Penn Researchers Show Relationship with Working Dogs Protects Handlers from PTSD

[News]

"For these search-and-rescue workers," said Melissa Hunt, the associate director of the clinical training program in the School of Arts and Sciences' Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, "we saw rates of severe psychopathology and post-traumatic stress disorder that are well below what has been reported in other first responder groups, especially a number of years out from the attacks."

Scott Shields, right, gives his rescue dog "Bear" water from a bottle after coming out the World Trade Center disaster site in this Sept. 13, 2001 file photo. Researchers at University of Pennsylvania have shown search-and-rescue dogs reduce the risk of post traumatic stress disorder in their handlers. (AP Photo/Beth A. Keiser, FILE )

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[DFIB]

This is just cool.

[RuralKSEMS]

Awesome. It makes sense when you think about it really. They use service dogs for returning military members that are diagnosed with PTSD and TBIs. It could only help prevent PTSD in those that are in the search and rescue field.