INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) has received a gift from Cammack American Legion Post 327 in Muncie to support Veteran clients of the organization.
ICAN trains service dogs for people in Indiana with physical or development disabilities, and places service dogs to support veterans with mobility issues and to interrupt symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Each dog is trained specifically for the individual veteran’s needs. The service dog skills may include: alerting to signs of rising anxiety such as foot tapping, clenching fists, knee bouncing, and interrupting nightmares.
ICAN will use the funds to help get a service dog matched with a veteran. The funds came from the sale of the Legion’s building in Muncie.
An alert from a service dog allows the veteran to take control of the situation. He or she is taught what they need to do once the dog has alerted and how to incorporate the dog into their overall therapy to help them regain a sense of peace and control. Helping a veteran overcome trauma is a team effort. The dog alerts to the anxiety and provides comfort in times of need, but it is up to the veteran to take a proactive approach to their healing, with continued counseling, to help them optimize the skills of his or her new partner.
To learn more about veteran and service dog partnerships visit the ICAN Web site at www.icandog.org