Under the Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members (PAWS) Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would help pair veterans suffering from PTSD with a service dog. The five-year pilot program is expected to cost $10 million, which would be funded from the VA’s Office of Human Resources and Administration.
“The PAWS Act is a simple bill that could have a dramatic — and potentially life-saving — effect on the lives of many,” Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) said in a written statement. “Thousands of our post-9/11 veterans carry the invisible burden of post-traumatic stress . . . The VA should use every tool at their disposal to support and treat our veterans, including the specialized care offered by service dogs.”
An Assistance Dog International-accredited organization or private provider would pair the veteran with a service dog. The VA would pay the organizations for the dogs at a maximum of $27,000 per dog. The department would also provide veterans with veterinary health insurance for their dogs.
In return, veterans would be required to see a VA doctor or mental health specialist at least once quarterly. According to the legislation, the prerequisites for veterans seeking a service dog are that they must “remain significantly symptomatic by clinical standards” and undergo evidence-based treatment. The Government Accountability Office would monitor the program’s effectiveness.
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