Paws for vets - providing a companion to the lonely

1. Paws for vets – providing a companion to the lonely For people suffering from or diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, sexual trauma, or similar physical and neurological disorders, being alone can be quite a frightening thought. The suffering patients have a tendency to keep forgetting things (they suffer from short and long terms memory loss problems), become extremely and unnecessarily traumatized by insignificant happenings, resort to excessive usage of alcohol and drugs etc. Being without a companion at this stage will only worsen every aspect of their problem. Thankfully, paws for vetsassistanceprograms have come to the rescue of such patients and have so far proven to be quite successful in transforming their lives.

2. Paws for vets are community assistance programs offered by a number of organizations wherein physically and/or emotionally wounded veterans can receive extremely trained service dogs for assistance in coping up with their various issues. Most of the organizations offering such services being non- profit in nature, provide the service dogs to the patients free of charge. The organizations provide obedience trainings to puppies, which are as young as 8 weeks. The puppies are raised in puppy raiser homes and not kennels and are trained in various aspects for them to develop service dogs’ skills as they grow. Older dogs, donated by people, are also acquired and made to undergo rigorous training for a period of 8-10 months, or even more if required.

3. The service dogs of the paws for veterans programs are very specifically and professionally trained in order for them to be a part of the day to day functionality of their recipient. They are trained for a variety of psychiatric responses from patients and also for minimum mobility, so that the recipients are not troubled by its presence. They provide companionship to the lonely veterans to an extent that they even sit and watch TV together or do gardening. The dogs can appropriately alert, distract and even respond to various psychological symptoms and situations that a patient may go through. For instance, these dogs can break a patient out of a frozen moment caused by trauma or anxiety or wake the receipt if he his having nightmares by switching on the light or providing water. The dogs play with them, help them with routine work and act as their assistance, attendant or friend. Through their presence and assistance, they help the wounded veterans to restore peace and normality in their difficult lives and in a way complete their empty lives. In this dogs can properly alert, divert and even react to different psychological symptoms and situations that a patient may depart through. “Paws for Vets” Is a caring effort in which everyone benefits. Cats and dogs are adopted into homes and Veterans gain the love and friendship that pets bring.   According to the Centers for Disease Control, owning a pet can have quantifiable medical benefits.  Studies show that it can significantly lower feelings of loneliness while increasing opportunities for exercise and socialization.