4 minute read
Game On
Dr. Robert Lutz, Medical Director and member of the board for Continuing the Mission.
-CTM Veteran Recipient Canine Assistance for Military Heroes
Continuing the Mission supports veterans with PTSD
by Tony Ricciardelli photography by Jon Beyerle
Prior to the 1980s, the term Post Traumatic Distress Order (PTSD), was often referred to as combat fatigue or shell shock. Soldiers suffering from depression, anxiety, and the debilitating horrors of war were mis-diagnosed, untreated, or inadequately treated. Temporary furlough (rest and relaxation) was considered a remedy before returning soldiers to the front lines.
Today, PTSD is recognized as a treatable condition requiring ongoing support from mental health professionals, veteran organizations, and family members. Multiple therapies implemented in conjunction with clinical approaches are often used to facilitate recovery.
In Davidson, Suzy and Robert Lutz, founders of Continuing the Mission (CTM), provide fully trained assistance dogs to qualified PTSD veterans. Established in March 2016, CTM is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that immerses dogs in continuous social and functional activities. The non-profit provides, at no cost to veterans, 4-5 assistance dogs in North Carolina each year.
Suzy Lutz, CTM Executive Director and a military spouse for thirty years, has experience training dogs in obedience, agility, and pet therapy. A former accountant for the Defense Department, Lutz understands the impact dogs can have on people and sports medicine.
After eighteen months with a foster family, and working with Cortney Owens, CTM’s Director of Assistance Dog Training, the dogs are reassigned to Owens for full-time task training.
Lutz’s husband, Dr. Robert Lutz, board certification in Emergency Medicine and Sports Medicine, is CTM’s Medical Director & Member of the Board. Dr. Lutz retired from the US Army in 2017 after a 30-year career. With multiple combat deployments including service in Iraq and Afghanistan, he has first-hand experience caring for patients with post-traumatic stress.
A thoughtful training and placement process
According to Lutz, “Training and placing dogs is a multi-step program. We follow a birth-to-placement process working with Labrador Retrievers. The dogs are placed with foster families, where they’re taught house training, confidence in new situations, walking appropriately on a leash, and good citizenry in a family environment.” After eighteen months with a foster family, and working with Cortney Owens, CTM’s Director of Assistance Dog Training, the dogs are reassigned to Owens for full-time task training. Owens provides ongoing canine instruction for CTM, conducts yearly recertification, and manages the daily health and exercise requirements for CTM Assistance Dogs.
“Cortney trains the dogs to complement trauma-based therapy, says Lutz, “where the dog learns behaviors to assist with grounding techniques.” The dog’s abilities are tailored to the needs of the PTSD recipient. Conversely, the PTSD recipient is educated on American Disabilities Act (ADA) laws, the role of a service dog, and how to interact with the dog in public situations.
The dogs and the recipients are exposed to and assessed in a variety of real-world scenarios. Recently, during ‘Pairing Week,’ two newly paired veterans and their canines, along with Lutz and Owens, visited Concord Regional Airport, where they partnered with TSA agents to run through several scenarios: security screening, queuing, renting a car. Additionally, the dogs in training are brought to Fort Bragg two to three times per year to share the program with military families.
The ‘Passing of the Leash’
When it comes time to turn the dog over to the recipient, Lutz and her team spend one week partnering with the veteran to establish a sound transition. During this time, the recipient is coached on the abilities and functions of the dog, how to manage the dog, the proper way to issue commands, and practicing tasks. Additionally, the recipient’s family is educated in service dog protocols and handling. Once the dog and its new owner complete CTM testing requirements, the ‘Passing of the Leash Ceremony’ takes place, and the dog is officially handed over to its new owner. Annual re-certification and ongoing training and support are provided to all CTM recipients.
“We’re trying to touch as many lives with leashes as possible,” says Lutz. “Psychiatric service dogs are just gaining recognition. I hope that in the future, CTM will be positioned to extend its services to first responders. Currently, we have a waiting list of ten PTSD Veterans, which takes us three years out. More foster families, more volunteers, and more awareness will get us there.”
For more information about Continuing the Mission, go to www.continuingthemission.org. Veterans requiring emergency assistance can call Veterans Crisis Line at 1.800.273.8255 and press 1.
