Stivers calls for support of his bill to engage veterans in therapeutic dog training

U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) encouraged a House subcommittee on Tuesday to support legislation he introduced to connect veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to local therapeutic dog training organizations.

The Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act, H.R. 2225, would establish a pilot program that forges partnerships between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and local organizations that specialize in therapeutic dog training. Veterans would be able to take part in the training of therapy animals in an effort to help them manage the symptoms of PTSD.

Stivers testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, which is chaired by U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), that research by Kaiser Permanente found that therapy dogs help alleviate symptoms of PTSD and depression, improve interpersonal relationships, and reduce the risk of substance abuse.

“This legislation is about veterans helping veterans,” Stivers said. “Veterans train the dogs, under the supervision of veteran-managed organizations, and the dogs are then paired with another disabled veteran to aid with their daily life as they continue their healing process. The House passed this legislation with bipartisan support in the last Congress, and I encourage the committee to act quickly to help our veterans.”

Under the bill, the Veterans Health Administration’s Center for Compassionate Innovation would manage the program, ensuring that only certified organizations specializing in therapeutic dog training are granted contracts. A director of therapeutic service dog training position would be established to oversee the program, and the VA would report to Congress on the program’s impact.

“We know how valuable veteran-on-veteran engagement is to assisting our service men and women, and my legislation adds a preference to the pilot program for contracting with veterans who have graduated from PTSD treatment programs and companion dog training certifications to conduct the training,” Stivers testified. “Only other veterans truly understand the struggles of returning home, and the benefits a companion dog can provide. This is just one more way we can help veterans coping with PTSD make connections to other veterans who are in need.”