Bipartisan Legislation Passes Senate to Provide Service Dogs to Veterans with Mental Health Conditions

The US Senate unanimously passed the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act, bipartisan legislation that aims to provide service dogs to veterans with mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. The bill, introduced by Senators Thom Tillis, Kyrsten Sinema, Kevin Cramer, and Dianne Feinstein, authorizes a pilot program to train service dogs for veterans with mobility impairments and mental health issues.

Key Takeaways:

• The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act aims to reduce veteran suicide connected to mental health conditions by partnering veterans with service dogs.
• The bill authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a pilot program to train service dogs for veterans with mental health issues such as PTSD and depression.
• According to a report from the Department of Veteran's Affairs, the number of veterans with mental health conditions increased from 27 percent in 2001 to more than 40 percent in 2014.
• An average of 20 veterans per day died by suicide in 2014, highlighting the urgent need for effective mental health treatments.
• The bipartisan legislation has the support of organizations such as the Association of Service Dog Providers for Military Veterans, SemperK9 Assistance Dogs, and K9s For Warriors.
• The pilot program is expected to improve the quality of life and increase chances of survival for veterans suffering from mental health conditions.

Statistics:

• 27% of veterans had mental health conditions in 2001 (Source: Department of Veteran's Affairs)
• 40% of veterans had mental health conditions in 2014 (Source: Department of Veteran's Affairs)
• 20 veterans per day died by suicide in 2014 (Source: Department of Veteran's Affairs)

Sources:

• U.S. Senate News Release: Blog
• Department of Veteran's Affairs Report: titled "The National Launch of the Mental Health Strategic Plan for VA"