Supporting our Veterans
There are 4.7 million veterans with service connected disabilities and 20-30% of veterans develop symptoms associated with PTSD including nightmares, heightened anxiety, depressed mood, heightened reactions, flashbacks and social isolation. On average 22 veterans a day die by suicide. The suicide rate for veterans in the U.S. is 1.5 times the rate for non-veteran adults. Here at The Malinois Foundation, we are fortunate that 100% of our veterans that have been placed with life-saving service dogs have beaten these statistics!
Individuals with PTSD often feel unsafe and unsure of reality, especially in public settings. Service dogs for PTSD can help ground their handler to reality, prevent people from crowding or rushing up to them and provide the emotional support needed to de-escalate anxieties. They can be trained to recognize the signs of a panic attack, wake individuals experiencing night terrors and regulate emotional responses through pressure.
Help Us Raise Funds for Veterans in Need
There are 4.7 million Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities.
Thousands of Veterans are in need of Service Animals to assist with multiple disabilities.
The average service dog costs $20,000 to $40,000 making this service out of reach for most.
On average 22 Veterans a day die by suicide and we need your help eliminating this statistic.
There are 4.7 million veterans with service-connected disabilities and 20-30% of veterans develop symptoms associated with PTSD including nightmares, heightened anxiety, depressed mood, heightened reactions, flashbacks and social isolation. On average 22 veterans a day die by suicide. The suicide rate for veterans in the U.S. is 1.5 times the rate for non-veteran adults.
At The Malinois Foundation, we are fortunate that 100% of our veterans placed with life-saving service dogs have beaten these statistics!
How can a service dog help?
- Increase activity and integration into society: Dogs are active and need to be exercised regularly, the responsibility of caring for a service animal will force their handler to get out and exercise. A routine is established and ties to the future are forged again.
- Create a sense of safety: Public settings and crowds are an enormous trigger for most individuals suffering from PTSD. Psychiatric service dogs are trained to create a physical barrier between their handler and crowds of people.
- Ground in reality, redirect hyper-vigilance: Hyper-vigilance is a symptom of PTSD and creates constant tension and paranoia within suffers. Service dogs are trained to recognize their handler’s warning signs for anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and panic attacks and redirect that energy into positive coping skills and grounding techniques such as petting the dog.
- Reduce nightmares and flashbacks: One of the most emotionally challenging situations for individuals with PTSD to deal with are flashbacks and nightmares. They can transport an individual back to a terrifying time in their life where they have felt unsafe, threatened, and traumatized. A PTSD service animal is trained to bring their handler back to reality quickly and calmly, ground the individual, and help them to feel safe in their environment again.