Therapy Dogs and Veterans: A Postwar History
How Animal-Assisted Healing Evolved After World War II

About this book:

From the quiet corridors of Pawling Army Air Forces Convalescent Hospital to today’s cutting‑edge VA programs, *Therapy Dogs and Veterans: A Postwar History* reveals how a simple leash‑tied companion sparked a revolution in healing the invisible wounds of war. Follow the journey from informal wartime mascots to rigorously certified therapy dogs, discovering how each conflict—Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf, and post‑9/11—reshaped the role of canine partners in mending fractured minds.

Meet the pioneering doctors, nurses, veterans, and shelter‑dog advocates who turned intuition into science, battling skepticism and bureaucracy to prove that a dog’s steady gaze can lower cortisol, steady a trembling hand, and rebuild trust where words fail. Their stories illuminate the profound, two‑way bond that heals both human and canine hearts, showing how rescued shelter dogs find purpose while veterans reclaim peace.

Grounded in rich archival research, moving personal narratives, and clear explanations of the biology behind the bond, this book is essential reading for historians, healthcare professionals, veterans, and anyone who believes in the power of a wagging tail to restore hope. Discover how a wartime experiment grew into a nationwide movement—and why the future of healing still walks on four paws.