Pets healing vets: Program connects veterans to service dogs

Every day, about 20 military veterans in the United States die by suicide – more than are lost daily in combat.

Many of these veterans develop post-traumatic stress disorder transitioning back to civilian life.

MAKING THE CHOICE TO SERVE INTHE MILITARY IS ANEXTRAORDINARY SACRIFICE... FOROUR COUNTRY AND FREEDOM, BUTTHE MENTAL STRESS OUR VETERANSDEAL WITH CAN BE HARD TOIMAGINE.

BUT NOW-- THERE'S NEWHOPE-- AND HEALING FOR VETSWHO'VE SERVED.

PETE ZERVAKISHAS THE STORY.EVERY DAY.... ABOUT 20MILITARY VETERANS IN THEUNITED STATES DIE BY SUICIDE.MANY OF THESE VETERANS DEVELOPPOST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERTRANSITIONING BACK TO CIVILIANLIFE.

SO A NEW PROGRAM ...BRINGING CANINES AND VETERANSTOGETHER... IS TRYING TO HELP."And heel, good and sit."MARINE VETERAN LYNDON VILLONEIS NEVER WITHOUT HIS SERVICEDOG, ICE, BY HIS SIDE."Ice isa Siberian Huskey and he justturned 8 in July."LYNDONSUFFERED FROM P-T-S-D AFTERRETURNING FROM IRAQ ANDLEARNING HE LOST SIX FELLOWSOLDIERS TO SUICIDE."It wasafter that that I brought theshotgun back to my parent'shouse and went to sleep withhim underneath the picnictable.""Unfortunately, thestatistics show that 20veterans a day are takingtheir own life but that'sunderreported."CHERYL KRAUSE-PARELLO FIRST WITNESSED THEBOND BETWEEN LYNDON AND ICE."It was like watching him pethis trauma away."SHE CREATED C-P.A.W.W CANINES PROVIDINGASSISTANCE TO WOUNDEDWARRIORS, TO STUDY THECONNECTION BETWEEN THEM"Theycan help them sleep better,get off medications that maybethey were on for insomnia,anxiety."HER TEAM USES SALIVASAMPLES FROM VETERANS TOMEASURE STRESS LEVELS."Peopleare really looking at this nowas alternative non-pharmacological intervention.""I spent 15 months in Iraq."COMBAT VETERAN AUSTIN CAPERSWAS TAKING ANTI-DEPRESSANTSBEFORE MEETING HIS BOXER, RITA."I think had I not had Rita inmy life I would still be onthose today.CHERYL SAYSVETERANS RETURNING TO CIVILIANLIFE NEED A PURPOSE THESE PETSCAN PROVIDE.

BUT TRAINING ASERVICE DOG CAN COST UP TO 30THOUSAND DOLLARS."Service dogsfor veterans with PTSD orinvisible wounds, it's notreimbursable."SHE'S HOPING HERRESEARCH WILL CHANGE THAT."Iprobably would have made avery poor decision and Iprobably would have taken mylife.""Ice, come!THE C-PAWW ORGANIZATION ISFUNDED THROUGH DONATIONS ANDGRANTS AND IT JUST RECEIVED AGRANT FROM THE NATIONALINSTITUTES OF HEALTH TO TOFOLLOW VETERANS INTERESTED INTRAINING A SERVICE DOG: NOTFOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR OTHERVETERANS.AND IF YOU WANT TOLEARN MORE ABOUT THE C-PAWWPROGRAM... WE POSTED A LINK TOTHE PROJECT ON OUR WEBSITE...TMJ4.COM.

JUST CLICK ON THELINKS PAGE.