The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a new program that aims to make service dogs more available to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The newly-signed Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act is the result of years of work from veteran advocates and was supported by bipartisan lawmakers. Under the new law, the VA will partner with nonprofit organizations to allow veterans to train service dogs and then if they choose, adopt them for service use in their own lives.
30 percent of veterans experience PTSD, and the aid of a service dog has been shown to reduce symptoms of PTSD, reduce symptoms of depression, improve interpersonal relationships, and reduce substance abuse.
