{"id":6404,"date":"2026-09-16T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/28-seconds-of-calm-how-a-therapy-dog-helped-a-veteran-in-crisis\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T18:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T18:30:00","slug":"28-seconds-of-calm-how-a-therapy-dog-helped-a-veteran-in-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=6404","title":{"rendered":"28 seconds of calm: How a therapy dog helped a Veteran in crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

For 28 seconds, the emergency department stood still.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Honey arrived on four quiet paws.<\/p>\n

She simply climbed onto a Veteran\u00e2\u0080\u0099s hospital bed and stayed by his side.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/a>
Honey, a therapy dog volunteer at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System helps Veterans connect with the care they need, providing comfort when they need it most.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Moments earlier, a young Veteran in the emergency department was struggling to remain calm, making it difficult for clinicians to provide the care he urgently needed. Barbara and Honey, a volunteer therapy dog team at West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System<\/a>, were asked to help.<\/p>\n

Within 28 seconds, Barbara watched the Veteran\u00e2\u0080\u0099s heart rate decrease and his blood pressure come down. As Honey rested quietly beside him, the Veteran began talking about his military service. His anxiety eased, and clinicians were able to provide the care he needed.<\/p>\n

For Barbara, it was another reminder that sometimes the smallest gestures can make the biggest difference.<\/p>\n

For her father<\/h2>\n

Barbara began volunteering to honor her father, a Navy Veteran. Growing up with dogs, she saw firsthand the comfort and companionship they brought him throughout his life.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/a>
Volunteer Barbara Romano with therapy dog Honey in front of the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System, ready to help Veterans feel calmer and more connected to care.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u00e2\u0080\u009cI saw how having dogs around helped,\u00e2\u0080\u009d Barbara said.<\/p>\n

Today, she and Honey share that same warmth with Veterans receiving care at Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center.<\/p>\n

Their visits are part of a larger effort to make Veterans feel more at ease while receiving care. Research has shown that therapy dog<\/a> visits can help reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, improve mood and encourage social interaction, benefits that have led hospitals and healthcare organizations, including VA, to incorporate therapy dog programs into patient care. Honey\u00e2\u0080\u0099s visits reflect the calming connection researchers continue to study.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Therapy dogs are not a replacement for medical treatment. They complement the work of healthcare teams by helping create moments of trust and connection.<\/p>\n

Across the medical center, volunteer dog teams visit inpatient units, clinics and waiting areas. Sometimes they spark conversations. Sometimes they provide a welcome distraction. Sometimes they simply sit quietly beside a Veteran.<\/p>\n

For Barbara, every visit is also a tribute to her father.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u0080\u009cI saw what dogs did for my dad,\u00e2\u0080\u009d she said. \u00e2\u0080\u009cNow Honey and I have the opportunity to give that same comfort to other Veterans.\u00e2\u0080\u009d<\/p>\n

Small moments can change everything<\/h2>\n

Sometimes, changing someone\u00e2\u0080\u0099s day doesn\u00e2\u0080\u0099t require many words.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, it only takes 28 seconds of quiet company.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Topics in this story<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n

service animal<\/a>therapy dog<\/a>VISN 2: VA Southeast Health Network<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

<\/i>Leave a comment<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA<\/a> or call 1-800-698-2411. Please, never put personally identifiable information (SSAN<\/abbr>, address, phone number, etc.) or protected health information into the form \u00e2\u0080\u0094 it will be deleted for your protection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Leave A Comment Cancel reply<\/a><\/small><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n