Therapy classes for dog attack victims to be offered

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Have you suffered ongoing emotional consequences from a dog attack on yourself or a loved one? Do you suffer from panic attacks, anxiety, nightmares, PTSD, depression or other consequences that harm your quality of life because of a dog attack?

Have you suffered ongoing emotional consequences from a dog attack on yourself or a loved one? Do you suffer from panic attacks, anxiety, nightmares, PTSD, depression or other consequences that harm your quality of life because of a dog attack?

If so, you don’t need to continue suffering. Effective help is available.

Dr. Carl Oguss of the East Hawaii Dog Psychology Center has for many decades offered therapy for children and adults who suffered emotional consequences from dog attacks they experienced or witnessed, and he can help you, too. The length of the therapy depends on the individual client and the nature of their ongoing consequences, and the cost depends on their ability to pay.

A Hawaii Tribune-Herald front-page story about the untimely death of Earnest, the goat mascot of the Volcano Garden Arts Center (Sept. 9) highlighted the long-term emotional consequences of being attacked by stray dogs by detailing just some of Kurtistowm farmer Deborah Ward’s tragic attack on her own property and how she still suffers from serious harms more than a year later. Without proper treatment, the after-effects of being attacked by dogs often last a lifetime.

It is always best to provide proper therapy immediately after an attack is experienced, but cures can be accomplished any time after for most people.

Oguss decided to offer classes to provide therapy and mutual emotional support for victims and their families. These classes will be offered in East Hawaii and elsewhere on the island, as needed. Classes will be located and scheduled based on the location of the students who apply and their various needs. Special classes for children who suffered from a dog attack will be created and will include adult family members in most of the activities. Classes for adult victims will welcome and encourage participation by family members, but this is not required.

The cost of classes will be determined after groups are formed, depending on their size, location, host facility and the expected length of treatment needed by that particular group. Individual treatment also will be available, as needed.

If you would like to register for a class near you or offer financial or other support for victims of dog attacks who cannot pay for their own treatment, contact Oguss at P.O. Box 11430, Hilo, HI 96721 or easthawaiidogpsychologycenter@yahoo.com.