CP90033.D21 Chenise SASKATOONEXPRESS - April 21-27, 2014 - Page 1
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Volume 11, Issue 15, Week of April 21, 2014
Saskatoonʼs REAL Community Newspaper
Going to a vet
Companion dogs just what the doctor ordered for PTSD Steve Gray, Odin and Jerri McPhee support the Citadel Canine Society in different ways (Photo by Sandy Hutchinson) Cam Hutchinson Saskatoon Express
that most need them. They can’t train them fast enough. Too many soldiers are falling teve Gray squatted down and petted on the home front, far away from conflicts Odin. in places such as Afghanistan. “You’re going to be a big help to While you can see the love in Odin’s someone. You sure will.” big brown eyes, he will be more than a Gray recently retired after 15 years in friendly face and good company for his the Canadian military. Odin is in training recipient. to be a service dog. He will soon leave “They are trained to help their mastrainer Jerri McPhee and take his next ters through panic attacks and bouts of step toward being a companion for one of depression. They are just what the doctor Canada’s military personnel suffering the ordered,” McPhee said. effects of post-traumatic stress disorder Gray, the local president of the Cana(PTSD). Odin could be a life-saver. dian Army Veteran (CAV) Motorcycle If only there were enough Odins for Unit, knows of the value of getting dogs to every veteran that needed a service dog. veterans. An organization named Citadel Canine “PTSD has had a massive amount of atSociety has trainers in many parts of tention in the media in the last few years,” Canada, including Saskatoon and area. he said. “These dogs do make a difference; These trainers are preparing dogs for those I have seen it with veterans I know.”
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A study in the United States found 82 per cent of PTSD sufferers reported a reduction in symptoms after being paired with a dog. Forty per cent were able to reduce their use of medication. That’s a lot of healing. Gray said it was an easy decision to throw the support of the local 15-member group — 3rd C.A.V. Groningen Unit — to Citadel. “Citadel was already known to us because of some CAV units in Alberta and B.C. Those units were already doing some support with Citadel. We got word that Citadel had set up in Saskatoon. It made sense to me that it was the group to jump behind.” Odin is McPhee’s second dog. Oscar was deployed to Halifax, where he is in good hands. “Hearing reports back from the veteran
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is wonderful,” she said. McPhee is responsible for basic training of service dogs. She is required to devote five hours a week to Odin’s training. That is when she is on the clock. That is nowhere near the amount of time the two spend together. McPhee got involved in the program through the Saskatoon Kennel and Obedience Club. She first trained a mastiff named Winston who became a certified therapy dog. “I enjoyed that so much going to seniors homes, and seeing how they reacted to the dog was fabulous.” Through a club contact, McPhee found out about Citadel program and the need for trainers in Saskatoon. McPhee put her hand up. (Continued on page 4)
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