Veterans

Do Dogs Help Veterans?

Dr. Dell began research in the Veteran field in 2015 when she led a study on the impacts of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program on the wellbeing of older adults in a Saskatchewan Veterans Affairs Canada residence. It was found that the therapy dogs had a role in memory recollection and reminiscence among Veterans, positive mental and physical health impacts resulting from the therapy dog visits, and overwhelming support and love Veterans perceived from the therapy dog and therapy dog handlers. A music video of the project findings is available.
Dr. Dell started studying Service Dogs in 2016, when she partnered with the AUDEAMUS Inc. Service Dog organization, focusing on Veterans and First Responders diagnosed with PTSD and problematically using substances. This work resulted in a preliminary assessment of the impact of Service Dogs with 9 Veterans. It was found that the dogs supported Veterans' physical health, a sense of psychological acceptance, social connection and a spiritual purpose.
A second study in 2017 explored Veterans' prescription histories and other substance use and found that the introduction of a Service Dog decreased their problematic use of licit and illicit substances, decreased their PTSD symptoms, and decreased or stabilized their prescription medication use.
in 2018, as part of the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse, Dr. Dell's team examined a cohort of 5 Veterans matched with a Service Dog over a one year period. Preliminary results indicate a reduction in problematic alcohol and opioid use and PTSD symptoms, and an uptake in medical cannabis to cope with PTSD symptoms. The study examines the impact of both the therapeutic intervention tasks the service dogs are trained in (e.g., tactile stimulation to disrupt emotional overload) and the human-animal bond (bio-psycho-social-spiritual connection) to address veterans’ PTSD and its relation to their mental health and wellness, and specifically problematic substance use focused on opioids.
Adopting a patient-oriented approach, Dr. Dell has been learned alongside Veterans in the pilot project by training Subie as a Service Dog over a two year period.
These findings all helped inform a Health Canada SUAP project that is currently being led by Dr. Dell and a large team which aims to have Canadian service dog organizations working with veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder address recovery from problematic substance use, by using evidence-informed practice, and with specific attention to substance use and distance peer support in their training programs. An overview video is available here.

Do Dogs Help Veterans?

Academic Publications

Williamson, L., Dell, C., Osgood, N., Chalmers, D., Lohnes, C., Carleton, R., Asmundson, G. 2021. Examining changes in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and substance use among a sample of Canadian veterans working with service dogs: An exploratory longitudinal study. Journal of Veteran Studies. 7(1), pp. 1–13.
Husband, A., Ahmed, A., Dell, C. 2019. “An Exploratory Case Study of the Impact of Psychiatric Service Dogs on Problematic Substance Use among PTSD-Diagnosed Veterans”. Journal of Substance Use. 25:2, 113-117.
Dell, C., D. Chalmers, J. Gillett, M. Steeves, B. Rohr, B. Fornssler, A. Husband, H. McKenzie, O. Iwajomo, C. Nickel. 2018. "Effects of a Therapy Dog Program on the Wellbeing of Older Veterans Living in a Long Term Care Residence”. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin. 6(2): pp. 83-102.

Videos

Dell, C., Espey, S. & Team. (2016). I Had a Dog (without lyrics) (with lyrics) (with French Lyrics). Song and music video. Saskatoon: University of Saskatchewan.
Lyric sheet Lyric sheet (French) Bandcamp
Dell, C, ME Gibson, J. Ogresko. 2019.https://youtu.be/V_egZGuq530" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> A PAWSitive Support Project for Veterans with PTSD and Who
Problematically Use Substances. USask Media Production Team video.

Other Products

Dell, C., Arratoon, C., Lapointe, M., Lohnes, C. September/October 2017. “Impact of Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD and Substance Abuse”. Canadian Vet Magazine. pp. 12.
C. Dell. (2017). Studying Service Dogs. The Humanitarian: Saskatchewan SPCA. p. 8.

Presentations

Dell, C., Chalmers, D., Williamson, L., Gibson, M. (2020). The Impact of Service Dogs on Veterans’ PTSD Symptoms and Substance Use: Project Update. Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, Conservative Party of Canada Members of Parliament. Saskatoon, SK. Virtual.
Gibson, M, Williamson, L., Dell, C., Chalmers, D., DeGroot, P. 2020. “Insight into Social Influences on Veterans’ Use of Medical Cannabis to Manage their PTSD Symptoms”. SK Health Research Showcase Conference. Saskatoon: SK. Virtual.
Williamson, L., Dell, C., Chalmers, D., Lohnes, C., LaPointe, M., Carleton, N., Asmundson, G. 2020.
“Examining Changes in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Substance Use Among a
Sample of Canadian Veterans Working with Service Dogs: An Exploratory Longitudinal Study”.
INCAM Research Symposium. Saskatoon, SK. Virtual.
Ahmed, A., Husband, A., Dell, C., Williamson, L. 2019. “PTSD-Diagnosed Veterans Combatting
Problematic Substance Use with Psychiatric Service Dogs: What Community Pharmacists Should Know”. Issues of Substance – Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. Ottawa, ON.

Funders & Supporters

St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program (National, Saskatchewan); Department of Sociology, McMaster University; Department of Sociology, School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan; Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina; AUDEAMUS (a bilingual, injured veteran-run, not for profit organization dedicated to the principle and practice of providing highly skilled and effective certified service dogs to persons traumatized in the line of duty and whose quality of life depend on it); Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse; Department of Sociology, School of Public Health, Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan; Faculty of Social Work, Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Laboratory, Collaborative Centre for Justice and Safety, University of Regina; Centre for Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology that Enables, British Columbia Institute of Technology; Faculty of Aging, McMaster University; and consultants; Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse; SCPOR (SK Centre for Patient-Oriented Research) Designated Project & student funding support; Veterans Affairs Canada.

Do Dogs Help Veterans?

Do Dogs Help Veterans?

Do Dogs Help Veterans?

Do Dogs Help Veterans?

Do Dogs Help Veterans?

Addiction Research Chair Outcomes

Dr. Dell's work is informed by research undertaken during her Addiction Research Chair (2007-2016)

Photo Gallery

Funders & Supporters