"Veterans with PTSD Find Hope and Healing Through Service Dog Program"

After serving at a crowded and dangerous internment camp in Iraq, Air Force Staff Sgt. Heather O'Brien returned home grappling with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, her journey to healing took a positive turn thanks to a lively labradoodle named Albus and a Kansas City-area program dedicated to veterans.Dogs 4 Valor, operated by The Battle Within in Olathe, Kansas, assists retired veterans and first responders in training their service dogs to help manage depression, anxiety, and other challenges. "A lot of times the veteran with severe PTSD is homebound," said Sandra Sindeldecker, program manager for Dogs 4 Valor. "They're isolated. They're very nervous. They won't make eye contact. Some won't leave the house at all."The program offers both group and one-on-one training sessions aimed at fostering a strong bond between the veteran and their dog. Veterans participate in outings designed to help them regain confidence in public places like airports. Additionally, mental health therapy is provided at no cost.Veterans typically graduate from the program within six to nine months, although group gatherings continue beyond graduation.Research increasingly supports the benefits of service dogs for veterans with PTSD. A study published in JAMA Network Open examined a program run by K9s For Warriors, where service dogs are trained to recognize physical signs of distress in veterans and can interrupt panic attacks or nightmares with comforting nudges.In this study, researchers compared 81 veterans who received service dogs with 75 on a waiting list for trained dogs. After three months, while symptoms improved for both groups, those paired with service dogs experienced even greater improvements on average.Reflecting on her time in Iraq where she worked among over 20,000 detainees amidst frequent violence and riots that left her anxious, O'Brien shared her perspective: "When I got out of the military, I just assumed that you're supposed to be on edge all the time as a veteran."O'Brien's mother discovered Albus online and encouraged her daughter to adopt him. In October 2023, O'Brien joined Dogs 4 Valor with Albus by her side.Now O'Brien feels empowered enough to venture into public spaces again—she even enjoyed a vacation in Branson, Missouri—activities she never thought she would do again.Mark Atkinson served as a corporal in Afghanistan and returned home facing PTSD and major depressive disorder. He adopted Lexi—a muscular cane corso breed—in 2020 after learning about Dogs 4 Valor."Having Lexi has just made me get out to be more social," Atkinson noted about his experience since joining the program.Atkinson emphasized how connecting with fellow veterans facing similar struggles has been invaluable: "We come from the same backgrounds... Same issues... And they're all very welcoming; there’s no judgment."O'Brien humorously described living with Albus as having an eager best friend who pushes her towards new experiences: "The best friend constantly wants to make you do things that make you nervous... I have to decide to walk out and just deal with life."Several veterans reported improved family relationships since starting the program. "I'm able to talk... not fly off the handle... not have as much anxiety," Atkinson shared.Timothy Siebenmorgen also expressed gratitude for his American bulldog Rosie’s companionship through Dogs 4 Valor after serving multiple deployments across both Marines and Army: "You’re taught not to show weakness... And then you realize you can't do it on your own."For these veterans, their service dogs—and participation in this transformative program—have sparked renewed hope for moving forward positively in life. "I got my life back," O'Brien stated.