Seekonk Center Provides Care for Retired Police, Military Dogs With PTSD

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.

LaMonte's approach is deeply personal and rooted in his own anxiety experiences. He emphasizes that the center operates as a research facility and a forever home, not a shelter.

Progress and healing are tracked over weeks, months, and years. Each dog is treated as an individual case to determine effective care. Volunteers and supporters note the dogs' emotional and behavioral transformations as evidence of the program's impact. 

At the end of the day, the center aims to be a loving support for dogs in their recovery. 

"I want their story to end with love and understanding and healing," LaMonte said to WCVB.