U.S. Military Veteran Graduates with Psychiatric Service Dog on November 10th

Psychiatric service dog companion graduation ceremony to aid veteran with PTSD/TBI coinciding with Veteran's Day celebration
By: Shelter to Soldier
 
 
U.S. military veteran Vic Martin with Kira
U.S. military veteran Vic Martin with Kira
SAN DIEGO - Nov. 4, 2014 - PRLog -- For U.S. veteran Vic Martin, Veteran’s Day commemorates more than service to his country; this day will also celebrate the graduation of a life-long companion that will help alleviate stress, anxiety, sleepless nights, hypervigilence, panic attacks and other symptoms related to Vic Martin’s medical diagnosis. “Kira”, a precocious rescue dog,will guide him through the challenging days ahead. Shelter to Soldier (STS), a San Diego-based 501c3 non-profit organization that rescues shelter dogs and trains them to become certified psychiatric service companions for post 9/11 U.S. combat veterans suffering from PTSD and/or TBI (www.sheltertosoldier.org), will perform graduation ceremonies to partner Vic with Kira for a life-long partnership to regenerate Vic’s mental health. The graduation will be held the day prior to Veteran’s Day on Monday, November 10, 2014 at 11:00 am at Fon Jon Pet Care, located at 5050 Santa Fe Street, San Diego, 92109.

According to Vic, STS provides a service that is desperately needed by U.S. veterans, “When I retired from the Navy after multiple deployments and subsequently diagnosed with severe medical disabilities (brought on by a brain injury due to impactful frontal lobe hypoxia), I was prescribed seven different prescription drugs by the VA to alleviate my condition after spending 14 days in the VA ICU. The drugs I was prescribed to ingest on a daily basis had negative side effects, including loss of memory, anxiety and extreme depression. Fortunately, my wife discovered the services provided by STS and I have since been able to reduce the number of prescription drugs that I am on, which I attribute directly to the services provided from STS.”

STS is supported solely through charitable contributions from corporations, charitable foundations and private individuals. Vic explains, ”I’ve been tremendously impressed with the results of this service organization that I now devote my time to furthering their mission through advocating alternate methods of treating PTSD. As a result of my therapy with my service dog Kira, I now have the will to move forward and enjoy everyday activities such as spending quality time with my wife and children, gardening, music, hiking, engaging in sports events and reaching out to other combat veterans who might benefit from the services of STS. To me, STS has been a life-changer; I want to empower other US Veterans by educating them on this proven therapeutic alternative provided by STS.”

Every day on average, twenty-two (22) U.S. veterans commit suicide (Department of Veteran Affairs). In the past year alone, the number of diagnosed cases of PTSD in the military jumped 50% and this represents cases that have been diagnosed. Studies estimate that one in every five military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is suffering from PTSD. To learn more about veteran-support services provided by STS, call 855-CUS-TMK9 (855-287-8659) for a confidential interview regarding eligibility.

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Source:Shelter to Soldier
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Tags:Shelter to Soldier, U.S. military veteran, Veteran S Day, Ptsd, Tbi
Industry:Health, Non-profit
Location:San Diego - California - United States
Subject:Events
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