Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling — Service members activated in support of D.C. Safe and Beautiful participated in Paws and Purpose, a wellness event providing emotional support dogs for military personnel on mission in Washington, D.C., on November 15, 2025.
The event was a joint effort among the Georgia Behavioral Health Team, the D.C. National Guard, the Washington, D.C., Vet Center, and Paws for Purpose—a nonprofit organization that provides emotional support animals to help relieve stress and improve mental health.
Lt. Col. Leah Fletcher, a medical officer with the D.C. Army National Guard Medical Detachment, explained the importance of behavioral health support during missions.
“We need to feel a sense of calm and emotional regulation, and that’s what we’re here for behavioral health,” Fletcher said.
Paws and Purpose featured volunteers providing music for the event and nine dog handlers, each accompanying an emotional support dog.
“The dog handler volunteers bring a lot of value to the event. I knew, based on evidence, that the emotional support dogs would provide a great deal of comfort, but I was surprised by how much value the dog handlers themselves bring. Many of the handlers are veterans [...] they bring a wealth of life experience and understanding. They all have the right type of personality to connect and talk with the soldiers.”
Emotional Support animals build connections that service members may lack while being away from home.
“Emotional support dogs are very special because they are trained specifically to provide comfort to anyone experiencing emotional distress,” Fletcher said. “Evidence has shown that they increase oxytocin levels, our comfort and calming hormone, and decrease cortisol, [which] reduces stress.”
Fletcher stresses the importance of behavioral health “it cannot be overstated [...] I just want to send 1,000 thanks to the behavioral health team that's been supporting this DC mission since August.
| Date Taken: | 11.15.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.19.2025 12:25 |
| Story ID: | 551207 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON , DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Paws & Pupose, by SPC Sherald McAulay, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
