Pets for Vets
Pets for Vets is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States dedicated to providing a second chance to shelter dogs by rescuing, training, and matching them with American veterans who need a companion pet. It was founded in 2009 to help veterans who were suffering from combat stress and other emotional issues. Each companion dog is rescued in connection with local animal rescue groups. History. Pets for Vets was founded on October 21, 2009, by animal behaviorist and trainer Clarissa Black, who was looking for a way to help American veterans who were suffering from  combat stress and other emotional issues related to their service. Many Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans suffer physical and emotional injuries making it difficult to transition back to civilian life. Pets for Vets helps military veterans reclaim normalcy in their lives through companion dogs. Each companion dog is rescued in connection with local animal rescue groups. They are then given basic obedience training and any additional training that will help them assimilate into their new lives and then finally placed in their "forever" home. Issues addressed. Estimates that anywhere from one in eight to one in five  of all Iraq war veterans have some degree of PTSD and two thirds of those who screened positive for PTSD are not receiving treatment. People who suffer from PTSD experience anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, flashbacks, and extreme wariness. It may manifest right away or show up months or even years later. Some of those who suffer from PTSD commit suicide. According to the ASPCA, every year between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats are abandoned at shelters in the United States. Nationally five out of ten shelter dogs and seven out of ten shelter cats are euthanized because there is  no one to adopt them from the shelter These dogs and cats can make excellent companion animals but never have that chance. Companion animals as therapy. Animal-assisted therapy has typically been used to treat physical disabilities; it is becoming increasingly useful in treating patients with psychological complications including PTSD and combat stress and even reducing symptoms of PTSD in as many as 82% of patients studied. More and more veterans are being written prescriptions for companion animals to help combat PTSD. Pets can help alleviate stress, loneliness and anxiety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says pets can  decrease a person's blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and feelings of loneliness. Pets can increase opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities and opportunities for socialization. Caring for a pet encourages responsibility and adherence to a daily schedule. Pets for Vets developed a program focusing on addressing these issues by bringing together animals needing to be rescued and veterans needing a companion for a better quality of life. Not every veteran qualifies for a psychiatric service dog, however everyone who wants one can benefit from a companion or pet animal. Pets for Vets Super Bond. Super Bond® is  an innovative program designed by Pets for Vets. It is a tested, step-by-step approach for Pets for Vets trainers to match an animal to a veteran based on their personality, temperament, needs, wants and expectations. The Super Bond philosophy is individually tailored and aims to create the best possible match between an animal and a veteran. The method involves an evaluation to match the right pet to the right person and training the pet to immediately offer companionship and comfort. There are four steps in the Super Bond program: Step One: Getting to Know the Veteran Information related  to the veteran’s personality, needs, wants, expectations and lifestyle are gathered. The input helps with guiding them to the right animal for their situation. Step Two: Getting to Know the Animal Following the interview with the veteran, the animals are next. The Pets for Vets Skilled Social Companion Evaluation is used to determine the pet’s needs. The findings are used to build a temperament composite that we compare to the veterans. Step Three: Training If the matched animal is a dog, they are trained for the specific veteran using a positive reinforcement training philosophy. An approach developed by  Clarissa Black, the founder of Pets for Vets, which encourages the human and animal to work together in a mutually beneficial way, based on trust and respect instead of force. Step Four: The Match The last step brings the veteran and pet finally together. Due to the earlier steps of the Super Bond® program, they should already seem to “know” one another and the animal is able to fit seamlessly into the veteran’s life.