Crisis Line - 1-800-273-8255
At no cost to qualified Veterans, we educate and train Psychiatric Service Dog Teams to have a fulfilling and meaningful life in the community of their choice.
Helping veterans win the war against suicide, depression and anxiety by empowering them with the use of a service dog.
We offer classes for our veterans. We conduct our class sessions based around training in small groups providing an open, communicative environment while building and strengthening our bonds and camaraderie. Our support continues long after the classes are finished.
1. HONORABLE DISCHARGE ONLY - A “General- Under Honorable Conditions” discharge is not the same as an “HONORABLE” discharge. Due to the criteria of our program, each applicant must have an “HONORABLE” Discharge from the United States Armed Forces to be eligible for enrollment.
2. Letter from a qualified physician stating your diagnosis of service-related PTSI, TBI, or MST. (Qualified physician MD, Psychiatrist, Nurse Practitioner, Ph.D. Psychologist).
3. Must be able to provide a letter from a physician stating you are medically, mentally, and physically able to manage the responsibilities of owning a Service Dog. Including exercising daily.
4. No other dogs in the household.
5. Letter of reasonable accommodation from employer.
6. Must be physically able to endure the rigors of training a Service Dog.
7. Must have a stable home environment as evidenced by a virtual home inspection or in-person home inspection.
8. Must be able to commit to a training schedule; of a minimum of 30 weeks.
9. Willing to participate in weekly training classes.
10. Must have the most current and complete DD-214 form.
11. No current alcohol or substance abuse.
12. Individuals convicted of a felony, domestic violence, sexual offense of any kind, and or any type of animal mistreatment, abuse, neglect, or cruelty are ineligible.
2019 marks producer/director Josh Aronson’s latest documentary, To Be Of Service, a feature documentary that explores complex stories of veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the impeccably trained service dogs they’re paired with. These dogs bring independence and a feeling of safety along with a new measure of happiness and hope to these brave warriors we sent into the jaws of war.
Each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized
– aspca.org
22 Per Day….. 1 every 65 minutes…..8000 per year
(estimated veteran suicides)
– va.gov
Service dogs offer an alternative to traditional treatments as highly trained companions that provide emotional support to veterans suffering from PTSD.
– Heritage.org