Question
Where can a veteran start working with animals?
Short answer
Ask the VA about service-dog eligibility, or look for an accredited equine program, or contact a sanctuary that runs a veteran caretaker program directly. How can animals help veterans with PTSD? sets out what each route involves and who pays for what.
Where this answer comes from
Mental Health Recovery
Recovery is a process of change, and the working definition used across United States mental-health care makes treatment only half of it. The other half is usually having something to be responsible for, which is what Serenity Park and the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center offer. In JAMA Network Open in June 2024, veterans given a trained service dog had 66 percent lower odds of still meeting the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. The stories and resources on this guide follow the people who found that second half at Lockwood and with each other.
Read the full guideMore questions from Mental Health Recovery
- What happens to a wolfdog that cannot be released or kept?
- What does reciprocal recovery mean?
- Has equine therapy been tested with veterans?
- How did Stan McDonald end up at the sanctuary?
- What is the blue ribbon ceremony?
- What does the research say about service dogs?
- Does the Department of Veterans Affairs provide a service dog?
- Where do veterans care for rescued wolfdogs?
- What is Serenity Park?
- Can caring for an animal be treatment in itself?