https://es.pinterest.com/explore/emotional-support-animal/
War
veterans
The emocional support dog
“A pet
is a medication without side effects that has so many benefits. I can't always
explain it myself, but for years now I've seen how instances of having a pet is
like an effective drug. It really does help people.” Dr.
Edward Creagan, Oncologist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
16
Foreword
In 1669, John
Locke argued that the relationship with animals, had a socializing function. The use of pets as conventional
assistants in mental illness therapies dates back to 1792 in England. Later,
in 1867 in
Bethel (Biefeld,
Germany).
animals were involved as well in the treatment of epilepsy In 1944, the
American Red Cross organized, a the first therapeutic rehabilitation program
for airmen at the Air Force Convalescent Center in New York,
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT)
Zootherapy or
animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is an activity where the mission is to select,
train and certify animals for supportive treatments and therapies for patients
of all ages affected by debilitating
diseases which compromise the social,
emotional and cognitive level.
Our limbic system is responsible for regulating the emotional component of our
behavior. Contact with nature generates the release of substances called endorphins,
which stimulate feelings of tranquility that distend and gratify our thought
processes.
These results are apparently larger and more noticeable in children, because in
them affective thoughts predominates over rationalization. 8. The species most used are dogs, cats,
horses, birds, rabbits and dolphins.
In 1996 the Faculty of Veterinary Science
at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA)
signed an agreement with a Therapeutic Community of Temperley (Province of Buenos Aires) , whereby mentally
disabled patients (young and adult males) would concur to interact with animals. This is the first
precedent in this institution regarding animal assisted therapy.
The Animal Assisted Therapy Center was created on April 8, 2003, by
Resolution. CD 712/03) . 18
The Animal Assisted Therapy Center has
signed agreements since 2005, one with the Tornú
Hospital, where works and research
in the palliative care unit are being carried; and another in 2007 with the Faculty of Medicine UBA, which appointed
the IREP (Institute of Psychophysical
Rehabilitation) to work and investigate assisted therapy with horses (Echinotherapy in adult patients with
chronic strokes sequels.
In our country, the riding school Hippocampus
established an Echinotherapy center at
the Club Hípico La Horqueta. In this
last trained horses help in the rehabilitation and treatment of diseases,
especially motor ones. 2
In Argentina there
is a free access AAT Unit with trained dogs in the pediatric Hospital Pedro de Elizalde. These techniques are very useful for autistic
patients and children with mental retardation.
The
dogs in AAT
Canine involvement in the military dates
back to some of the earliest forms of organized combat. In ancient armies and
battles dogs were trained and employed as canine soldiers and companions
(Forster, 1941). In modern military combat this involvement continues with dogs
as scouts, in communications and logistics, in battle, as a means of
integration and intimidation, and in detecting weapons. During the Second World
War canines were used for the first time in therapy, providing emotional
support for those injured in battle. A celebrated war dog, Smoky a four-pound Yorkshire terrier is credited as the first military therapy dog
for his work assisting nurses with the provision of care in 1944 in New Guinea . 4
There is an
intense bond between dogs and military personnel.
In our country, we
have the Argentine Therapy Association
with Dogs (www.tacop.com.ar) where specialized personnel select the right
puppy according to the Campbell Test. Through AAT cases of tetrafocomelia , PDD,
ADD syndrome, Ret syndrome ,West syndrome, Lenox Gastaut syndrome, Prader Willy
syndrome , Angelman Syndrome, Tourette Syndrome ,Williams Syndrome and Morsier are being assisted as well as epilepsy,
HIV / AIDS, psychosis, domestic violence etc. Training courses are held too.
Effects commonly observed in contact with
animals:
- Empathy: The relationship with the animal favors the fact of standing in someone else's shoes
- Relationships: An
emotional safe communication channel is established between therapist and patient.
- Acceptance: Animals have a particular way of accepting people without judging them. They do not care how
patients look or what they
may say.
- Entertainment: Animals provide fun and are ideal for geriatrics.
- Socialization: Animals provide more socialization making people more sociable with others, reduce anxiety and
stress and improve mood.
- Mental Stimulus: Through increasing communication with others thus helping the evocation of memories.
- Physiological benefits: Many people feel relaxed when animals are present and have a decrease in their blood
pressure. There may also be a strengthening of the muscles and
improved recovery of heart disease.
