Wildlife and Wellbeing: An Animal-Assisted Intervention for Veterans With PTSD

Inclusion Criteria

• •Veterans with PTSD/PTSD symptoms (per self report)
• •Fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which is defined by the CDC as:
• •* 2 weeks after second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• •* 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson \& Johnson's Janssen vaccine
• •Age 18-70
• •Comfortable interacting with animals
• •Sufficient mobility to walk or navigate wheelchair up to one mile at leisurely pace
• •Cognitive ability to complete assessments
• •Service/ support animals are permitted as long as they meet the following criteria: the animal must be leashed, housebroken and with sufficient training that the owner has control over its barking and any other behaviors that would threaten the safety of other visitors or animals.
• •Participants with visual or hearing impairments must have corrected vision and hearing through glasses and/ or hearing aid(s).
• •No active addiction or intoxication as determined by 30 days or more free from drugs or alcohol abuse
• •Willing to refrain from alcohol and illicit substances before and during activities
• •No severe immunosuppression or other conditions with advisement by health care provider to limit or prevent contact with animals and birds
• •No severe outdoor allergy.
• •Not currently enrolled in the Veteran's Treatment Court program