Therapy dog helps veteran in crisis find calm
A therapy dog named Honey recently helped de-escalate a crisis situation in the emergency department at West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System, bringing a distressed young veteran's vital signs down to normal levels in less than half a minute. The veteran had been struggling to remain calm, which prevented clinicians from providing urgent care, but after Honey climbed onto his hospital bed and stayed by his side, his heart rate and blood pressure decreased within 28 seconds. He began talking about his military service, his anxiety eased, and medical staff were able to proceed with treatment.
Therapy dog programs at VA medical centers use specially trained volunteer dog teams to help create moments of calm and connection for veterans receiving care. These programs are distinct from service animals or emotional support animals; therapy dogs work with volunteer handlers to visit patients in hospitals, clinics, and waiting areas as a complement to medical treatment, not a replacement for it. Research has demonstrated that therapy dog visits can reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, improve mood, and encourage social interaction, which is why VA and other healthcare organizations have incorporated these programs into patient care settings.
The therapy dog teams at West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System, including Barbara and Honey, visit inpatient units, clinics, and waiting areas throughout the Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center. Barbara began volunteering to honor her father, a Navy veteran, after witnessing firsthand throughout her life how dogs brought him comfort and companionship. Her work with Honey represents a broader effort across VA facilities to help veterans feel more at ease while receiving medical care, particularly in high-stress environments like emergency departments where anxiety can interfere with treatment.
The incident described took place at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System, which is part of VISN 2, the VA Southeast Health Network. While the article focuses on one facility's program, therapy dog teams operate at VA medical centers across the country as part of voluntary services programs. These visits can take many forms: sometimes the dogs spark conversations between veterans and staff, sometimes they provide a welcome distraction from discomfort or worry, and sometimes they simply sit quietly beside a veteran who needs a calming presence.
For disabled veterans, particularly those managing mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety disorders, or depression, therapy dog programs represent an important non-pharmaceutical tool in the broader spectrum of VA care. The ability of a trained therapy dog to help regulate a veteran's physiological stress response, as demonstrated by the measurable decrease in heart rate and blood pressure in this case, shows how complementary interventions can support clinical treatment. These programs are especially valuable in crisis situations where traditional interventions may be difficult to implement quickly.
Veterans receiving care at VA medical centers can typically encounter therapy dog teams during scheduled visits to various units and common areas, though availability varies by facility. The programs rely on volunteers who meet specific training and certification requirements along with their dogs. While this particular story highlights emergency department intervention, therapy dog teams serve veterans across many care settings, from routine outpatient appointments to extended inpatient stays.
If you receive care at a VA medical center and would benefit from interaction with therapy dogs during your visits, ask your care team or the voluntary services office whether your facility has an active therapy dog program and when teams typically visit your clinic or unit. For veterans interested in obtaining their own service dog or emotional support animal for disability-related needs, that is a separate process from facility therapy dog programs and should be discussed directly with your VA provider or mental health team.