General Should i address this situation?

[Snowflakes]

@leehalf I had read on a veterans forum I belong to about an organization that provides service dogs for free to people who need them including veterans with PTSD. You’d have to travel to California for 12 days but it’s an option. http://www.caninesupportteams.org/

I’m not sure why a 2 year waiting list at the VA. As far as I know, they don’t provide the dog, they just pay for the Veternarian care. As long as your vet is SC for PTSD, that should be a paperwork issue. However, I don’t really know, just listen to the guys with their dogs while in the waiting room at the VAMC when I have doctor appts.

I pray all works out getting your vet a dog. Take care.

 

[NaeNae75]

I'm in the Midwest too, southeast WI

 

[LuckiLee]

I think I might call the service organizations who work with the dogs. (in the information you gave me @Snowflakes.) I'll probably get better information and definitely get it quicker!

It was funny, today J came home for lunch, walked in the door and said it was sad because Doggy wasn't there to wag his tail and sniff J's crotch. LOL. I told him I would if it would make him happy. LMAO!!

 

[LuckiLee]

@NaeNae. I'm in S.E. Michigan. My nephew and his family are in Menominee, WI. He went to Michigan Tech in the U.P that's how he ended up there.

 

[Freida]

Yes! get him a dog! he will be in heaven.

 

[scout86]

I'm not sure where you live, but there are some not-for-profit organizations out there that might be able to help you out at a price you can handle.

 

[LuckiLee]

I may know a couple trainers too. I'm on it.

 

[Mytime]

It was really interesting to hear how your hubby responded to his sisters dog. I think it’s great that you are looking into getting a service dog. I have to admit, I don’t know much about service dogs for PTSD.
But he responded to a dog that wasn’t a service dog and waiting 2 years for one is a long time. Have you thought of going to a shelter and seeing if he connects with one there. He enjoyed a dog without training, maybe start there and then look into training. Like I said,I don’t know much about service dogs, but it seems to me that he reacted to a dog without training maybe that’s the first step. Either way I’m happy to hear the enjoy you shared.

 

[LuckiLee]

Hi @Mytime. Thanks for responding to this thread.

It really was amazing to see the impact a dog had on J's mood, sleep patterns and nightmares.

I'm just starting to research our options. And you're right even an untrained dog did wonders. We can't wait 2 years so we may get a puppy and train ourselves. And I'm not quite sure he needs a "service" dog. Maybe an emotionally support dog. IDK yet.

Thanks again for your feedback.

XO

 

[scout86]

You might want to consider an adult dog as an option too. Puppies are great, but you have the whole mischief/chewing/house training stage to go through. Sometimes that's a non-issue, sometimes it's a source of stress. There are some great adult dogs out there looking for homes too,

 

[Sighs]

When my vet came home from Afghanistan to find his wife of 20 years had left him - and taken all the money he had sent home - he "hit the track". He lived out of his car, camping wherever he could, moving on when he wanted to or was made to. But first, he went to the pound and got a dog that was on death row. This dog is a doberman cross. The staff at the pound wouldn't even open his cage. My vet says he recognised himself in the dog. He opened the cage himself, lifted his head at the dog who backed down. He then gently stroked the side of the dog's face and the dog softened.

They lived together on the track for two years. Shared a tin of baked beans as their daily meal while all my vet's money went to paying off bills his ex hadn't paid. My vet openly says that the dog saved him from suicide. He's never been trained as any kind of service dog. He's "just" a pet.

 

[grimalkin]

My sufferer would be lost without his cat. The cat is a shit, and is definitely HIS cat (he was "our" cat - Cat loves me still but I am definitely NOT dad! lol), and the cat isn't a service animal. But, kitty brings a lot of comfort.

When we had a dog (she was my baby, but once my sufferer was retired, he was home with her all the time), she brought a ton of comfort as well. They were buddies and she knew when he needed attention from her, and she wasn't a service animal, either. Sometimes "just" a pet makes a world of difference.