5 days ago
Hounds and Heroes pairs veterans with therapy animals
(NewsNation) — Hounds and Heroes has helped veterans by pairing them with rescue animals, offering companionship to those coping with post-deployment challenges.
The nonprofit serves veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, as well as amputees, providing emotional support through trained therapy dogs.
Founder Bonnie-Jill Laflin, who comes from a military and law enforcement family, said she was inspired to launch the organization after completing 19 USO tours — eight in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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She told 'Morning in America' on Wednesday that she witnessed the impact deployments had on service members.
'With the suicide rate being so high, I just knew there was something I could do, and my love for animals and veterans,' she said. 'I was like, let me rescue all these dogs in the shelters that would otherwise be euthanized, and I'll pair them up with veterans.'
One of those veterans is U.S. Army specialist Nick Dolan, who was partnered with a service dog named Guinness. Dolan said the bond has been life-changing.
'He's meant a lot to me,' Dolan said. 'I have no idea where I'd be. It would have been a good struggle for me at least. He takes away a lot of the stress in everything — he's a great companion.'
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Laflin said that there's a sense of a lack of judgment with the animals that allows veterans to heal.
'We've seen veterans make progress that other forms of therapy haven't been able to achieve,' she said. 'We're able to connect these veterans with these dogs, you just see the strides that these veterans make that people can't do.
'Working with the VA and lobbying on Capitol Hill, I make sure that people realize that you don't need to put a lot of prescription meds with these veterans. These dogs can make such a big difference instead.'
Hounds and Heroes also offers equine therapy, in which veterans rebuild trust and confidence through interactions with rescued horses.
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