Dogs occupy a special place in the lives of many people. This short documentary from Northern California portrays that specialness at another level: a service dog program for sufferers of PTSD.
In By My Side, Co-Directors Vicki Topaz and Wynn Padula focus their camera on three veterans and their families. Through these intimate portraits, one better understands how difficult it is to overcome the "invisible wound." Twenty suicides per day is a bleak number; indeed, many veterans feel there is no hope.
Yet there is hope in service dogs. Once the veterans were assigned their canine health care workers, smiles returned, family relationships healed, and the world became a little better—one human and dog at a time. You can watch the trailer here: By My Side
