In spite of this roadblock by some medical practition-
ers, K9 Partners for Patriots has been recognized by experts as a successful path forward for veterans living with PTSD. “When veterans come to K9 Partners for Patriots, they may not be able to visualize what their life could be because of the symptoms of PTSD. But if they trust the process, they can take control away from the symptoms of PTSD and start to live their lives again,” said Diane Scotland-Coogan, the associate professor at Saint Leo College. She has been working with K9 Partners for Patriots, conducting the double blind studies that will be presented as a report to the Department of Defense. “We have been obtaining statistical information from
the warriors at the beginning of their participation in the K9 Partners program, through their completed training. This program goes beyond providing a service dog. Many service dog programs provide a dog after the dog has been trained. K9 Partners for Patriots has warriors come to the center to train their own dog. This requires them to come out and interact with others, leaving their home, which has become their safe haven,” said Scotland-Coogan. The facility that houses K9 Partners for Patriots has a
family-friendly atmosphere. There is always coffee on, and quiet conversations taking place. There is even a safe room; a spot away from the crowd, where someone may visit to take a break and decompress. The program also provides a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Master Social Worker, should anyone want counseling. Still, with all of this in place, Mary has found that the single, hardest part of her job is knowing who is having a bad day. “Picture yourself at the center of a clock face,” she
explains. “The area directly in front of you is 12 o’clock. That’s your 12. What lies behind you, the potential peril you cannot see, is your 6 o’clock position. On the battlefield, the 6 o’clock position is the most vulnerable. For many of our veterans, life is a struggle; a daily battle,” she added. At K9 Partners for Patriots, I Got Your 6 is the
underlying message of support. Almost everyone, from the graduates to staff to volunteers, has the bumper sticker on their vehicles. Some wear t-shirts with IGY6 emblazoned on them. But, it’s not just a slogan. It’s a way of life for the veteran. “We are always aware and ready to have their backs, whenever they need it,” said Mary.U
K9 Partners for Patriots is a Guide Star Platinum participant.
Located at 16230 Aviation Loop Drive in Brooksville, Florida. 352.397.5306. Their biggest need, right now, is foster care to provide temporary housing for a dog waiting to be paired and trained with a veteran. "Once we identify a dog as a good candidate for service work, we want to be able to secure that dog as soon as possible. Foster caregivers enable us to do that," said Mary Peter, CEO and founder of K9 Partners for Patriots.
K9PartnersForPatriots.com - Click onto GET INVOLVED.
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