VA hospitals nationwide are integrating service dogs into treatment plans for disabled vets, said Will Baldwin, a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the VA in Denver. The program was formed after Freedom Service Dogs, a Denver-based nonprofit, recently partnered with the VA.
Training takes up to nine months and costs $23,000. Service Dogs doesn't charge its clients but relies on private donations and foundation grants.
"The population is growing exponentially down in Fort Carson with the Wounded Warriors program," said Freedom Service Dogs' Diane Vertovec, referring to the Army unit that prepares wounded soldiers for civilian life. "We feel like a dog can help a vet meet physical challenges but, more importantly, can really, really help them overcome a lot of the mental instability that they're feeling."
Full Article:
Dogs helping injured soldiers under gov't program
By ALYSIA PATTERSON
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