Stivers’ bipartisan bill would provide wounded service members with therapy dogs

U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) last week introduced bipartisan legislation to direct the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy for members of the U.S. Armed Services wounded in combat.

Rep. Stivers on Sept. 12 sponsored the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act, H.R. 4305, with nine original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Kathleen Rice (D-NY).

“I’m incredibly grateful to our coalition for their efforts to create this program, and I look forward to getting this bill signed into law so that our veterans can receive the care they need,” Rep. Stivers said.

According to the bill’s text, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) “must be more effective in its approach to reducing the burden of veteran suicide connected to mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and new, rigorous scientific research provides persuasive weight to the growing anecdotal evidence that service dogs ameliorate the symptoms associated with PTSD, and in particular, help prevent veteran suicide.”

If enacted, the bill would establish a pilot program within the VA, which would partner with nonprofit organizations that work with veterans and service dogs.

The newly formed work-therapy programs would teach veterans the art and science of training dogs and upon completion of the program, veterans would be permitted to adopt their dogs to provide continuing therapy, according to a bill summary provided by the congressman’s office.

“A soldier under my command during Operation Iraqi Freedom recently told me what his service dog means to him: he was able to fly on a plane for the first time in 10 years and he took his fiancée to dinner,” said Rep. Stivers. “That is the impact this bill can have on the lives of our veterans.”

H.R. 4305 has been referred to the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for consideration.