Service Dogs 3,12,17,19
The service dog is specially trained to help undertake tasks for which the
patient is incapacitated. This is the case of dogs that help the blind (guide
dog) or help epileptics. These dogs can turn on the lights and open doors,
carry emergency medication and help ambulation. They also assist the veteran
into performing certain exercises.
The Emotional Support Dog
The Emotional Support Dog (or PSA
Psychiatric Service Dog) helps patients with mental conditions. These dogs do
not need special training. Such dogs are able to identify the different
patterns of behavior of each patient and incredibly fit each.
Proven benefits of emotional support dogs:
- Reduce medical and psychiatric costs.
- Reduce suicidal tendencies.
- Reduce the risk of violence, alcoholism, abuse drugs and depression.
- Reduce the incidence of severe mental crisis.
Emotional support dogs´ mechanism of action and war veterans. 7
- Dogs use the action of their body weight to
reduce anxiety and panic. This is called Deep Pressure Stimulation.
- Through licking or nudging they interrupt
flashbacks or nightmares.
- They watch the veteran´s back cover when queuing or when being in a public environment thereby
reducing their hypervigilance.
- Dogs cause increased levels of oxytocin which improves confidence and the ability to
interpret facial expressions overcoming paranoia and other harmful
effects of PTSD. 11
- Researchers at the University
of Melbourne (Australia) found that the link between man
and dog is so strong than their heartbeats come to be
synchronized. 10
Note:
Oxytocin apart from being a hormone
produced in the hypothalamus and secreted in the pituitary gland is a neurotransmitter linked to trust,
altruism, generosity, training links, empathy and regulation of fear
eliminating responses paralysis- It is also involved in learning and memory,
face recognition and recognition of emotions in others. Oxitocin activates
reward centers producing pleasure (occurs during orgasm).It´s related to
monogamy and fidelity, allows the cohesion between groups of people and is
closely linked with interpersonal intelligence. For all this is known as the love hormone or linkages´ hormone.
The Emotional Support Dog and PTSD 3,4
One of the current
strategies for treating veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is
the use of dogs for their emotional support. (Klontz, Bivens, Leinart, & Klontz, 2007; Sockalingam et al.,
2008). This approach has massive support from organizations and the public
in general. 13
Veterans
who use a PSD (Psychiatric Service Dogs)
to manage their PTSD reported that their psychological symptoms decreased as
result of the assistance and support from the service animal (Esnyra & Love, 2008).
Dogs help the veteran to not isolate themselves increasing their social
participation (Camp, 2001;. Rintala et
al, 2002. The
introduction of a dog or PSD improved social relations within family structures
(Yount, et al., 2012; Beck et al., 2012).
A third social benefit
of PSD was its perception as a non-stigmatizing therapeutic intervention (Taylor et al., 2013).
Allen and Blascovich (1966)
demonstrated in a randomized study that emotional support dogs offer an
excellent cost / benefit level.
The case of an American veteran of Iraq and
Afghanistan 1,15
Robert Soliz was one of the 300,000 US veterans of Iraq
and Afghanistan
diagnosed with PTSD. According to a study by the RAND Corporation 50 per cent
of those affected veterans with mental illness
never received the treatment they needed. (Tanielian & Jaycox, 2008). 13
Soliz (31) was an Army specialist. He was discharged in 2005 but his life was
destroyed by fear, anxiety, depression and drug abuse. He said: “I would constantly be
scanning for who was going to come stab me from behind,” .He could not show
affection or hug their children.
His life took a new twist when he entered the program Paws for Purple Hearts is one of four pilot programs in 2008 caused
nationwide using dogs Labradors and Golden Retrievers for war veterans affected
with PTSD.
“There is no psychiatrist in the
world
like a puppy licking your face.”
Travel and accommodation of emotional
support dogs
These dogs are allowed to fly free in
the aircraft cabin with their owners without crates and without weight
restrictions. The owner must submit a letter from a mental health professional
who so testifies. 3
Lufthansa supports the ability to bring dogs aboard therapeutic and psychiatric
assistance, free on flights to / from the US operated by Lufthansa. There are
restrictions on connecting flights outside the US.
On connecting
flights outside the US
operated by Lufthansa, pet dogs for therapeutic or psychiatric purposes are
only supported paying the surcharge.
