Service dog Huffs schmoozing at AVMA convention / Photo: Trisha Lord St. George

AIReporter Trisha Lord St. George is on the scene at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) annual convention in San Diego. In continuing coverage she’ll bring us news and info from the event.

By Trisha Lord St. George

Few canine fans can resist petting and saying “hello” to a beautiful dog.  Amidst the weekend’s hustle and bustle at the American Veterinary Medical Association convention, this reporter found the calmest spot ever: scratching the ears of Huffs, who was wearing a military cammie service dog vest.

Rick Yount, executive director of Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) said, “This dog is a special kind of service dog.  He trains service members to return to society.”

Yount explained that WCC was created to meet several military missions. “Tens of thousands of soldiers are coming back from Iraq who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Our military population are people who have dedicated their lives to serve their country. They don’t ask for help. When it comes to training service dogs for veterans, no one takes the task more seriously than those who served by their side in conflict.”

WCC teaches service members with PTSD how to train mobility service dogs to be partnered with veterans with mobility impairments, according to the group’s website.

Yount said WCC’s program not only creates valuable service dogs, it harnesses the healing power of the human-animal bond in the following ways:

  • It triggers powerful mind/body effects in the warrior trainers that reduce the symptoms of combat trauma.
  • It’s a safe, effective, and inexpensive non-pharmaceutical therapeutic intervention for the treatment of PTSD.
  • It provides highly skilled service dogs that will provide years of mobility and social support to veterans with disabilities.
  • Training these dogs helps to draw out even the most isolated personality.
  • The act of praising the animals helps traumatized veterans overcome emotional numbness.
  • Teaching the dogs service commands develops a patient’s ability to communicate, to be assertive but not aggressive, a distinction some struggle with.
  • It has helped many wounded warriors finally get a good night’s sleep without the nightmares.

Yount continued, “These dogs also act as a social ice-breakers for service members who may be reluctant to interact with strangers.  They offer opportunities to trainers who often isolate themselves from society to experience positive interactions with members of the community.”

He described WCC’s Healing Quarters as located 17 miles north of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center  in a historic stone home on 70 acres of rolling farmland in the heart of Maryland’s Patuxent River State Park. The property adjoins an additional 5000 acres of scenic Maryland state park land with miles of hiking and horseback riding trails.

Yount said this tranquil setting provides a therapeutic time out for wounded warriors, their families, and the medical staff who care for them to enjoy a powerful sense of wellness. Warriors, their families and other caregivers can participate in dog training and socialization lessons or just enjoy the sheer joy—and big medicine—of puppy petting.

The back of Rick Yount’s business card makes one more statement about the healing power of dogs: “Serving humankind for 30,000 years.”

Also on this topic:

Nation’s biggest veterinarian group to discuss animal welfare at convention this weekend

Raw meat diets for pets are dangerous, veterinarian group decides

Visit AIR again soon for continuing coverage of the AVMA convention by AIReporter Trisha Lord St. George.

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Trisha Lord St. George is a lifelong animal lover. Born in Buffalo, NY, one of her best childhood memories was “smuggling” a cat on a flight from Taos, NM to Buffalo (long story).

Trisha began her career in animal welfare in 1994 with non-profit animal shelters. Positions held included adoptions, pet encounter therapy and public relations.  Being a veterinary assistant gave her opportunity to be part of a medical triage/animal rescue team during the Hurricane Katrina crisis.

Trisha acts in film, theatre and TV productions, sings for various groups around San Diego, volunteers with San Diego’s public broadcasting radio station and with VITAS hospice with fellow volunteer Isabella, her cat.

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