Reporting for Duty

Hundreds of thousands of military veterans seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) each year. Service dogs have been used for many years in the civilian sector to help their disabled owners perform necessary tasks in daily life; likewise, the organized use of therapy dogs to bring comfort and companionship to hospital and nursing-home patients dates back more than four decades. Reporting for Duty explores the unique and special bond between wounded warriors—especially those suffering from PTSD—and their service dogs and discusses the vital work of therapy dogs who visit VA hospitals and military rehabilitation facilities.Author Tracy Libby tells the true stories of disabled veterans who have been touched, assisted, and enriched by the dogs in their lives, and the new lease on life is reciprocal: many of these service and therapy dogs have been rescued from shelters and specially trained for their jobs. A portion of proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit a veterans’ service-dog organization.INSIDE REPORTING FOR DUTY:•True stories of physically and mentally disabled veterans who count on service dogs for assistance with daily tasks.•An explanation of PTSD and how it affects military veterans.•How therapy dogs and service dogs are selected and trained for their jobs.•Rescuing shelter dogs to train for therapy and service work.•How the military is training dogs to accompany soldiers on deployments.•A look at the bond between people and dogs and the positive effects it has on both