Evidence of meeting #60 for National Defence in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was dog.
A recording is available from Parliament.
As an Individual
Sir, I had nothing to do with the artillery. Our job with the civil-military cooperation team was that basically we would go out and build schools and water wells, provide children and families with food and clothing, and provide tentage for the refugee camps.
Conservative
Corneliu Chisu Conservative Pickering—Scarborough East, ON
When you finished your operation in July, you went to hospital, is that right?
Conservative
Corneliu Chisu Conservative Pickering—Scarborough East, ON
Were you in the Role 3 hospital in Kandahar?
As an Individual
No, sir. I visited the Role 3 very briefly. I was diagnosed there with severe PTSD, but I felt abandoned.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
I'm sorry, Mr. Chisu, your time has expired, and I do have to be fair to other committee members here.
Mr. Brahmi, vous disposez de cinq minutes, s'il vous plaît.
NDP
Tarik Brahmi NDP Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I will ask my questions in French.
I want to pick up on what you said, Mr. Logue, about not having any decompression time when you were given leave upon your return to Canada. That somewhat contradicts what other people have told the committee. We were assured that soldiers returning home from tours of duty systematically received decompression time and a reintegration period. How did you handle being left in such a state, without any decompression time?
You also said you were diagnosed with severe PTSD when you were in Afghanistan. Is that right? We were told that all soldiers returning home from Afghanistan had decompression time. Could you elaborate on your experience, given that it contradicts what the committee was previously told?
As an Individual
Yes, sir. I didn't have a decompression. I was in a tent by myself at the Kandahar airfield. I didn't have any support. Nobody was with me.
As an Individual
Yes, sir. I've been told by other soldiers that they have gone through the same thing.
NDP
Tarik Brahmi NDP Saint-Jean, QC
Okay.
I have a question for both of you about the use of service dogs. I am curious as to whether you had dogs as pets growing up? Could this special arrangement work for anyone, or must it call to mind a relationship you had with a dog as a child in order to work?
As an Individual
Sir, yes, I grew up with three German Shepherd dogs. I have to say that I've always been a dog lover. It's in my nature to be around dogs.
I believe this program could work for anyone. Dogs do such amazing things. They're very loyal. They will react with you if you're having an emotional breakdown. If I have an emotional breakdown, my dog will disrupt me. She'll climb on me. She'll lick me, and it's very comforting. It relaxes me. It lowers my blood pressure. It allows me to be calm so I can function in normal life.
MCpl Bill Nachuk
I had a dog at a very young age, which I can barely even remember, so I personally don't believe it's just based on having a dog as a child.
I believe anyone who wants to get involved is a dog lover. For someone who doesn't like dogs, obviously this program isn't for them. You have to have that bond with a dog, but the dog also has to have that bond and be able to trust you as well. It's a mutual give-and-take, sir.
NDP
Tarik Brahmi NDP Saint-Jean, QC
We've heard from witnesses about equine therapy, in other words, animal therapy using horses. Do you think, in your case, that type of therapy would be different? Could it be helpful even though a horse obviously can't always be by your side? Would you say having the animal with you at all times, 24 hours a day, is what you find reassuring? Would it be possible to develop another sense of security with a horse, say?
As an Individual
Well, sir, having a dog.... I mean, it would be pretty hard to take a horse into a shopping mall.
NDP
Tarik Brahmi NDP Saint-Jean, QC
I was referring more to the relationship. Do you think this therapy depends on the connection you have with the animal or on the animal's presence 24 hours a day, something that would not be possible with a horse?
As an Individual
Yes. Being present with the dog 24 hours a day gives you that 24-hour support. It's almost like counselling. You have that therapy with you all the time. Rather than going to see a psychologist, say, once a month, having the dog there all the time prevents chaos.
MCpl Bill Nachuk
For me, sir, I'm fortunate; a friend of mine actually has horses, so I've been exposed to both.
With the dog, it's a different relationship. The dog gives you a sense of protection. When we're walking through malls, it gives us that buffer zone and it gives us a sense of protection. The horse will give that sense of calmness and everything while you're with the horse, but the dog is different altogether because it gives you that sense of security. It helps you sleep as well, knowing the dog is right beside you. However, the horses do you give you that feel-good time in the moment.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Thank you. Time has expired, and our time on the agenda for these two witnesses has expired as well.
Again, I want to thank you.
As a comment, the difference between dogs and horses is that you can take the dog into the mall; you're not going to be taking the horse into the mall with you. As somebody who has both dogs and horses—
