Ohio veteran with depression and PTSD allowed to keep ducks for therapeutic value What’s Trending Jul 25, 2017

A war veteran in Ohio, who was convicted of violating a ban on farm animals in 2014, has received the nod to keep his six ducks, which, he said, had therapeutic value and helped relieve his depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Because of a ban on farm animals in Ohio, veteran Darin Welker was charged with a misdemeanor and was convicted in 2014, in West Lafayette, a village about 80 miles east of Columbus. After his convictions, the court seemed reluctant to believe his side and did not relent. A state appeals court had decided to uphold his conviction, and as a severe setback, the final blow came from Supreme Court when it refused to hear his appeal.

As opposed to the court’s verdict, Welker’s doctor, Thomas Hanf admitted that the ducks helped. Welker presented the letter from his doctor to the judge that claimed the pet ducks had helped in his recovery over the last five years. They helped him ease much of his physical pains, the letter read.

Welker, who served in Iraq in 2005, and was medically discharged from the Ohio National Guard, was suffering from PTSD. However, spending time with the ducks and caring for them helped him make significant progress in improving his symptoms.

A slight deviance from the ordinance

According to a report published by The Coshocton Tribune, the West Lafayette Village Council granted him a variance to an ordinance that prohibits keeping farm animals in the village. At one point, he had 14 ducks on his property, of which he wanted to keep six. The law permits two therapy animals per household, provided they weigh under 20 pounds (excluding dogs).

The Tribune also reported that Welker presented his case by arguing that his neighbors had no issues allowing him to keep his ducks. He presented seven consent letters signed by his neighbors.

With the case dragging since 2014, council members Craig Bordenkircher and Christie Maurer wanted to bring down the curtains on it. Speaking to the Tribune he said, “It’s time to settle this and be done. Given the documentation, I say we grant him the variance.”

Pets do have a therapeutic value for people suffering from depression and PTSD. The companionship offered by pets help reduce stress and anxiety. A pet can also help overcome loneliness. A considerable body of research shows the influence of pets in addressing a range of mental health conditions. Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also benefit from spending time with pets. The work involved in keeping a pet like feeding, walking, and bathing, helps an ADHD child learn to play and become responsible.

Dealing with mental health conditions

Mental health conditions deteriorate with time, if not intervened at the right juncture. Hence, the best option to deal with any mental illness is to seek immediate help from a credible mental health treatment organization.

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