It goes without saying that the wounds our courageous veterans return home with are not always physical. Whether officially diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or not, many veterans have difficulty coping with everyday life and personal interactions due to the psychological damage incurred on the battlefield.<\/p>\n
As illustrated in a recent Time Magazine report, however, training and caring for a dog can provide veterans with a simpler, warmer companionship, and even a reason to go on living.<\/p>\n
Phil Ruddock, a Louisiana veteran of Desert Storm, experienced paranoia and trouble sleeping when he returned home \u2013 a textbook case of PTSD. After Phil had a nervous breakdown, lost his job, and became a recluse, a friend brought him an abandoned pit bull. The dog’s companionship gave him the confidence to slowly return to a normal life. Phil says the dog, Mia, rescued him.<\/p>\n
Now, Phil runs a nonprofit devoted to helping other veterans discover (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It goes without saying that the wounds our courageous veterans return home with are not always physical. Whether officially diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or not, many veterans have difficulty coping with everyday life and personal interactions due to…<\/span><\/p>\n