First Psychologist to Heal Vets with Animals Tells Her Story

Today's guest, psychologist Dr. Lorin Lindner, is the author of a new book - Birds of a Feather: A True Story of Hope and the Healing Power of Animals. She takes us on her life's journey, starting with her childhood love of a pet parrot who kept her company and healed her pain while her mother was dying. Later, as an adult, she was called upon to rescue a parrot named Sammy, which renewed her appreciation of these special birds. As the director of a program for homeless veterans in Los Angeles, she soon got them involved in building a sanctuary for hurt and abandoned parrots. During this process she saw the magical healing power that the birds had on the vets, suffering from PTSD and other psychological problems, and that the vets had on the birds. Later, she expanded her treatment program to connect vets to the rescue and care of wolfdogs. Dr. Lindner, with her love of parrots, became the first psychologist to harness the healing power of animals to save people.