How Service Dogs Help Veterans With PTSD

‘I can go anywhere,’ says one veteran previously restricted by experiences of PTSD

Veterans suffering PTSD are normally prescribed drugs but a growing body of research suggests service dogs offer an effective alternative. New Africa/Shutterstock

It was supper time in the Whittier, California, home of Air Force veteran Danyelle Clark-Gutierrez, and eagerly awaiting a bowl of kibble and canned dog food was Lisa, a 3-year-old yellow Labrador retriever.

Her nails clicking on the kitchen floor as she danced about, Lisa looked more like an exuberant puppy than a highly trained service animal that helps Clark-Gutierrez manage the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).