Bodhi Battalion Dog Service
Could A Service Dog Change Your Life?
Has a traumatic experience made the transition back into civilian life more challenging than you thought? Do you have trouble sleeping, leaving the home, or reconnecting with friends and family? Are you constantly on edge, paranoid, or easily startled to the extent that it’s impossible to relax? Perhaps you struggle to reconcile the trauma of losing friends, witnessing the horrors of war, or having to do things that didn’t make you proud but were necessary. Or it could be that an injury or disability has left you searching for purpose and independence in a life that seems completely foreign now.
For many veterans, returning home is more difficult than what they faced on the battlefield. The support group of fellow warriors you relied on overseas disappears. The residual fear and hypervigilance from combat prevent you from leaving the house because nowhere else feels safe. And the flashbacks and negative intrusive thoughts force you to relive your worst experiences day after day.
So, you begin isolating yourself because you can’t discuss your pain with your spouse or family or friends. And even if they could understand, you’re probably afraid the truth would change the way they look at you. After all the medications, therapies, and support groups for veterans—it probably feels like you are running out of options.
But you do have an alternative.
We know from first hand experience it can and will get better. Having one of our free, highly-trained service dogs f by your side can give you the chance to truly reclaim your independence and find new meaning in life.
War Changes People, No Matter How Strong You Are
Many veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan bear incredible emotional and physical scars that make civilian life a daunting challenge. Acclimating to this new reality is already difficult enough. But if you were injured or had a traumatic experience, recovery can feel like an eternity away. Exposure to gunfire, explosions, friendly casualties, injury, accidents, and the loss of life all have the power to fundamentally change who we are.
As human beings, our minds are simply not designed to withstand that level of trauma. Therefore, many of us come home carrying a burden that we don’t know how to reconcile. And unfortunately, our training does little to help us because we are taught to be unwavering in our self-sufficiency, autonomy, and independence—both in combat and in life. We are supposed to be the baddest of the bad—the strongest of the strong. So, naturally, asking for help isn’t exactly easy.
Healing With The Help Of A Canine Partner
One of the most powerful benefits of having a service dog is that you will never be alone again because that dog is there solely for you. It’s not simply a therapy dog or an emotional support animal—it is very much a medical device that can read and respond to your physical and emotional needs just like a machine. This is why we only provide professional service and therapy dogs, not emotional support animals. And although medication and therapy have their place, our animals have the potential to heal you on a level that rivals anything a doctor could prescribe.
The service canines we train are not your ordinary service animals. In fact, your dog will be so finely attuned to your physical and emotional needs that it will give other service animals self-esteem issues. We put over $30,000 worth of training into every canine to ensure that each one’s skill set is tailored to the unique needs of the individual. If you have a physical disability, we can teach your dog to retrieve medications, open doors, or push a wheelchair. For veterans with anxiety or PTSD, your dog can act as a grounding mechanism that allows you to deescalate and tolerate distress better.
Service dogs can also help you recognize ways in which PTSD symptoms may be manifesting physically or emotionally by calling attention to and responding to changes in your behavior or emotional state. If depression is forcing you into isolation and inaction, a service dog can give you purpose—a reason to get up, leave the house, or go for a walk. Over time, these little successes give you momentum, enabling you to take on greater challenges.
Caring for your service dog can also help improve other relationships. Building patience and learning how to communicate with your dog are skills that you can gradually use to reconnect with your children and spouse. Another great thing about these animals is that they don’t need to know your life story or what happened ten years ago. All they care about is you—unconditionally.
I understand that it can be difficult believing that anything can make a difference. But having a service dog can give you a reason to live, a life to protect, and a battle buddy who will have your back through thick and thin. I know from personal experience just how life-saving these incredible animals can be. With a little work and time, I believe one of our dogs can change your life.
Healing With The Help Of A Canine Partner
How Long Does It Take To Get A Service Dog?
I worry about the extra attention the dog will attract to me.
At this point, can anything really make a difference?
Take Your Future Into Your Own Hands
Where Do We Get Our Dogs?
Would You Like To Be A Puppy Raiser or Foster???
Our puppy raiser program involves families taking a service dog in training into their home that is between the ages of 8 weeks and 12 months old. The puppy remains with the family until the age of 14 months when they are returned to Bodhi Battalion for advanced training, assessments, and placement to their forever veterans. All food, veterinary care, & training is covered by Bodhi Battalion. The family would be responsible for practicing the training & taking the puppy everywhere they go including work, stores, etc.
We are currently accepting applications for new puppy raisers and fosters.
We are also seeking short term fosters for random portions of time under two weeks of duration. Sometimes our puppy raisers need vacation or we receive a new dog in training and need temporary foster families for these dogs. If you are interested in either puppy raising or fostering short term, please contact us at info@bodhibattalion.org and we’ll send you the application and required criteria.