Soldiers in transition
Change can be uniquely stressful for service men and women who are transitioning to civilian life. Post-deployment adjustments is particularly challenging for veterans suffering with physical or emotional disabilities as a result of combat-related service.
Today's Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are coping with a range of psychological disorders in far greater proportions than veterans of previous conflicts, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury and depression. The Department of Defense and other organizations involved in veterans' care are increasingly recognizing the benefits of animal-assisted therapy, also known as pet therapy, to help even seriously disabled veterans heal their emotional and physical wounds.
In 2009 alone, the Department of Veterans Affairs spent $5.6B treating veterans with mental disabilities, including PTSD, and spending on veteran mental illness-related disabilities is up 76% since 2003.
Four paws to the rescue
While seriously injured veterans might require a specially trained service animal, many veterans will neither qualify nor need a highly-skilled pet in order to benefit from the unique therapeutic qualities of a four-legged friend. And wounded soldiers transitioning to civilian life aren't alone in finding comfort and emotional stability from a pet dog or cat.
Companion pets offer a humane addition to other forms of military transition assistance, and are potentially well-suited for:
- Service members returning from overseas deployment or war duty
- Soldiers in transition to civilian life from active duty
- Veterans coping with various life changes, such as children leaving the home, separation or divorce, change of employment or residence, etc.
- Veterans experiencing feelings of depression, isolation or loneliness
- Immediate family of an active duty service member needing help to fill the void of a deployed spouse or parent