Four-legged friends in Central Texas are helping wounded U.S. military veterans recover from the horrors of war they saw while on active duty, according to a published report.
Ten dogs with Divine Canines recently visited the occupational therapy center at the Fort Hood Warrior Transition Brigade late last week, the Killeen Daily Herald reports. Visits typically are once a month and they augment the other practices that occupational therapists administer to the recovering soldiers. The dog therapy helps to supplement the soldiers' occupational therapy.
"We noticed that our more aloof soldiers more readily responded to dogs than to therapists," occupational therapist Randy Thomas told the publication, noting humans and dogs share a lengthy past. "There's a longtime bond between humans and dogs. It's been going on for thousands of years."
One sergeant bonded with a poodle whose response to the attention was to wag her tail and wiggle her back. The poodle also was happy to lift a paw when the sergeant asked for a high-five.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates career opportunities for those with occupational therapy jobs are rapidly growing, particularly with those who offer services for the geriatric demographic.