The Highfield Foundation announce new patronage to Service Dogs UK

The Highfield Foundation is a passionate supporter of aiding wounded ex-servicemen through The Royal Foundation and past projects, such as Toe in the Water. They now continue this support through Service Dogs UK, who train and provide assistance dogs to support members of the Armed Forces and Emergency Services who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Service Dogs UK use rescue dogs to achieve a unique partnership that will greatly enrich the lives of both Veteran and dog. With the guidance and support of professional dog trainers, Veterans will train their assistance dogs to mitigate the symptoms associated with PTSD. The Veterans not only learn new skills, but also gain all the benefits of having the friendship, assistance and unconditional love of their new best friend.

Besides this, Service Dogs UK are committed to raise awareness of PTSD and mental health issues as a significant danger to our Veterans. Through their activities, education and research, they aim to develop methods of improving the lives of our injured service people through interaction with dogs and utilise the therapeutic benefits that the animals provide.

THE DIFFERENCE A DOG MAKES

• - Increase in patience, impulse control and emotional regulation
• - Improved ability to display affect and a decrease in emotional numbness
• - Improved sleep
• - Decreased depression and increase in positive sense of purpose
• - Decrease in startle responses
• - Reduce anxiety & lower blood pressure
• - Decrease in pain medications
• - Increased sense of belonging and acceptance
• - Lowered stress levels and increased sense of calm

For more information visit www.servicedogsuk.org

For information on PTSD visit: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/

The Royal Foundation: www.royalfoundation.com

Toe in the Water: www.toeinthewater.org

From Service Dog Training Programme for Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress in Service Members - Yount, Olmert, Lee - US Army Med. Dep. Jour. 2012