Hope Has a Cold Nose

Book excerpt: “To have a service dog like Able should be the medication any soldier is prescribed who has gone out and had trauma of some kind.” In Hope Has a Cold Nose, Christine Hassing relays true stories of military veterans and others who rose from the ashes of PTSD and MST with the help of their service dogs. Devoting every chapter to a different human-canine pair, Hassing shares the story of each person with PTSD and their service dog with pathos and creativity. These powerful stories, part testimonial, part author’s interpretation using rhythm and rhyme, bring important insights about how service dogs help people with PTSD and MST in countless ways. From sensing a nightmare and waking a veteran before terror takes hold, to placing a comforting paw on someone’s shoulder to ward off a panic attack, these dogs play a key role in helping those who’ve lived through trauma reintegrate into society. Lovingly written, Hope Has a Cold Nose is a unique and compelling collection of survivors’ stories for dog lovers of all kinds, for those who’ve experienced PTSD and their loved ones, and for those interested in how service dogs can help people heal from the deepest emotional wounds.