Assistance dogs can have a “profound and, in many cases, lifesaving impact” on veterans coping with trauma, according to new research funded by the Veterans’ Foundation.
The study, carried out by Edinburgh Napier University’s Centre for Military Research Education & Public Engagement (CMREPE), examined the work of the charity Bravehound, which provides trained assistance dogs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The report found that the dogs help restore a sense of purpose and emotional stability for veterans adjusting to life after service.
Positive impact on veterans’ wellbeing
The findings form part of the Veterans’ Foundation’s Operation Lifeline initiative, which supports projects tackling suicide prevention and mental health among former service personnel. Current statistics suggest that around five veterans in the UK take their own lives each week.
Lead researcher Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith said the testimonies gathered during the study demonstrated how assistance dogs can transform lives. “Our research showed that assistance dogs can have a profound, and in many cases lifesaving, impact on veterans as they adapt to life after service,” she said. “Many described how Bravehound’s support restored a sense of purpose, structure and stability at times when they felt most vulnerable.”
Honouring service through new partnerships
The newest Bravehound dog has been named Theo, in tribute to THEO DM, a service dog who died just hours after his handler, Corporal Liam Tasker, was killed in Afghanistan. Liam’s mother, Jane Duffy, said she was honoured that her son’s memory was being kept alive through the new assistance dog.
Continued support from the Veterans’ Foundation
Bravehound founder and chief executive Fiona MacDonald welcomed the report, describing it as an important recognition of the charity’s work. “We are incredibly grateful to the Veterans’ Foundation for commissioning this research and to Edinburgh Napier University for carrying it out,” she said. “Hearing from veterans who have been partnered with our Bravehounds makes me so proud of our team, from trustees and volunteers to funders and supporters.”
The research reinforces the growing body of evidence that assistance dogs play a vital role in improving mental health outcomes and supporting recovery among veterans affected by trauma.
