Photo By Spc. Karla Elliott | Three-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Budge, an animal assisted therapy dog with 528th Medical...... read more read more
By Spc. Karla P. RodriguezMaciel
11th Public Affairs Detachment
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers experience many stressors while deployed to combat zones for many months. Everyone adapts to their new environment and finds his own way of relieving stress; whether it is by pumping iron at the gym, calling loved ones back home or even enjoying a casual game of poker with buddies. However, others may spend time with Sgt. 1st Class Budge, a three-year-old black Labrador, an animal-assisted therapy dog.
Arriving on the Christmas Eve of 2007, Budge came as an early gift to many Soldiers deployed to Mosul, Iraq. Since Budge's arrival, he has visited nearly every unit in Forward Operating Bases Marez and Diamondback located in Mosul, Iraq.
"Each day, we try to go to a different unit so the Soldiers of these units can get a chance to see him," said Philadelphia's own Sgt. Duane Sanders, an occupational therapist with 528th Medical Detachment from Fort Bragg, N.C.
Because there is a stigma associated with metal health and combat stress, Budge, a senior ranking non-commissioned officer canine, serves as an ice breaker.
Soldiers will come in just to visit the dog and before he knows it, they'll start talking about their issues, concerns and problems. And this is one effective way the combat stress team can help, Sanders said
Although this four legged stress relieving friend is accessible to everyone who visits the Combat Stress Control Office, not everyone can get there.
Injured Soldiers at the Combat Support Hospital at FOB Diamondback need a morale booster as well. Sanders and Budge made a habit of visiting the CSH every Thursday evening to meet with injured troops.
Sanders realized many Soldiers miss their pets. Budge provides company and fills the void only a man's best friend can offer.
"You can't even put it into words," Sanders said, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the FOB Marez prevention and combat stress control team. "He's been a real help."
After a long day at work, Budge lays with his handler Sanders.
Following his 15-months of hard work, when the current combat stress team redeploys, Budge will go back to the states with them, to further assist Soldiers in need.
| Date Taken: | 07.06.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 07.06.2008 03:06 |
| Story ID: | 21222 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 382 |
| Downloads: | 336 |
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