“My Lifeline is Gone”: An Exploration of the Experiences of Veterans Following the Loss of their Psychiatric Service Dog(s)

Abstract

Canadian veterans with PTSD are increasingly accessing psychiatric service dogs as a complementary treatment for their symptoms. Due to the short life span of dogs, however, it is inevitable that these veterans will experience the loss of their PSD either through death, retirement, or relinquishment. This exploratory qualitative study shares the findings from interviews with four veterans who had experienced grief at the loss of a PSD. The themes that emerged suggest that participants experienced a grief cycle: building of a bond with their PSD, a grief response after the loss of their PSD, healing and coping, and a transitional stage when introducing a new PSD into their lives. Recommendations are made for health care professionals working with veterans with psychiatric service dogs and for service dog providers and organizations to better prepare and support their clients leading up to and after the loss of their service dog.