Animal rescue in Cumberland County plans to start program to help veterans with PTSD WGAL News 8 Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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KIM: WGAL NEWS 8’S SUSAN SHAPIRO SHOWS US THE PROGRAM SUSAN: ROCK RUN ANIMAL RESCUE IS ON A BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL SPOT IN NEWVILLE. >> THIS WAS A DREAM COME TRUE. SUSAN: FOUNDER JODI KELLY RESCUES NEGLECTED AND ABUS HORSES, GIVING THEM A BETTER LIFE. MS. KELLEY: WE BELIEVE EVERYBODY’S LIVES HAVE VALUE. SUSAN: NOW SHE IS STARTING AN EQUINES SERVING VETERANS PROGRAM TO HELP VETS WITH PTSD AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT SUICIDES. HER 27-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER LINDSAY DIED LAST YEAR BY SUICIDE. MS. KELLEY: IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN TO HELP PREVENT THAT, WE WILL DO THAT. AND THIS IS THE PERFECT AVENUE. SUSAN: DAWN PARKER IS A VOLUNTEER HERE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD AS A RESULT OF TRAUMA IN HER CHILDHOOD AND AN ABUSIVE MARRIAGE. SHE SAYS SHE CONNECTED WITH BUDDY, WHO CAME HERE ABOUT THE SAME TIME SHE DID, EMACIATED AND DEPRESSED. MS. PARKER: DEFINITELY HELPE WITH MY SELF-CONFIDENCE AND MY ESTEEM. IT IS JUST AMAZING WHAT HE CAN DO. SUSAN: THERE ARE SIX OTHER HORSES HERE RIGHT NOW. THE VETS WILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM ONCE THE PROGRAM GETS GOING. MS. KELLEY: THEY WOULD BECOME CONFIDENT AROUND HORSES, EVEN TOUCH THEM, SPEND TIME WITH THEM, EVEN GROOM THEM. SUSAN: JODI SAYS IF HER HORSES CAN HELP HEAL ONE VET, IT WILL BE WORTH IT. SUSA

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