Pets for vets
Encyclopedia
Pets for Vets is a 501(3) non-profit organization
in the United States dedicated to providing a second chance to shelter dogs
by rescuing, training and matching them with American veteran
s who need a companion pet
.
and trainer, Clarissa Black, who was looking for a way to help American veteran
s who were suffering from combat stress
and other emotional issues related to their service. Many Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans suffer physical and emotional injuries making it difficult to transition back to civilian life. Pets for Vets helps military veterans reclaim normalcy in their lives through companion dogs.
Each companion dog
is rescued in connection with local animal rescue
groups. They are then given basic obedience training
and any additional training that will help them assimilate into their new lives and then finally placed in their "forever" home.
, depression
, sleeplessness, flashbacks, and extreme wariness. It may manifest right away or show up months or even years later. Some of those who suffer from PTSD commit suicide
.
According to the ASPCA, every year between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats are abandoned at shelters
in the United States. Nationally five out of ten shelter dogs and seven out of ten shelter cats are euthanized
because there is no one to adopt them from the shelter These dogs and cats can make excellent companion animals
but never have that chance.
More and more veterans are being written prescriptions for companion animals to help combat PTSD. Pets can help alleviate stress, loneliness
and anxiety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
says pets can decrease your blood pressure
, cholesterol
levels, triglyceride
levels and feelings of loneliness. Pets can increase your opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities and opportunities for socialization
. Caring for a pet encourages responsibility and adherence to a daily schedule.
Pets for Vets developed a program focusing on addressing these issues by bringing together animals needing to be rescued and veterans needing a companion for a better quality of life
. Not every veteran qualifies for a psychiatric service dog
, however everyone who wants one can benefit from a companion or pet animal.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
in the United States dedicated to providing a second chance to shelter dogs
Rescue dog
A rescue dog is a dog that has been rescued from possible euthanasia after being found as a stray, a dog that has been saved from an abusive or neglectful home by an animal rescue organisation such as the RSPCA in the UK or the ASPCA in the USA, or a dog that is simply no longer wanted or can no...
by rescuing, training and matching them with American veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s who need a companion pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
.
History
Pets for Vets was founded in 2008 by animal behavioristEthology
Ethology is the scientific study of animal behavior, and a sub-topic of zoology....
and trainer, Clarissa Black, who was looking for a way to help American veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s who were suffering from combat stress
Combat Stress
Combat Stress is a UK charity offering residential treatment to ex-servicemen and women suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health issues....
and other emotional issues related to their service. Many Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans suffer physical and emotional injuries making it difficult to transition back to civilian life. Pets for Vets helps military veterans reclaim normalcy in their lives through companion dogs.
Each companion dog
Companion dog
Companion dog usually describes a dog that does not work, providing only companionship as a pet, rather than usefulness by doing specific tasks. Many of the toy dog breeds are used only for the pleasure of their company, not as workers...
is rescued in connection with local animal rescue
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
groups. They are then given basic obedience training
Obedience training
Obedience training usually refers to the training of a dog and the term is most commonly used in that context. Obedience training ranges from very basic training, such as teaching the dog to reliably respond to basic commands such as "sit", "down", "come", and "stay", to high level competition...
and any additional training that will help them assimilate into their new lives and then finally placed in their "forever" home.
Issues addressed
Estimates that anywhere from one in eight to one in five of all Iraq war veterans have some degree of PTSD and two thirds of those who screened positive for PTSD are not receiving treatment. People who suffer from PTSD experience anxietyAnxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
, depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
, sleeplessness, flashbacks, and extreme wariness. It may manifest right away or show up months or even years later. Some of those who suffer from PTSD commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
According to the ASPCA, every year between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats are abandoned at shelters
Animal shelter
An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost, or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats.Parrots, for example, are the third most common pet owned by people...
in the United States. Nationally five out of ten shelter dogs and seven out of ten shelter cats are euthanized
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
because there is no one to adopt them from the shelter These dogs and cats can make excellent companion animals
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
but never have that chance.
Companion animals as therapy
Animal-assisted therapy has typically been used to treat physical disabilities; it is becoming increasingly useful in treating patients with psychological complications including PTSD and combat stress and even reducing symptoms of PTSD in as many as 82% of patients studied.More and more veterans are being written prescriptions for companion animals to help combat PTSD. Pets can help alleviate stress, loneliness
Loneliness
Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling in which a person feels a strong sense of emptiness and solitude resulting from inadequate levels of social relationships. However, it is a subjective experience...
and anxiety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
says pets can decrease your blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
, cholesterol
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
levels, triglyceride
Triglyceride
A triglyceride is an ester derived from glycerol and three fatty acids. There are many triglycerides, depending on the oil source, some are highly unsaturated, some less so....
levels and feelings of loneliness. Pets can increase your opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities and opportunities for socialization
Socialization
Socialization is a term used by sociologists, social psychologists, anthropologists, political scientists and educationalists to refer to the process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs and ideologies...
. Caring for a pet encourages responsibility and adherence to a daily schedule.
Pets for Vets developed a program focusing on addressing these issues by bringing together animals needing to be rescued and veterans needing a companion for a better quality of life
Quality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
. Not every veteran qualifies for a psychiatric service dog
Service dog
A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, and also to help people with mental disabilities including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe depression...
, however everyone who wants one can benefit from a companion or pet animal.
Studies linking pet ownership to healthier living
- http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:e4mzzwmLvs4J:www.unleashthebeach.org/healthbenefitsofdogs.pdf+%23+James+Serpell+PhD:+Beneficial+effects+of+pet+ownership+on+some+aspects+of+human+health+%26+behaviour,+Journal+of+Royal+Science+of+Medicine,+Volume+84,+December+1991&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AFQjCNGSZrKu4gPNiOjyNobvDHSDYuHiNgJames Serpell PhD: Beneficial effects of pet ownership on some aspects of human health & behaviour, Journal of Royal Science of Medicine, Volume 84, December 1991]
- National Institute of Health
- Delta Society The Human-Animal Health Connection
- The healing bond between people and pets, podcast
- MedicineNet 5 ways pets can improve your health
See also
- PetPetA pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
- Pet adoptionPet adoptionPet adoption usually refers to the process of taking guardianship of and responsibility for a pet that a previous owner has abandoned or released to a shelter or rescue organization...
- Human-animal bonding
- P.A.W.S.P.A.W.S.P.A.W.S. or Pets Are Wonderful Support is a North American network of non-profit organisations that advocate the value of the bond between humans and their pets as a means to extend a person's quality of life and life-span, specifically elderly or disabled persons. P.A.W.S...