Tap to Donate Via Text
text PurplePaws to 707070

Step right up to the Canine Carnival!

 In PPH Alaska

Winter in Fairbanks, Alaska can make anyone feel a little cabin fever coming on. For those of you reading this in sunny San Antonio, San Diego, or anywhere else that does not have 9 months of winter (no matter what some groundhog says), cabin fever is that restlessness and irritability one gets from staying indoors too long.

“Happiness is simply a temporary condition that proceeds unhappiness. Fortunately for us, it works the other way around as well. But it’s all a part of the carnival, isn’t it?”

― Federico Fellini, Italian film director

What could cure those winter blues better than a Carnival?  Imagine loosening up Old Man Winter’s icy grip with Balloon artists, aerial silk dancers, jump houses, games of chance (or skill—depending on who you talk to), and cotton candy among many other things. Have you ever seen anyone looking sad while eating cotton candy? Of course not! The same is true when it comes to dogs—you just can’t help but smile when you pet a dog. This is not by chance either! Connecting with animals is in our DNA; it releases oxytocin, promotes relaxation, lowers heart rate and blood pressure, inhibits stress reactions, and even releases endorphins which suppress pain. All of these positive benefits are not only great for getting out of the winter blues, but also to provide therapeutic assistance on a much larger scale. This is what makes our Canine Assisted Warrior Therapy so successful!

Tamara Bell, Program Instructor
Service Dog in Training Cheechako resists the temptation of fresh popcorn

Our Canine Assisted Warrior Therapy is for Service Members and Veterans with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), and/or MST (Military Sexual Trauma). In these sessions Service Members and Veterans (Warriors) benefit from soothing contact with our Service Dogs in Training within the context of an organized therapeutic program to improve their condition. In the process of this, they also help train our dogs to become service animals for other Warriors in need of assistance.

 

If you are a Service Member or Veteran that could use a getaway – just to get out of the cabin for a while, or to face a bigger challenge, then Paws for Purple Hearts is happy to be a free resource to you and your family.

 

Want more info on PPH?

If you are a Veteran or active duty Service Member interested in applying for a service dog through our organization, please consider filling out an application. All of our services (and service dogs) are provided at no cost to our past and present military family.

If you are a Veteran or Service Member that would like to participate in Canine Assisted Warrior Therapy, please consider filling out an application. This therapy is provided at no cost and the work you do in the training sessions helps a future Veteran or Service Member come closer to being united with their forever Battle Buddy.

Recent Posts

Start typing and press Enter to search