The Paul Oliver Foundation

4444 Given Ave

Memphis, TN 38122
Phone: 901-634-0125
abutler@thepauloliverfoundation.org

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Countless veterans return from war with wounds deeper than the eye can see. Medication and
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counseling is not always enough to help the veterans adjust back to life stateside and many

continue to suffer sometimes leading to drug abuse and even homelessness as a result. Studies

show canine companionship is a leading cure in the healing of PTSD cases and funding is

needed to match veterans with service dogs. Help by writing your local congressmen and

women to demand funding at the VA level to help these people. We owe it to them.

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Home Front Battle with No End in Sight: PTSD Formatted: Font: 12 pt

For many veterans, what happens at war does not stay at war. Scars go beyond skin deep,

beyond physical injury, and beyond anything visible. Many veterans are fighting an internal

battle, mentally and emotionally. Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome, or PTSD, is a very real and

increasingly occurrent disorder commonly suffered by veterans. What if there is a solution to

help alleviate some of the emotional tolls? Would it not make sense, to investigate, initiate, and

fund projects spearheading help for those vVeterans? The solution: emotional support service

dogs. The issue: the VA will not fund or offer emotional support dogs to Veterans due to lack of

evidence they actually help. Formatted: Font: 12 pt

PTSD is what exactly? Formatted: Font: 12 pt, Bold

 The Paul Oliver Foundation
4444 Given Ave
Memphis, TN 38122
Phone: 901-634-0125
abutler@thepauloliverfoundation.org

PTSD is a mental disorder or psychological response developed after experiencing or witnessing

any exceptionally traumatic or life-threatening event.1 Those with PTSD face these traumas on

replay so much so that it interferes with everyday life at home, work, and in public. 2

How does PTSD relate to war? Formatted: Font: 12 pt, Bold

PTSD has been diagnosed in vVeterans who endured traumatic events such as seeing dead

bodies, being shot at/ambushed, orand witnessing someone they known being seriously and/or

fatally wounded.3 The United States mMilitary reports the highest percentage of vVeterans

suffering from PTSD now.4 (than at any other time in recent history?)

 11-20% of Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF)

vVeterans

 12% of Gulf War vVeterans

 15% Vietnam vVeterans

 Without context, the percentages don’t really tell the story. Are there associated

numbers? Most people do notn’t have an understanding of how many military members

serve/have served in these operations so the percentage of veterans being impacted by

PTSD doesn’t give them a clear picture of the magnitude of the problem.

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Because PTSD is not a visible war wound, it commonly goes undiagnosed. There is no checklist

of signs that point straight to the disorder. Every case of PTSD is unique to the individual and
 The Paul Oliver Foundation
4444 Given Ave
Memphis, TN 38122
Phone: 901-634-0125
abutler@thepauloliverfoundation.org

the trauma experienced and not every vVeteran who experienced a trauma suffers from PTSD.

For those that who do, the symptoms vary but can include confusion, flashbacks, severe

anxiety, depression, and restlessness.2 These If left untreated, these symptoms can lead to

substance abuse5 and suicide6.

 2 out of 10 vVeterans with PTSD also suffer from substance abuse

 PTSD vVeterans are 3 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than vVeterans who

do not suffer from PTSD

How can service dogs help?

PTSD service dogs are proven to help with many different aspects of depression, lower

blood pressure, offer companionship, be their handler’s senses. Service dogs can also calm

their handler in tense situations, wake their partner during night terrors, and protect their

handler in crowded spaces to combat hypervigilance. 7 These dogs help their handlers

reconnect to the world and offer them peace of mind, draw out personality, and develop

the handler’s ability to be assertive without aggression. So many success stories attribute

service dogs to being the reason a Veteran can go in and work/live in the civilian world. 8

Call to Action!

There is more than enough evidence to support the fact service dogs can help Veterans

suffering from PTSD acclimate back to life outside of the warzone. Write your local
 The Paul Oliver Foundation
4444 Given Ave
Memphis, TN 38122
Phone: 901-634-0125
abutler@thepauloliverfoundation.org

congressmen and women today so they can allocate funding to the VA in order to get

service dog initiatives in action to help our Veterans today!

1PTSD Basics. (2017). Retrieved MarchSeptember 15, 20187,from

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/ptsd-overview/basics Formatted: Font: 12 pt

2Bagalman,
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Erin. (2013). Mental Disorders Among OEF/OIF Veterans Using VA Health Care:
Facts and Figures. Congressional Research Service. Retrieve
From:http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41921.pdf. Formatted: Font: 12 pt

3PTSD
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Basics. (2017). Retrieved MarchSeptember 15, 20187,
fromhttps://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/ptsd-overview/basics Formatted: Font: 12 pt

4 How
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Common is PTSD. (2017, July 05). Retrieved MarchSeptember 15, 20187, from
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/ptsd-overview/basics/how-common-is-ptsd.asp Formatted: Font: 12 pt

5
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PTSD and Substance Abuse in Veterans. (2015, Aug 13). Retrieved MarchOctober 212, 20187,
from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/problems/ptsd_substance_abuse_veterans.asp
6 PTSD and Suicide Risks in Veterans. (2017, Mar 28). Retrieved MarchOctober 212, 20187 from
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/co-occurring/ptsd-suicide.asp
7 PTSD Service Dogs. (2017) Retrieved March 21, 2018 from
https://www.canines4hope.com/mobilehttps://www.canines4hope.com/mobileh Formatted: Font: 11 pt
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ttps://www.canines4hope.com/mobilehttps://www.canines4hope.com/mobile
8How Dogs Can Help Veterans Overcome PTSD (2012, July) Retrieved March 21, 2018 from
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-dogs-can-help-veterans-overcome-
ptsd-137582968/

Position Paper Rubric

Discussion of issue and impact

 The Paul Oliver Foundation
4444 Given Ave
Memphis, TN 38122
Phone: 901-634-0125
abutler@thepauloliverfoundation.org

On organization 0/ 10

There needs to be a final section that ties the organization back to the issue. Maybe called: How is The
Paul Oliver Foundation helping?

On publics 10/10

Call to action 0/10

I didn’t get a call to action from the point paper. Do you want people to support the foundation? How?

Accuracy and comprehensiveness (including research) 8/10

Two quotes 0/10

Appropriateness for audience 5/5

AP style/GSPS 5/5

Length/Clear organization of material 5/5

Citations (internal and external) 5/5

Creativity 3/5

Total __41____ / 75