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Senator Smalley Strikes Again: For the Battle-Scarred, Comfort at Leash’s End

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Fumesucker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Apr-04-10 05:42 PM
Original message
Senator Smalley Strikes Again: For the Battle-Scarred, Comfort at Leash’s End
The bill instigating this program was written by Senator Al Franken.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/us/04dogs.html?src=me&ref=general

WASHINGTON — Just weeks after Chris Goehner, 25, an Iraq war veteran, got a dog, he was able to cut in half the dose of anxiety and sleep medications he took for post-traumatic stress disorder. The night terrors and suicidal thoughts that kept him awake for days on end ceased.

Aaron Ellis, 29, another Iraq veteran with the stress disorder, scrapped his medications entirely soon after getting a dog — and set foot in a grocery store for the first time in three years.

The dogs to whom they credit their improved health are not just pets. Rather, they are psychiatric service dogs specially trained to help traumatized veterans leave the battlefield behind as they reintegrate into society.

Because of stories like these, the federal government, not usually at the forefront of alternative medical treatments, is spending several million dollars to study whether scientific research supports anecdotal reports that the dogs might speed recovery from the psychological wounds of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

More at the link..
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BrklynLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Apr-04-10 06:06 PM
Response to Original message
1. GREAT News. I personally find it hard to believe that there are any doubts that dogs can heal
psychological wounds.

They had "comfort" dogs at the WTC site during the cleanup effort. They were invaluable to those who sought solace and escape from
the trauma and stress of what was going on there.


Is there anyone who has not heard the stories of how one's blood pressure goes down when petting a dog or a cat??
This is particularly true if it is one's own pet.
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Fumesucker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Apr-04-10 06:29 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. I have two dogs myself and I wholeheartedly agree with you.. n/t
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roguevalley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Apr-04-10 11:36 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. I got sick last year and had a near death experience. That is, when
I keeled over, I had a vision of beauty and love and someone in a summer dress and sandals keeping me from going forward. I asked every nurse I met if when you pass out do you dream or have a vision. No nurse I've met said that should be possible. I know I'm still here because of my dogs, three sixteen and thirteen year old dogs that are blind, sick and extremely devoted to me. They are the reason I am still here. Dogs can keep you alive and save your soul.
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BrklynLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Apr-05-10 12:29 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. There are so many stories like yours that it is impossible to keep track of them all.
There are days that I would not go out at all if it were not for my dog...He has to be walked, and therefore I go out.

http://www.nctdinc.org/news/vetcentric.php

http://www.dogguide.net/25-hero-dogs.php

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2010/01/04/2010-01-04_canadian_familys_golden_retriever_angel_saves_11yearold_owner_from_cougar_attack.html

http://www.lhj.com/relationships/family/pets/what-bunny-did-for-love-a-rescued-dog-saves-his-foster-owners-life/;jsessionid=DOV1PH1TGG222CQCEARSAOQ?page=1

http://www.dogquotations.com/
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roguevalley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Apr-05-10 09:03 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. its so cold here part of the year that I bought a dog treadmill for them
to get exercise upon. Its at jogadog.com. It keeps them limber and out of the vet. I know what you say about dogs. I would never leave them to the well meaning attention of my family. They are too old to be left alone.
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BrklynLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-06-10 10:09 AM
Response to Reply #8
12. That is so cool. jogadog.com!!!
I have not gone on a vacation in several years since I would not trust my dog..or even my cats ..with someone else...
My dog is 12 years old..and I would never want to put him in a position of being less than loved and cared for 100%.

Boen:


Boen with Cassie...the cat that bosses him around.
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roguevalley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-06-10 03:33 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. what a noble dog. Reminds me of my uncle's dog, Saint. He was
a K=9 cop. :) Your cat is da bomb. Sure letting him know who lets him lay there. Lovely, both of them. They make you better don't they? My animals have made me better than I would be without them.
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BrklynLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-06-10 08:33 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. Wow! You are right! I could not have said it so well...
They DO make me better than I would ever be without them!!!
:thumbsup: :hi: :pals:

Thanks so much for the kind words for Boen and Cassie. They are truly gifts from the universe to me.
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dpbrown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Apr-04-10 06:27 PM
Response to Original message
2. That's my Senator

Thanks, Al.
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Beaverhausen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Apr-04-10 06:29 PM
Response to Original message
3. whoa- they train the dogs to dial 911
from the article.

this is such a great program.
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felinetta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Apr-04-10 09:19 PM
Response to Original message
5. And Fox and Cornyn and the rest of those humanoids didn't want Franken in office. Sorry, but 
the best man won!!  Thank you Sen. Franken.
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UTUSN Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Apr-05-10 09:27 PM
Response to Original message
9. There's *nothing* smalley about him, so while getting the reference, I don't like it. n/t
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TorchTheWitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Apr-05-10 09:38 PM
Response to Original message
10. The audio slideshow at the link really made me sob
So incredibly touching.
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Aristus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Apr-05-10 09:43 PM
Response to Original message
11. I vaguely remember hearing a 60 Minutes report years ago that demonstrated that
when men in prison are allowed to keep pets, rates of violence in the facility shrink to almost nothing. I don't think the program ever took off, though. Undoubtedly some taxpayers objected to prisoners receiving pets on the government dime; nevermind the demonstrable benefit. Just slash the funding...

Hope this program succeeds...
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laughingliberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-06-10 10:14 AM
Response to Original message
13. Kicking for a great Senator. nt
Edited on Tue Apr-06-10 10:15 AM by laughingliberal
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