A local philanthropic organization gave more than $13,000 to the Circle of Change Veterans Dog Program, which helps veterans manage their post-traumatic stress, brain injury or other psychological disorders by helping train newly-adopted civilian dogs that also may have PTSD.
The money from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois would help the veterans dog program finance their biggest expense: paying the dog handlers who teach the veterans.
Steve Haight, executive director for Circle of Change, says PTSD specifically affects a veteran’s self-esteem.
“As they’re working with these dogs, they’re seeing results fairly quickly, certainly by the end of the first session with the dog, and it helps build the veteran’s self-esteem as well,” Haight said.
Haight says the veterans in the program may not be in a place to own a dog, but helping train someone else’s dog could equally benefit the veteran and civilian dog owner.
“When they’re in the classes working with these dogs, they’re focusing on the dogs and not their problems,” Haight said.
Haight says there are several organizations out there that help provide service dogs for veterans, but there aren’t that many organizations like Circle of Change. He says that’s why it’s hard for him to find government funds.
Haight says the program has helped more than 300 veterans from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin since it started 11 years ago.
