Along with the amazing work that the Lions Assistance Dogs team does, did you know that they train and provide Psychiatric Assistance Dogs?
What is the Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program?
Started in 2024, pups that go through the PADP (Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program) have specific training to learn certain tasks that will help their future owners to deal with their responses to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
These tasks range from placing a paw, or two, on their owner to calm them when they begin to display a certain tic to being able to press an emergency button for assistance in a dire situation. They can also jump into the lap of their owners to calm and relax them and retrieve items that their owners may need.
The primary goal of a Psychiatric Assistance Dog’s presence in their owners life is to assist in interrupting anti-social or anxious behaviours to help them to recognise this and regroup.
As with all Assistance Dogs, they also go through the Public Access Test to ensure they can be with their owners at all times, both within and outside of their homes.
Who Do Psychiatric Assistance Dogs help?
These dogs, once fully trained are placed with Veterans who have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
PTSD is a psychiatric condition that affects people who have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. As of 2024 it is estimated that the rate of PTSD affecting current ADF (Australian Defence Force) personal is 8%, with that number rising to 17.6% for ex-serving members. PTSD symptoms often start many years after the event and cause symptoms such as:
- reliving the event/s, sometimes in the form of flashbacks
- a desire to avoid anything that reminds a person of the event/s
- having more negative thoughts and feelings than before the event/s, including anger, fear, shame and guilt
- feeling on edge or keyed up
These life changing dogs are provided to their new owners free of charge, thanks to the Lions Assistance Dogs.
How to learn more about Assistance Dogs with Lions Assistance Dogs.
Along with Psychiatric Assistance Dogs, Lions Assistance Dogs also provide
- Hearing Assistance Dogs
- Medical Assistance Dogs
If you, or someone you know, may benefit from one of these Assistance Dogs in their life or to find out more about how these amazing dogs transform the lives of the people they live with, visit the Lions Assistance Dogs website here.
