Dogs help soldiers with PTSD get through post-war life

Aaron McCarty and Bella.

Dogs help soldiers with PTSD get through post-war life

Submitted by Carleen Johnson, KOMO Newsradio Reporter
Friday, March 25th, 12:22pm


The numbers of seriously injured servicemen and women coming back from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to climb.

Besides physical wounds, many return with severe post traumatic stress disorder that goes undiagnosed for months or even years. But there’s a new organization dedicated to helping these wounded warriors.

Soldier Aaron McCarthy was on patrol in Iraq several years ago when a roadside bomb exploded.

“Knocked me out of the turret and I jumped back in,” he says.

With his right arm torn up, a serious head injury and recovering at home, it finally hit him.

“I kinda lost it, you know” McCarthy says, “because, here I am, bulletproof, you know, I’m the…I’m the…I’m the NCO. I’m in charge of all of these soldiers. I’ve got, you know, all this responsibility, and…and for me, that…that…that really took the wind out of my sails.”

But the realization that it was post traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury that had changed him didn't come right away, as it doesn't for many wounded warriors.

“I’m OK, I’m taking a couple of pills and it’s OK with me,” said McCarthy about that denial.

Over time the nightmares, tremors and stress took a toll.
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Dogs help soldiers with PTSD get through post-war life