Therapy Dogs Bring Veterans Joy

At the American Red Cross, I’ve seen veterans, service members, and their families touched by animals in so many ways. Recently, I had the pleasure of connecting with Air Force veteran Dan Brusseau and his wife, Kathie, to discuss two things they love—dogs and giving back to the community. 

Their dog, Dillon, a 3-year-old Golden Retriever, is one of our most popular dogs involved in our Red Cross animal visitation program. With the wag of his tail, this furry guy opens hearts and brings comfort to those in need. 

“It doesn’t matter what someone is like—wild, crabby, grumpy—a dog like Dillon manages to bring a smile to everyone’s face,” Dan said.

Dillon currently visits patients at the VA Black Hills Health Care System located at Fort Meade, South Dakota. Red Cross animal visitation teams, just like Dillon’s, support military families in communities across the country and around the globe. 

According to Dan and Kathie, some patients are more “dog people” than others, but the calming presence of a service dog provides therapy to all. “Everyone finds pleasure in petting Dillon, watching him chase a ball, get a treat, or do a couple of tricks,” Dan said. 

“Then they start telling us stories, you know, about their own dog, and so they all really get a warm feeling from the visit.”

Dillon, one of three Goldens the couple currently owns, came into their life by happenstance. He’s their first rescue dog after nearly five decades of owning the breed. After a few months, Kathie says it was clear Dillon had previous obedience training she could build upon. In no time, he passed the Canine Good Citizen test and trained to be a therapy dog. 

While at church one day, the couple struck up a conversation about dogs with a stranger. That stranger happened to oversee military and veteran resiliency programs for North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota for the Red Cross. “Of all the people to chat with, she ended up being the perfect one,” Kathie joked. 

Dan, who trained K-9 dogs while on active duty, felt like this would be the perfect way to give back to fellow vets in need. 

After getting out of the military, Dan came back from overseas with an injury that eventually left him 100% disabled. Kathie says that during the Vietnam era there was little to no support for disabled veterans. “There wasn’t a welcoming of veterans like there is now. Today, I see the Red Cross playing a huge part in giving that support and showing people that we all do care,” she said. 

Kathie says she loves watching veterans interact with one another. On a recent visit to the VA, one patient brought a ball, another came with treats, and the rest gathered around Dillon. 

“They’re all talking, sharing, you know. They visit each other and interact. It’s been a really good thing,” Kathie said. 

Both Dan and Kathie believe there’s something special about this dog and the way he connects with veterans in need. “Dillon shares his spirit with others, it’s a rather uplifting thing for them,” Dan said. 

On their most recent visit, Dillon made contact with a severely disabled veteran who remained silent and physically unresponsive throughout group sessions. After the dog showered her with kisses, the veteran grabbed him and gave him a hug and a kiss. “As we were leaving, she leaned over and said, ‘you’re such a good boy.’ It was just amazing,” Dan said. 

Kathie says that the patient’s therapist was blown away, noting that he’d never seen such a positive reaction in his 25 years of practice. 

“It just does a person’s heart good to see people responding like this. This is what this work is all about.”

I walked away from my chat with Dan and Kathie thinking about the idea of what service after service really means. It can be warm, personal, and even involve our favorite four-legged friends. Plus, service like this is sure to “do your heart good.”

If you want to help military families or veterans in your community like Dan and Kathie through animal visitation therapy, reach out to your local Red Cross or learn more through the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces website here. 

By Susan Malandrino for the American Red Cross

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, visit redcross.org, cruzrojaamericana.org, or our Twitter page @RedCross.