unburyingthelead:

doree:

Dogs! Trained by prisoners to help soldiers with PTSD function in the world! HEART IT MELTS:

In August, Jacob Hyde got his service dog, Mya, from Puppies Behind Bars, a program based in New York State that uses prisoners to raise and train dogs for lives of service. The organization has placed 23 dogs with veterans with P.T.S.D. in the last two years, training them to obey 87 different commands.

“If I didn’t have legs, I would have to crawl around,” said Mr. Hyde, 25. “If I didn’t have Mya, I wouldn’t be able to leave the house.”

If Mr. Hyde says “block,” the dog will stand perpendicularly in front of him to keep other people at a distance. If he asks Mya to “get his back,” the dog will sit facing backward by his side. The dogs are trained to jolt a soldier from a flashback, dial 911 on a phone and even sense a panic attack before it starts.

There should be an initiative to have animals in public spaces. Their presence alone is astonishingly therapeutic.

  1. blackkitten reblogged this from nrrrdcakkke
  2. octoeye reblogged this from nrrrdcakkke
  3. colamonstrosity reblogged this from nrrrdcakkke
  4. aintnosupergirl reblogged this from doree
  5. paperjay reblogged this from nowmybutthurts
  6. slightestwind reblogged this from yayponies
  7. yayponies reblogged this from headphonesnotrequired and added:
    Dogs with jobs make me so happy.
  8. iisabelle reblogged this from captainbubblebeard
  9. captainbubblebeard reblogged this from azul
  10. leonsoccerswag6 reblogged this from doree
  11. azul reblogged this from doree and added:
    REALLY cool article on utilization of service dogs...recovery of veterans with PTSD.
  12. iscalifestyle reblogged this from doree
  13. exilus reblogged this from doree
  14. sonnyjohl reblogged this from doree
  15. ameslybristow reblogged this from doree
  16. pointofhorixon reblogged this from doree
  17. theanswerisalwaysyes reblogged this from doree
  18. yes-oh-my-gosh reblogged this from doree
  19. caitlinlois reblogged this from doree
  20. neon-loneliness reblogged this from coldnoses