(SERVICE DOGS) As we take this day to commemorate our honored vets, we should also take a moment to thank the service dogs who aid these respected men and women. While many U.S. veterans struggle with invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, some of them are able to find peace from their four-legged friends. For instance, one organization, Operation Freedom Paws, a nonprofit in Gilroy, California, is working to help veterans in need train their own service dogs. The VA has been studying the effectiveness of canine therapy for troops suffering from PTSD, however it was recently placed on hold in order to rewrite the study’s parameters to take into account the dogs’ temperaments and the importance of matching the trainers with the patients—not just the dogs. Read on to learn more about the organization’s efforts as well as the benefits of dog interaction. — Global Animal


























