Veteran provides emotional support K9s for fellow Vets.
A Ralph H. Johnson Health Care System Veteran has established a program to provide trained emotional support dogs to his fellow combat Veterans to help alleviate the Veteran suicide problem across the country.
Joint Task Force K9s, based out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is making a significant impact by providing specialized emotional support dogs to active-duty military personnel, combat Veterans, and law enforcement officers with disabilities. Founded July 22, 2022, by Keith and Lori Holland, this faith-based nonprofit aims to prevent suicide among Veterans and law enforcement officers by facilitating their reintegration into the community. JTFK9s offers K9 therapy classes and places specially trained emotional support dogs to enhance the peace of mind for individuals coping with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
“Our primary goal here is to help Veterans with their PTSD, depression, and just help save lives,” Keith Holland said. “We give our dogs a high degree of training to not only be obedient, but also to be soothing and therapeutic to those Veterans that could be suffering. We go though a whole bonding curriculum where we match dogs and Veterans with each other based on their personalities.”
Keith, a fourth-generation Veteran, personally experienced the transformative power of a dog’s companionship. After struggling with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury, he got his dog from a Wounded Warrior program, which profoundly changed his life. This experience inspired Keith and his wife to establish JTFK9s to support others facing similar challenges.
“When we’re watching these dogs bond with the Veterans we try and match the dogs that can handle more stressed out individuals with those who have more severe symptoms,” Holland said. “It is 100% free for these guys to get their dogs. We pay for their travel and teach and train them on animal care and how to ensure a healthy relationship is maintained.”
While emotional support animals offer comfort and companionship, it's important to distinguish them from service dogs. ESAs are not trained to perform specific tasks related to a disability and, as such, do not have the same legal protections in public spaces. However, many individuals find that ESAs help reduce feelings of loneliness and anxiety, providing a valuable source of emotional support.
According to the article Therapeutic and Economic Benefits of Service Dogs Versus Emotional Support Dogs for Veterans With PTSD in the National Library of Medicine, Veterans overall appeared to benefit from having a service or emotional support dog with showing improved reduction in PTSD symptoms.
Veteran Service Organizations like JTFK9s play a crucial role in supporting veterans and by providing them with a community of those who can empathize with they’ve been through, thereby enhancing their quality of life and aiding in their recovery and reintegration into society.