Depending on your weight or size also they must travel inside a container
inside the cabin ('pet in cabin') or in the cargo hold. 9
https://es.pinterest.com/pin/231794712051242775/
The Fair
Housing Amendments Act of 1988, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act protect the right of people
with disabilities to keep emotional support animals, even when a landlord's
policy explicitly prohibits pets. Because emotional support and service animals
are not "pets," but rather are considered to be more like assistive
aids such as wheelchairs, the law will generally require the landlord to make
an exception to its "no pet" policy so that a tenant with a
disability can fully use and enjoy his or her dwelling. 6
Veterinary
care 3
VA does provide veterinary care for service
dogs that are deemed medically necessary for the rehabilitation or restorative
care plan of Veterans with permanent physical impairments
Pets for Vets 5
In USA
Pets for Vets help to heal the
emotional wounds of military veterans by pairing them with a shelter dog that
is specially selected to match his or her personality. Professional animal
trainers rehabilitate the dogs and teach them good manners to fit into the
veteran’s lifestyle. Training may also include desensitization to wheel chairs
or crutches as well as recognizing panic or anxiety disorder behaviors.
Bibliography
1-Colin, Chris- How Dogs Can Help Veterans Overcome PTSD-Smithsonian magazine-July 2012.
tp://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-dogs-can-help-veterans-overcome-ptsd-137582968/?no-ist
2-Cortesi, Santiago -Zooterapia en Argentina
http://www.foyel.com/paginas/2010/02/1267/zooterapia__zooterapia_en_la_argentina/
3-Dogs and PTSD-US Department of Veterans Affairs.
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/cope/dogs_and_ptsd.asp
4-Gillette, James PhD, Weldrick, Rachel-- Effectiveness of Psychiatric Service Dogs in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Veterans-McMaster University.
http://www.cf4aass.org/uploads/1/8/3/2/18329873/psd_and_veterans_living_with_ptsd_-_gillett_march_23_2014_2.pdf
5-Healing vets and saving pets-Vets for Vets.
http://www.petsforvets.com/
6-Judge, David L- Right to Emotional Support Animals in "No Pet" Housing-Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=mHq8GV0FI4c%3d&tabid=245
7-Kea, Grace-Service Dogs: Helping Those Who Served Our Country
Companions for heroes
http://companionsforheroes.org/our-services/benefits-of-service-dogs-for-vets/
8-La zooterapia, una tierna manera de apostar por la vida-Nestlé-
http://www.nestle.com.ar/nhw/la-zooterapia
9-Lufthansa-
http://www.lufthansa.com/ar/es/Perros-de-asistencia
10-Macreae, Fiona- Dogs' hearts beat in sync with their owners says latest study to show having a pet is good for keeping healthy. Mail Online-1 May 2016.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3568690/Dogs-hearts-beat-sync-owners-says-latest-study-having-pet-good-keeping-healthy.html
11-Navarro, Alyssa-PTSD And Dogs: How Service Dogs Help War Veterans Cope With Life After Service –Tech Times-23 December 2015-
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/118668/20151223/ptsd-and-dogs-how-service-dogs-help-war-veterans-cope-with-life-after-service.htm
12-Pets for patriots.
https://petsforpatriots.org/resources/
13-Renson, Stephanie-Treating Veterans using Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Social Learning Theory – Based Proposal-Winona State University
https://www.winona.edu/counseloreducation/Images/Stephanie_Renson_Capstone.pdf
14-Rescue Wolves Are Helping Veterans Heal From The Wounds Of
War. BarkPost
http://barkpost.com/discover/wolves-and-veterans/
15-Ruzek, Joseph et al-Treatment of the Returning Iraq War Veteran-Chapter 4,
Iraq War Clinician Guide-PTSD: National Center for PTSD
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treatment/vets/treatment-iraq-vets.asp
16-Service dog providers for veterans-Vets adopt Pets.
http://vetsadoptpets.org/vetservicedogs.html
17-Service dogs, therapy dogs and companion pets for military veterans-Operation We are here.
http://www.operationwearehere.com/MilitaryServiceDogs.html
18-Terapia Asistida con Animales(TACA)-Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias.
http://www.fvet.uba.ar/extension/tacap.php
19-What is the difference between a companion pet and a service animal?-The wet nose blog
https://petsforpatriots.org/what-is-a-companion-pet-vs-service-animal/
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