Tucson Standard

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Gretchen Evans, who served in the United States Army for 27 years, faced significant challenges after a rocket blast in Afghanistan ended her military career in 2006. She suffered from near-total hearing loss, a traumatic brain injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). "It was a devastating shock to me," Evans said. "I lost my career, my passion and purpose."

Evans found relief with the help of service dogs Aura and Rusty, which assisted her with daily tasks and helped her regain confidence. "As soon as I got Aura and had her by my side, that really took away the fear of engaging with people and day-to-day life," she stated.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine explored the impact of service dogs on veterans with PTSD. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study revealed that veterans working with service dogs reported lower PTSD symptom severity, anxiety, depression, and isolation while experiencing higher quality of life.

Lead author Sarah Leighton highlighted the challenges faced by veterans seeking treatment due to limited funding for service dog nonprofits and lack of insurance coverage for service dog interventions. "We know that veterans with PTSD are struggling," Leighton noted.

The research involved 156 veterans on a waiting list for a service dog through K9s For Warriors. Participants paired with service dogs showed significant improvements after three months compared to those still waiting.

Principal investigator Maggie O'Haire emphasized the need for further research to understand how service dogs impact other PTSD treatments. The OHAIRE group is planning a clinical trial funded by the Department of Defense to analyze how service dogs affect prolonged exposure therapy outcomes.

"The impact of service dogs on existing PTSD care is unknown," O'Haire said. The upcoming study aims to determine if working with a service dog during therapy leads to better outcomes for veterans.