Veterans day is vastly approaching a Day that Americans celebrate to honor past and present military. The use of service dogs and emotional support dogs have been utilized and shown large success rates for Veterans with disabilities, especially those suffering from PTSD.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Suicide rates are at an all time high according to the USO. They report since record keeping after 911 researchers found that over 30,000 active duty personnel and who served in have died by suicide, compared to the 7,000 or so service members killed in active combat in the same 20 year period they analyzed.
A service dog is a dog that is “trained to perform one or more tasks to mitigate a disability, as defined
by the Department of Justice per the Americans with Disability Act (ADA),” vs an Emotional Support Dog which is a ‘dog trained in obedience commands but not trained to do a specific task’s.’
Retrieving Freedom INC is a 501(c)3 non profit organization that trains service dogs for placement in two different markets, Veterans with disabilities and children with Autism.
Retrieving Freedom breeds and trains chosen dogs with the specific traits needed for the duties of service dogs with a location off Tangle Hook, in Sedalia, MO.
According to a 2018 study, “social connections can act as a buffer against the impact of stressful or negative life experiences on mental health.” The International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO) also cites social connection as a crucial method in preventing suicide.
If you are interested in learning more on receiving a dog, fostering times, or even just donating, you can reach out to Retrieving Freedom INC on their web page here