Canine Connection

Wow, what an amazing story! Incredible research, and such exciting developments in mental health support for people who really need them. Awesome article!

This is an awesome article!!

Really enjoyed this article.
It is no wonder that Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) out of Santa Rosa, who already train CCI pups for physically wounded veterans, is now running a PTSD program to specifically work with those suffering from it.

I applaud all the work these non profits do and appreciated the attention articles like this one give to the research findings diving these programs.

Sincerely
Mary Segall
CCI puppy raiser
Rumba Service Dog 2013
Cotton Med release 2014
Patch Pup in training 2015-16

Yes, this article is awesome. While I am not a person suffering from PDST, I had to deal with TOD (terrified of dogs). I would literally hurt someone trying to get away from a dog and it didn't matter what size. From that period on I would come in contact with family members who had dogs and at some point I had to come to learn how to overcome my TOD...I was set up...literally a Divine Setup in that my niece and her husband had a dog and when I would visit them, I had to get used to Miss Kendal, a short-hair 5-lb Chihuahua...long story short, I was given the responsibility of caring for Kendal until they returned from a vacation to start a business...somehow on the vacation, they decided that Kendal would be better off with me...again long story short, I ended up with Kendal who not only was the divine instrument of teaching me responsibility and learning to say, "no, I can't do that!" to questions regarding my time. 15 years later, Miss Kendal has become my "ROYAL MUFFIN" as she sits (with cataracts) and look in my eyes, and holds on to my arms while I carry her around to avoid her bumping into things, and when she sits and lays across my lap during the my down time, that is my therapy and if I could carry her everywhere I go, I would because just her presence is healing with love, peace, and rest!!! My life have had and is still having tremendous blessings from having a loving dog in it.

Rosas is a true hero. Thanks for your service. Our country owes you a debt of gratitude. May God bless and help him and his family with his recovery. This is a great article. Hope more veterans can get the help they have so bravely earned. CCI sounds great and hope it becomes more widely implemented.