Special Dog Provides Veterans With Hope and Healing

Military Veterans Ruth and her husband, Bryan, were no strangers to Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation; in fact, they had adopted two dogs from their California adoption center previously.

They were still grieving the loss of their beloved black lab when Ruth discovered ARF had a program for Veterans called Pets and Vets. She saw an opportunity to heal from both the loss of her beloved dog and from her PTSD symptoms.

Psychiatric service dogs provide powerful, proven therapeutic and practical benefits for Veterans readjusting to civilian life. Like trusted battle buddies, rescue dogs who are selected for the Pets and Vets program train with their Veterans as a team under the guidance of ARF’s professional trainers. Over the course of nine to 12 months, Pets and Vets' dogs learn life-changing service animal skills to help alleviate anxiety and panic attacks, reduce symptoms of PTSD, and more.

“I kept an eye on ARF for a while before I met Lucy. I was looking for a clingy dog who could keep me company while Bryan is at work,” recalls Ruth. “The Pets and Vets manager suggested she had a pit bull mix who might be a perfect fit for me. So I came in to meet Lucy.”

Lucy had recently returned to ARF’s adoption center after spending weeks in a volunteer foster home raising her newborn puppies. Motherhood came easy to Lucy, but it was hard on her body. Before being rescued from a municipal shelter, Lucy was found abandoned, pregnant and malnourished. She was severely underweight and developed a ruptured mammary gland. But that didn’t stop her from nursing her eleven puppies, all of whom were quickly adopted. Now it was Lucy’s turn.

Lucy was identified by ARF’s professional trainers as having the qualities needed to train to become a psychiatric service dog for a Veteran through their Pets and Vets program. “She was so mild and sweet, creeping timidly over to me when we first met,” remembers Ruth. “I walked around with Lucy, and I fell in love with her.” Following the adoption, Ruth and Lucy began free, professional training to begin training Lucy for her new role. “It’s been a joy training with the Pets and Vets team. I love being able to zone in and focus on one task at a time when it comes to training, so Lucy and I don’t feel overwhelmed,” Ruth explains. Thanks to supporters, every Pets and Vets dog and all of the professional training are provided free of charge to Veterans.

Beyond free adoptions and training, Veterans find the Pets and Vets program offers much more. This program is unique because Veterans train their own service dogs in Veteran-only classes. The training course takes up to 12 months, beginning with basic obedience and finishing with perfecting service dog skills in public settings to help mitigate symptoms of the Veterans’ disability. “All of the different military branches come together in this program, and we feel like a family, and I have a sense of community,” says Ruth. “I receive free pet food, shots, and nail trims for Lucy. This program is truly a blessing.”

Having Lucy’s attachment and companionship makes Ruth feel at peace. Ruth loves that Lucy is so docile and laid-back; it reflects off of her and helps Ruth feels more relaxed. But it’s not just Ruth who has been benefiting from Lucy’s presence. “My husband and I saved another life by adopting; we rescued her, and she rescued us. We thank God every day for her.” Together they are on their journey to becoming a certified psychiatric service dog team, supporting each other and effectively Saving Both Ends of the Leash?.

To learn more or support the ARF Pets and Vets program at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, please visit www.arfpetsandvets.org.

About Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) | www.arflife.org

ARF’s core mission is the rescue of dogs and cats who have run out of time at public shelters, giving them a chance at life until a new home can be found. ARF couples this focus with innovative programs strengthening the human-animal bond for children, seniors, veterans, and people in disadvantaged circumstances. Through ARF, people experience the unconditional love and acceptance of dogs and cats to fulfill a mission of People Rescuing Animals … Animals Rescuing People?.