Survivors

I believe that the canine qualities you've identified are also the basis for the strong bonds of devotion that develop between soldiers serving in war zones and the dogs they encounter, either as military working dogs or sometimes as strays whom the soldiers befriend. News stories often report the extraordinary relationships that form between these soldiers and their dogs, and the public's developing appreciation for these bonds has fueled the growing interest, in recent years, in adoption of retired military dogs who, in past wars, would often have been euthanized or abandoned. The bonds of affection that today's soldiers develop with their dogs seem to be much the same as those experienced by soldiers in the American Civil War. Although there was no formal program for use of military dogs at that time, countless numbers of dogs accompanied soldiers for both North and South, typically as mascots. These dogs helped soldiers to endure a new and devastating form of warfare, helping to raise the soldiers' morale during one of the bleakest times in our nation's history. You can read more about these remarkable dogs here: http://www.LoyaltyOfDogs.com

There is a very successful rehabilitation program located north of Rockford, IL that uses rescue dogs in the healing of veterans with PTSD. It is called Circle of Change, Inc. and works in conjunction with the VA. If you are a veteran who needs some additional support and you live in the northern Illinois/southern Wisconsin area, you may want to check them out. You must be referred to the program by the VA - so ask them about it! You don't have to have a dog or adopt a dog to benefit from this program.

The trainer with Circle of Change is Pat Muller. Pat has dogs available from time to time for veterans or others who need an emotional support dog. She uses her own dogs and dogs she adopted when she teaches the classes for Circle of Change (and for other programs she leads). The dogs are very well trained. You don't have to be local to get one of the dogs, but you must be willing to travel to her facility and spend some time there working with the dog and show that you are capable of caring for the dog appropriately and of keeping up the training that was done. Her website is www.quansaqcollar.com.