National Service Dog Month: Always by Our Side

Robert Soliz, a 31-year-old former Army Specialist, participates in Paws for Purple Hearts, one of four experimental programs nationwide that pairs Veterans with PTSD with Labradors and Golden Retrievers. Source: Joseph Matthews, Veterans Affairs Photo

September is National Service Dog Month, a time to pay tribute to the animals who support Americans with special training to help  people dealing with vision impairment, medical issues, mental health, and many other areas. 

Not to be confused with therapy or comfort animals, service dogs are specially trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. They can be trained to retrieve objects, assist with balance, give seizure or diabetic alerts, or assist those with psychiatric disabilities. They also serve our nation’s wounded warriors suffering from conditions including Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injuries.  

Currently, there are approximately 500,000 service dogs on duty across the United States. Of those, about 19% are specifically trained to help their handlers cope with symptoms of PTSD. On average, service dogs are equipped with 3-12 skills to assist their handler. These specific skills include: 

 Source: Purina Service Dog Salute 

VA recognizes that service dogs provide companionship while inspiring confidence within their handlers. With the help of a service dog, humans can better manage disabilities and live fuller lives. Under certain conditions, VA may  provide benefits for a service dog for Veterans through Assistance Dogs International or International Guide Dog Federation accredited agencies. Always by our side, service dogs provide an invaluable impact on Veterans’ lives.