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A Veteran and the Dog that Saved His Life
Get ready to be wowed by Global Strays' moving interview with Mathius Carter, a combat army veteran who served in Iraq in 2003. After he left the army, he suffered from PTSD and struggled to get better. His Yorkie, McCaffrey, saved his life. Mathius says, “I hated my life. I wasn't happy. Everything that happened that was bad, I felt like I deserved it. It was a rough time for me and without my dog I probably wouldn’t be here…he’s the reason I’m around.”
 “America’s Best Friend” & the “Most Powerful Lobbyist on Capitol Hill”
Kaya, an 8-year-old German Shepherd service dog trained to help Veterans with mental health issues, passed away on Feb. 4th. Her handler, Cole Lyle, told CNN, “I can‘t tell you how many veterans have messaged me and reached out to me in years past and even now and said, ‘You know, Kaya inspired me to get my own dog, because I saw you talk about how powerful she was for you, and if I had not done that, I would have killed myself.’ And I think that is Kaya’s most profound and powerful legacy.”
Watch the video that went viral of Kaya taking her last flight. 

Veterans, PTSD, & The Human-Animal Bond

  • 18.2 million Veterans reside in the US and about 30%, or 3.6 million, suffer from PTSD 
  • In Aug. 2021, "the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act" was signed into law. The PAWS Act requires the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 5-year pilot program to provide canine training to eligible Veterans diagnosed with PTSD.

  • Findings suggest that adopting a companion dog from a shelter may be a helpful supplement to usual care for veterans suffering from PTSD.

    Learn more

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Learn more about Global Strays Pets for Mental Wellbeing month:
As an international animal welfare organization, we know animals play a critical role in our daily lives. Beyond providing companionship and comfort to pet owners, they also provide mental health benefits. An estimated 74% of pet owners report mental health improvements from pet ownership. This staggering statistic is why we are sharing impactful stories from our community to facilitate conversations about mental health. Next month, we will cover topics from Animal Assisted Therapy to Service and Emotional Support Animals, and dispel commonly held myths. Backed by research, scientific studies, and personal accounts, we aim to increase support for the importance of pets on our mental health.
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