BY MY SIDE is an intimate portrait of three veterans suffering from the “invisible wound,” PTSD, the most prevalent and unhealed wound suffered by veterans. With their families they bravely share their pain, fear, and the difficult realization that they’ve lost time and love that they may never get back again. All three found hope where no one had looked—in the heart of a faithful service dog. Through intimate interviews and revealing footage of the veterans bonding with their service animals, the film demonstrates how wo/man’s best friend may be one of the best ways to mitigate the psychic scars imprinted on those who have been in service to our country.
Our Story
BY MY SIDE is an intimate portrait of three veterans suffering from the “invisible wound,” PTSD, the most prevalent and unhealed wound suffered by veterans. With their families they bravely share their pain, fear, and the difficult realization that they’ve lost time and love that they may never get back again. All three found hope where no one had looked—in the heart of a faithful service dog.
Through intimate interviews and revealing footage of the veterans bonding with their service animals, the film demonstrates how wo/man’s best friend may be one of the best ways to mitigate the psychic scars imprinted on those who have been in service to our country.
Impact Campaign
The mission of our Service Dog Awareness Campaign empowers veterans to learn more about and seek out service dogs, an evidence-based therapeutic option for PTSD, helping them to live life fuller, reconnect with their families, and restore their independence.
You Can Host a Screening
Bring BY MY SIDE to your community by hosting a screening. Spread the word and increase awareness about the important ways service dogs help and save veterans and their families. Please click CONTACT US for more information. Thank you!
Support BY MY SIDE
Our Impact Campaign is about to launch! We plan to engage with organizations among veterans, mental health clinicians, and educators to arrange community screenings. Your tax-deductible contribution will make it possible to supplement these events with professionally made discussion guides, booklets and online video content. Click here to learn more about the Campaign. Donations can be made via check or online. Thank you!
Support BY MY SIDE
Our Impact Campaign is about to launch! We plan to engage with organizations among veterans, mental health clinicians, and educators to arrange community screenings.
Your tax-deductible contribution will make it possible to supplement these events with professionally made discussion guides, booklets and online video content. Click here to learn more about the Campaign. Donations can be made via check or online. Thank you!
“The film captured the stories of these service members who are struggling with different challenges as a result of their service. You can't talk about veterans without talking about our families. The same challenges that service members faced when they leave military service, our families go through the same stress, the same anxiety.”
Colonel Sam WhitehurstU.S. Army (Ret.), Vice President of Programs and Services, Dixon Center for Military and Veteran Services.
This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the NEH.
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