VA gave Dennis a reminder of happy times, a black and white cat

Robotic pets give Asheville veterans a source of companionship at the VA

ABC 13 News
by John Le
May 20th 2019

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Long after serving our country, too many vets fight for a sense of peace. An unusual form of pet therapy provides a source of comfort and companionship at Charles George VA Medical Center.

"I'm 100 percent disabled, and I have PTSD," says Dennis Vincent, a Vietnam veteran. 'It's been a struggle practically since war, you know."

The VA gave Dennis a reminder of happy times, a black and white cat.

"He does a thing where he rolls on his back if I can get him to do it," Vincent explained, as the feline purred. "He's the next best thing to having a cat."

It's the 'next best thing,' because it's not real. 'Jack,' as Dennis calls it, is a robotic pet.

"You don't have to feed him. He doesn't have fleas. And he doesn't give me any back talk," Dennis points out.
read more here