October 21, 2021
Companionship Benefits Both Vets and Service Animals
Photo by Gustavo Fring under Pexels License
October 21st is a special day for veterans needing animal companionship. It’s National Pets for Veterans Day — an opportune time to pair shelter animals in need of forever homes with former service members in need of loving and loyal animal companions.
It’s also a time to spread awareness of the health benefits veterans can get from owning a pet.
As soon as our troops come home from deployment and subsequently leave the service, transitioning back to civilian life can get pretty challenging. Many of them return with physical scars, while others are permanently scarred emotionally. Indeed, a stint in the military changes every service member.
Animal companionship has proven time and again to be helpful in the recovery of our battle-scarred veterans, making them feel happy despite everything they’ve been through. Pet owners can relate, knowing very well that animals provide warmth and comfort. This was the reason why National Pets for Veterans Day was created.
Tired and traumatized veterans are not the only ones who will benefit from animal companionship. Those furry creatures will also benefit since they’ll finally have a place they can call home. Many of these animals have also experienced traumas themselves. It’s probably one of the reasons why they immediately develop a strong bond with their veteran counterparts.
The Benefits that Vets Can Get for Having Pets
Dogs and cats are loyal companions that can show their unconditional love to their masters. Here are four more ways how these pets can make life much better and more worthwhile for veterans:
- Pets help ease mental health concerns.
Many of our troops leave the service with mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. The injuries they suffered in combat can also affect their emotions, which can go unnoticed.
Owning and taking care of a pet can help reduce the symptoms of their mental health disorders. Thanks to the presence of their four-legged pals, veterans may feel less lonely and depressed. They can always turn to their pets whenever they’re having a gloomy day.
- Pets build connections.
Folks with lively social connections are more positive, have fewer health issues, and tend to live longer than those who don’t. Sadly for most vets, forming strong relationships is something they often struggle with.
Having an animal companion can help change that situation. Pets, especially dogs, are good at motivating their owners to rejoin society. By taking them for daily walks, for example, vets can meet and mingle with other pet owners.
- Pets create a safety net.
One of the numerous reasons why people love to have pets is that these animals never judge. Rather, they provide genuine love, support, and a feeling of safety.
For vets, knowing that they have an animal companion that’s always there for them can help reduce tension, depression, and hypervigilance. Dogs can even bring their owners back to reality during a flashback or nightmare by simply barking, moving, or nudging them.
- Pets re-introduce structure and routine.
Veterans spent years following strict routines when they were still in active service. Now that they’re home, there’s no one calling the shots for them anymore. As such, they find themselves lost without the military structure that governed their lives for so long.
Fortunately, having a pet can add that structure back to their lives. Dogs need to be walked every day. Cats need their litter changed routinely. These pets also need to be fed three times regularly. They may likewise require visits to veterinarian clinics regularly.
A pet’s needs create the need for organization and schedule. A routine like this can replace some of the structural void left after service, making transitioning much easier for our veterans.
You Can Support Our Suffering Veterans, Too!
Aside from adopting a shelter pet for a retired soldier in your community on National Pets for Veterans Day, there’s another way you can lend them your hand. By giving away an unwanted vehicle to us here at Veteran Car Donations, you’ll give the struggling vets in your community a chance to experience a fulfilling life.
We’ll auction off your donated vehicle and distribute the proceeds to our veteran-focused charity partners. These IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations provide free services to homeless, disabled, jobless, as well as physically and mentally ill veterans. They use the money we give to provide their beneficiaries with quality health care, financial aid, housing assistance, employment opportunities, family support, educational scholarships, psychotherapy services, and many other benefits.
As a donor, you will be entitled to receive the maximum tax deduction in the next tax season.
You will also have the privilege of getting your car hauled away at a time and date you prefer at no cost to you. Your location is no problem for us since we can collect your vehicle wherever you are in the country.
However, the best reward you’ll get is the priceless feeling of satisfaction, knowing that your act of charity will help uplift the lives of our neglected and suffering heroes.
We accept almost all types of vehicles, including those that are no longer fully functional. Check out this page to learn the wide range of vehicle types that we welcome in our donation program.
If you’re curious to see how our donation process works, feel free to visit our FAQs page. For inquiries, call us at 877-594-5822 or send us a message here.
It’s Time to Give Back to Our Heroes
Photo by Ralph Avaala under Unsplash License
Our retired servicemen and servicewomen deserve nothing but a life of contentment after honorably serving our nation. Help them experience that by donating your extra vehicle to Veteran Car Donations. Call us at 877-594-5822 or fill out our online donation form now!
Last Updated: October 30th, 2023