Service dogs to the rescue
Man’s best friend can also be his biggest ally, thanks to the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Service Dog Program from the Citadel Canine Society.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental-health condition that can develop after witnessing a deeply threatening or frightening event. Examples include combat, a violent personal assault or attending a serious motor-vehicle collision. For people who are involved, and sometimes witnesses as well, the memory of the event can be so powerful that they have a hard time living a normal life.
There are several therapies for people with PTSD — including psychotherapy and medication — but perhaps the most heartwarming is the introduction of dogs to alleviate the symptoms.
The Citadel Canine Society says it has the longest-running, mission-specific service dog program for people suffering from PTSD and operational stress injuries in Canada.
It provides training and delivery of service dogs to veterans as well as first responders, nurses, corrections officers, 911 operators and Canada Border Service Agency agents.
What sets the society apart is their use of dogs rescued from local animal shelters.
“We made the decision early on to not have a breeding program,” said Brian Archer, president of the group. “We have found a lot of wonderful rescue dogs at animal shelters.”
Impacts of receiving a service dog are profound. Patients’ substance abuse issues begin to disappear, prescribed-medication use drops, sleep patterns recover, and personal mobility, physical and mental health, and relationships improve, said Archer.
In certain circumstances, the company will also train pet dogs owned by candidates.
“That immediately solves pairing issues,” said Archer. “People can have the type of dog they like — even if it is a miniature German schnauzer.”
He says that although not every dog is suitable, the failure rate is only about five per cent.
Funding by the Victoria Foundation for the program will go toward the adoption, training fees, boarding and veterinary costs associated with the training and delivery of the service dogs.
The society lists seven of its dogs on Vancouver Island.
For more information, go to citadelcanine.com.