Spotlight: Canines With a Cause

by KATIE BROOKS

Like many veterans, Brandon Allen returned from the war in Iraq with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Doctors placed him on significant doses of anxiety medications and sleeping pills, but he was still haunted by terrible dreams and even thoughts of suicide.

Things didn’t improve significantly for Brandon until he came across Canines With a Cause (CWAC). This nonprofit provided Brandon with a dog—handpicked from a high-kill shelter—that became a treasured companion and lifeline. Only weeks after getting his dog, Brandon was able to cut his medication intake in half, begin to overcome his dangerous thoughts, and start moving forward in his life.

Army researchers report that up to 31% of soldiers who return from combat in Iraq or Afghanistan experience depression or PTSD. Those unable to improve their mental health may see their relationships, jobs, physical health, and daily lives begin to fall apart. In fact, 22 veterans take their own lives each day. The CWAC model improves or even saves the lives of three parties: the veteran, the dog, and the inmate who provides the dog with obedience training before the dog is matched with a veteran.

First, animal behaviorists and trainers from CWAC evaluate and rescue dogs from local, high-kill animal shelters that show the most potential of becoming effective service or therapy animals. Next, CWAC enlists the help of their partner, Utah State Prison Women’s Correctional Facility. Female inmates are taught by CWAC how to train the dogs, who are then placed temporarily to the prison. The dogs’ obedience training is then completed by the inmates, who learn valuable skills and enjoy contributing to the community.

Once a dog has learned obedience and how to interact well with people, it is matched with a struggling veteran. This veteran then begins additional training for the dog. By the completion of this training, the veteran and dog have formed a bond and the dog has learned how to best meet its new owner’s needs.

CWAC also strives to help veterans and dogs that the typical CWAC model doesn’t fit. For instance, veterans who don’t want companion dogs may still help train dogs to be therapy animals and take these dogs to hospitals and assisted-living facilities to comfort other veterans. Dogs that don’t fully succeed in CWAC training but could still be good pets may be adopted by members of the community for a small fee. These dogs are all spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and assessed for proper behavior before being posted for possible adoption.

Those who would like to help the veterans, dogs, and inmates involved with the CWAC program have several options. They can foster dogs that have been rescued but not yet been matched with veterans. CWAC occasionally needs community members to come on field trips to bring dogs to hospitals to comfort veterans. In addition, donations and fundraisers are always welcome and appreciated so that CWAC can continue offering its services to veterans free of charge. If you are interested in helping or learning more, visit the organization’s website.