolation because of

their disabilities” (Shubert). PSDs help improve people’s lives, socially, mentally and

emotionally, through the work they do.

A PSD is trained to help a disabled person perform specific tasks and must receive a

service animal certificate. "In a way, we could all use a psychiatric service or therapy dog

because of the incredible amount of stress that we're all under," says psychiatrist Dr. Carole

Lieberman, author of "Coping With Terrorism: Dreams Interrupted" (Landau). PSD tasks

include: guiding a person to a place and blocking them from possible danger, balancing/bracing

them down stairs, and turning on lights in dark rooms. They can also bring medication to their

handler. However, the primary service that these dogs provide is even more amazing than the

tasks that the common passerby would observe. The mental service component of it is a lot more

complicated, but even more astounding. Emotionally they can provide tactile stimulation to

disrupt emotional overload and can even create an excuse to leave an upsetting situation by

barking or pawing at the ground.

PSDs often face several prejudices that other service dogs do not. Unlike guide dogs for

the blind and dogs for people who have obvious physical impairments, PSDs are not so easily

recognized and accepted. People with mental health conditions do not often appear to have any

physical ailment and this leads to legal issues and suspicion amongst the public. This incorrect

assumption that the person’s service dog is fake and that they only want to take their pet with

them everywhere they go, is more common than one would imagine. Also, PSDs can be of any

size or breed, but there is a common misconception that all service dogs are larger dogs, the

Golden Retriever, in particular. These misconceptions hinder the acceptance of PSDs into our

everyday society. It is extremely important that these suspicions be put to rest so that all those

who suffer from mental illnesses/disorders are able to feel comfortable enough to ask for a

service dog and to take them with them into public. The services that these dogs provide for their

handlers goes much further than what others are capable of observing. The bond that is shared

between a person and their PSD helps that person feel more emotionally stable and helps them

socially, too. Just because what these dogs do for people is mental, does not mean that it should

not count as service dog work and therefore they should be granted the same legal rights as other

service dogs.

5. PSDs for Victims of PTSD

An estimated 14 percent of the 1.6 million personnel, who deployed to the Iraq and

Afghanistan conflicts, have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress (Scott 2). PTSD is defined

as being a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrible event that left a “scar” on the

person’s mind. Symptoms include, severe anxiety, depression, flashbacks and nightmares, social

impairments, and trust issues. “PTSD is associated with changes in brain function and structure

and these changes provide clues to the origins, treatment, and prevention of PTSD. Some cases

may be delayed, with only subtle symptoms showing up initially and more severe symptoms

emerging months after the traumatic event” (“PTSD Statistics”). All too often the treatment for

those who suffer from PTSD is to give them pill after pill in an effort to reduce their symptoms

even the slightest bit. Although this might serve as a temporary fix, the results are not long term

and often end up doing more harm than good. Often times people with PTSD also suffer from

major depressive disorder, which, in turn, can lead to substance abuse (Jeffreys). “There are

times when medications used for PTSD treatment may positively or negatively impact these co-

occurring disorders” (Jeffreys). Doctors need an alternative medical treatment to help alleviate

these symptoms, one that does not carry the risk of doing more damage to the person internally

and mentally. The solution is to provide them with PSDs and slowly take them of the

prescription medicines that are harming them.

Data shows that only around 50 percent of returning veterans have access to care, and

only 40 percent of those that ask for treatment experience any form of significant improvement

in their symptoms of PTSD (Kopicki & Marston). However, veterans are not alone when it

comes to experiencing the pain of PTSD. Victims (see figure 1) can include police officers,

firefighters, victims of rape, and even abused children (Drake). It is not uncommon for these

people to experience nearly the same symptoms as veterans, meaning that they too need an

innovative medical solution to help them. It is for this reason, that it is extremely important to

analyze and consider another means of treating PTSD in an effort to improve the outcome when

the possibility of a cure may be outside the confines of traditional modern medicine.

Figure 1 shows the occurrence of PTSD in various types of people (Drake).

Traditionally used for the physically disabled, service dogs have only recently been

recognized as a feasible treatment to help lessen PTSD symptoms. For many, the idea that a dog

can assist with an “invisible disability” like PTSD makes many people skeptical of the outcome.

