PEGGY MORAN: Service dogs can be very helpful for people with PTSD. They are doing an important job.
ERIC CARLSON: 1Pet1Vet was started in 2013 by an Afghanistan vet named Joe Trainer Junior.
ERIC CARLSON: He had this idea of helping veterans that were dealing with different
issues whether they were physical or mental through the aid of a dog. They started as
a group of veterans that just wanted to help other veterans and all of us had dogs. So
we knew that they made a big difference in our lives. So we wanted to get that, to
help other veterans. So in order to make an impact on the veteran suicide rate, we decided
to focus on veterans that were diagnosed with PTSD.
PEGGY MORAN: I became involved with 1Pet1Vet about two years ago and I did it because
I have a daughter with post-traumatic stress. So I am familiar with the efficacy of service
dogs in treating symptoms. I have been training dogs for 42 years.
PEGGY MORAN: I primarily train the dogs to assist the veterans with three sorts of symptoms.
They contend with flashbacks and night terrors or nightmares. They contend with social avoidance
and social numbing. And then they contend with being socially avoidant. So the dogs
are able to help in all three of those categories.
JAMES KEISER: My name is James Keiser. I am a Vietnam veteran.
PEGGY MORAN: And who is this? JAMES KEISER: This is my Molly. She has made
my life a whole lot better. I was ready to give up.
PEGGY MORAN: Jim received his puppy Molly and he went from a despondent individual who
could barely lift his head off of his cane to a man, who now walks without his cane, has
a spring in his step and is always smiling and friendly.
CARI STEVENSON: PTSD is a condition that can sometimes result from a traumatic experience,
typically a life threatening experience. And some people with PTSD experience emotional
detachment or they may detach from social situations and may not engage in activities
that they used to really enjoy.
BEN DOMINIK: I am Ben and this is my long time service dog Nova. And this is my new
service dog, that’s in training - Daisy. I do have a anger issue and if I am starting
to get angry, Nova will just come up by me and snuggle and give me peace and just change my mind.
PEGGY MORAN: Service dogs help veterans first and foremost in reducing the rate of suicide
which is our primary goal. Secondarily, they help with both reintegration into society
and they help them deal with symptoms such as anxiety, depression and even physical symptoms
that come from post traumatic stress.
CARI STEVENSON: Often people with PTSD are kind of living in the past in reliving those
experiences that they had and then also living in the future because they are fearful of
those things happening again. The dogs help to keep them in the present.
ROBERT PEREZ: When I had night terrors, it was nice. Normally I wake up panic, sweating
and what not, but I woke up to very clam, soft. He really gave me the courage to step
up and start my education; you know he was right there with me.
PEGGY MORAN: I think that people have a mental picture of post-traumatic stress that looks
like someone who is anxiously biting their nails or looking left and right. More often
post traumatic stress symptoms are masked and the individual is very guarded and one
of the things that they struggle with is social connection and I think these dogs are facilitators
at the very beginning, not only of this individual opening up to the dog but in being more receptive
to dealing with other human beings, both family members and friends.