At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Nov. 7, 2023, Vice Mayor Sachs presented a proclamation declaring Nov. 7, 2023 as Veteran Service Dog Day in Palm Beach County. Palm Beach County is home to approximately 84,000 veterans making it the third largest population of veterans in Florida. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in war veterans is a common condition that can develop immediately after a disturbing event or weeks, months or even years later. Service dogs perform specific tasks that help address PTSD symptoms, such as applying pressure to alleviate anxiety and nudging to interrupt flashbacks. Research has found benefits of the PTSD service dogs such as reduced severity of symptoms, improved mental health and improved social interactions. Semper-Fi Service Dogs is a nonprofit organization that rescues shelter dogs and trains them as service dogs free of charge for military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma.
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