However, as a result of the large number of veterans returning to the U.S. with PTSD, many non-

profit organizations have begun training these service dogs as an alternative solution. “When it

comes to helping war vets who are experiencing post-traumatic stress, dogs are proving to be

some of the best medicine” (Scott 3). In 2009, the U.S. Army decided to spend $300,000 to study

the impact of pairing PSDs with soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who suffered from

PTSD (Kershaw). In an article in Smithsonian Magazine, titled "How Dogs Can Help Veterans

Overcome PTSD,” it states that the dogs draw out even the most detached personality and some

participants report that they are finally able to sleep at night knowing that their service dog is

standing watch and protecting them (Colin). The magazine goes on to describe how research

shows that partnering with a psychiatric service dog can release the hormone, oxytocin, which is

known to counter symptoms that result from post-traumatic stress (Colin). This hormone

encourages trust and quiets one's response to fear and anxiety (Colin). Sandra Barker, a professor

of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University, completed a study in which she found that

the human’s stress diminished significantly as a result of being in the presence of a dog. She was

able to measure this through their cortisol levels, heart rate, and blood pressure (Thompson).

Positive affirmation of the benefits of PSDs for the treatment of veterans suffering from PTSD

comes from research being done in which service dogs are used to treat psychiatric symptoms

like severe anxiety. “ In many cases PTSD can prove notoriously resistant to treatment by either

medications or therapy. A patient with PTSD recently told me that his anxiety was much

increased at times when he had to be separated from his pet” (Gillet & Weldrick 5). It is obvious

due to the canine companionship of their PSD; veterans can feel safer and less worried about

their previous experiences and traumas.

A PSD is also able to perform a variety of other tasks that make the handler’s life much

easier. They are trained to turn on lights in an effort to interrupt a veteran's nightmare, remind the

handler to take their medication, and even help get the person out of uncomfortable situations

when they sense the handler is anxious. “These behaviors are intended to assist veterans with

PTSD because the service dogs provide support and increased means of coping with the

associated symptoms such as hypervigilance, fear, nightmares, the fight-or-flight response, and

impaired memory” (Kopicki & Marston). In addition to assistance with balance, as seen in figure

2, some veterans used their service dog for support when using their prosthetics acquired after an

injury during combat (Spires 309). The amount of physical aid that these dogs can provide is

significant, but what they do for people mentally is equally, if not more impactful on their

treatment.

Figure 2 shows a service dog sitting beside U.S. Marine Corps Warrant Officer Dennis Ramsy

(Flowers, Feb. 21, 2012).

Retired army veteran Larry Whitted is an eighteen-year army reservist who was

diagnosed with PTSD and given a service dog named Leo (Scott 13). “Through it all, Leo is the

best medicine” (13). Leo is a Doberman-chocolate Labrador mix who has helped Larry both

physically and mentally and is so in tune with his handler that he can even anticipate potential

danger around them (14). Their relationship allows Larry to have more confidence and be less

fearful in going out in the world and living his life. Larry had previously been treated with

mental-health medicine which decreased some of his symptoms but still left him unable to leave

his house, but he states that his service dog changed everything, “I’m so relaxed and more calm

now. I am a better person today because of Leo” (14). The true story of Larry and Leo is just one

example of the positive work that PSDs do for people suffering from PTSD. It is imperative that

our society be more aware of just how beneficial these animals are as a means of alternative

treatment for extremely challenging illnesses to treat, like PTSD.

Along with needing physical aid, some victims of PTSD also experience a type of

emotional numbing, which makes it very hard for them to connect with their friends and family

and even prevents them from going out into the public and socializing. These feelings of

detachment, from both their families and activities they used to enjoy, can cause them to avoid

places and people that might remind them of a traumatic event that occurred in their life. PSDs

can prevent isolation and improve a person’s social life. Not only do PSDs provide emotional

support in public, caring for a dog forces the person to have to leave their house and walk out in

public and because people are so fascinated by the tasks of service dogs, they often want to

interact with the dog and its handler and ask them questions. The work that these dogs do is the

perfect conversation starter and encourages the handler to be more outgoing and extroverted,

essentially being forced out of their negative headspace. Dogs, unlike humans, are non-

judgmental and so, those suffering from PTSD sometimes find it easier to be around animals

than to be in the company of human beings at times (“HABRI”). It is important to mention that

most traumatic injuries received while in combat are most likely caused by humans, and so

humans may be more of a potential threat to triggering PTSD symptoms and events (Yount 66).

A dog is much less likely to remind them of specific traumatic events that they endured while in

combat. When bad things happen people need someone or something in their lives that allows

them to rejoin society (Scott XI). This proves that PSDs are the perfect companion to veterans

because they provide a sense of security and reliability that other people just cannot provide to

the same degree.

Rick Yount, the founder of Warrior Canine Connection, approaches PTSD treatment with

PSDs in a unique way. He created the first dog-training program designed to be a non-

pharmaceutical option to help treat the symptoms of PTSD and even traumatic brain injury in

veterans and also active service members (Yount 63). Instead of the people suffering from PTSD

simply receiving a fully trained service dog, they are further incorporated into the therapy

through participation in training dogs for other veterans who are also suffering from similar

symptoms. After participating in a training program similar to this “many veterans reported

better emotional and impulse control, decreased depression, lowered stress levels, improved

sleep and more ‘in the moment’ thinking” (Ruiz). It has been found that even just the process of

training the service dogs can be seen as a stress relieving treatment for veterans. The work that

these PSDs do is incredible; they make an astounding difference in the lives of veterans with

PTSD, children with autism and also anybody suffering from a mental illness. It is extremely

important that the progress and difference that these dogs have made be shared with the world so

that it can be more easily accessed and utilized.

The findings of research on PSDs for those suffering from PTSD are limited and mostly

rely entirely on data reported by a handful of veterans. However, studies on the therapeutic

contribution of these animals are improving mental and emotional health. They also indicate that

there is evidence to advocate that these animals can help people manage their disorder or illness

by lessening their symptoms and distracting them from their troubles (Gillet & Weldrick 6). Just

recently, a bill was introduced to the House of Representatives to help create a program to better

connect veterans suffering from PTSD with service dogs (Gutowski). The Puppies Assisting

Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act, would establish a pilot program within the Veterans

Administration, thus providing a trained service dog to veterans who have PTSD (Gutowski).

The introduction of this bill will help raise awareness for the treatment of PTSD through the use

of PSDs. A Naval Reserve Officer had this to say about the new bill, “The VA should use every

tool at their disposal to support and treat our veterans, including the specialized care offered by

service dogs. The PAWS Act is a simple bill that could have a dramatic – and potentially life-

saving – effect on the lives of many” (Gutowski). This bill proves that the research behind

service dogs aiding veterans with PTSD is becoming more and more accepted and it is essential

that more extreme measures be taken to help provide these alternative treatments to victims of

PTSD.

6. Conclusion

No matter how one looks at it, service dogs change lives. They bring about a new sense

of opportunity that some people can only dream of. But why, if people are sharing how much of

a difference these dogs are making, do people still doubt this form of treatment? Most would

agree that because what these dogs do is partially mental, hidden deep inside the person, that it

would seem to the common observer that nothing is happening. But the truth is that the dogs are

making an impact on the difficult treatment of PTSD; they are treating what pills cannot, what

friends and family do not see and/or understand, and what doctors can still only guess at. The

connection between a person and their dog goes so much deeper and it is this relationship that

helps to mend the invisible scars left on people from previous traumas or experiences. PTSD is

still a growing matter in today’s society, and unfortunately, it seems that its numbers will only

continue to increase. An estimated eight percent of Americans, 24.4 million people, have been

diagnosed with PTSD (“PTSD Statistics”). This is equal to the population of Texas (“PTSD

Statistics”). People need to be more aware of the results that are being documented with PSDs

and the positive effect that they are having on those suffering from PTSD. It may not be a

traditional treatment, but one cannot argue with all of the positive results that show that dogs

help their handler physically, mentally, and even emotionally. Physically, they help with

balancing, fine motor control, and using prosthetic appendages (Spires 362). On a mental level,

the handler teaches the dog basic manners, thus improving observational skills and also learning

problem solving (362). They also practice perseverance, setting a goal and working to reach this

end goal (362). Then there are the emotional benefits; the handler learns patience, motivation,

and confidence. They have to be patient with their service dog and also have to care for them.

Most importantly is the self-confidence they learn through working with their dog. More

research, both in the military and in science labs, is being done even today, and this work should

help to prove beyond a doubt the absolute necessity for PSDs in the treatment of PTSD. Service

dogs are not only for those with an impairment that can be seen, they are also for those who

suffer from injuries and mental traumas that are not visible to the naked eye. For those who are

victims of psychiatric disabilities, including post-traumatic stress, psychiatric service dogs have a

major affect on the psychological and social quality of their lives by supporting them

emotionally and even helping them physically.

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