Therapy Dogs Would Help Veterans With PTSD Under New Bill
Friday, January 23, 2015
Veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder could help train therapy dogs for other veterans under a pilot program being considered by Congress.
The Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act, introduced by Ohio Rep. Steve Stivers, would put in place a pilot program at several VA medical facilities. These VA facilities would then connect veterans suffering from PTSD with organizations that train therapy dogs for physically disabled vets.
Stivers said in a statement that the dog-training organizations would give veterans with PTSD "an outlet to constructively help themselves" while they help their comrades:
“As a nation, we share a moral obligation to care for our veterans when they return home and to provide them with meaningful therapies to help them deal with any service-related issues they may have—whether physical or mental.
I have personally met veterans whose lives have been dramatically improved through working with a service dog. It can make a real difference in the life of a wounded warrior.”
The legislation doesn't establish which VA medical centers would become part of the pilot program.
FEATURED PODCAST
Want more KPBS news?
Find us on Twitter and Facebook, or sign up for our newsletters. + Subscribe to our podcasts
To view PDF documents, Download Acrobat Reader.