The story that I saw today on Yahoo News broke my heart.  A highly-trained military dog with the assignment of sniffing out bombs returned to Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado a changed animal.

Before she went, Gina was a playful two-year old.  Upon her return, she was scared to enter buildings, jumpy, and withdrawn.  The diagnosis from a military veterinarian was post-traumatic stress disorder.  Her rehabilitation is underway,

Haynes and other handlers coaxed Gina on walks, sending someone ahead to pass out treats for bystanders to give her. They got her over her fear of walking through doors by stationing someone she knew on the other side to reward her with pats and play. They eased her farther into buildings with the same technique.

“She started learning that everyone wasn’t trying to get her,” Haynes said. “She began acting more social again.”

According to the article, she’s not expected to make a 100 percent recovery, but should still live a full life of work and play.

Photo by Associated Press.