title: Occupational therapists as dog handlers: the collective experience with animal-assisted therapy in Iraq.
abstract: The first pair of US Army animal-assisted therapy (AAT) dogs deployed to Iraq in December 2007 with the 85th Medical Detachment Combat and Operational Stress Control unit. As of this writing, 6 dogs have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, offering Soldiers a small reminder of home. Army occupational therapists led the way in this endeavor as primary handlers; the path has been rocky but ultimately rewarding. This article depicts how occupational therapists used AAT and animal-assisted activities to help Soldiers cope with the stressors of living in a deployed environment. Challenges and lessons-learned, including anecdotal examples, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Services, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Lorie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fike
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Najera
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dougherty
mesh_terms: D056447:Animal Assisted Therapy; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare