The K-9 PTSD Research Center in Seekonk, Massachusetts, founded in 2019 by Jim LaMonte, is helping retired police and military dogs recover from PTSD by providing them with a permanent home.
According to a NewsCenter 5 WCVB report, the center began with Dakota, a police dog from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Dakota’s trauma inspired LaMonte to develop a canine PTSD recovery program in collaboration with Tufts Veterinary School of Medicine and Wheaton College.
The center currently houses 15 retired working dogs. It uses positive reconditioning methods, including a form of negative reinforcement that allows dogs to self-regulate and rebuild trust at their own pace…