The video of a veteran sitting with a wolf and finally relaxing stayed with me. The veterans wolves program pairs service members with wolves in a way that calms both sides.
We’ve seen just how wonderful dogs can be in calming down a handler who’s suffering from overwhelming emotional wounds. Horses are another incredible animal that has a similar ability to bring peace to veterans, as we’ve seen through the equine therapy conducted at Boulder Crest Retreat in Bluemont, VA.
Yet, there’s also another more surprising program that’s helping veterans move on from the pain: Warriors and Wolves.
At the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center in Frazier Park, CA, veterans with PTSD heal with the help of rescued wolves.
“There’s something about being part of nature. There’s something about being around these animals,” cofounder/veteran Matthew Simmons told a Great Big Story. “To even the most wounded veteran, they feel different. It keeps them a part of something greater than themselves.”
Seeing this wild species interact with the veterans, and actually producing positive results, is almost unbelievable. For veteran Jim Minick, nothing seemed to work until he entered the program.
“They kind of teach you how to be calm and confident,” said Minick. “It’s got some deeper meaning when they accept you.”
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The veterans wolves program works because both sides need the calm. The pairing is the kind of thing that changes a life quietly.
