“We only compete with suicide” How service dogs are helping veterans heal and what congress is doing about it

Houston – May is Military Appreciation Month, and one organization is making a powerful impact on the lives of U.S. veterans. K9s for Warriors, a nonprofit dedicated to pairing service dogs with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is championing new bipartisan legislation aimed at saving lives—both human and canine.

The Service Dogs Assisting Veterans (SAVES) Act, recently reintroduced in Congress, would allocate $10 million annually for five years to nonprofits that train and provide service dogs to veterans. Daniel Bean, CEO of K9s for Warriors, explains that the legislation would, for the first time, require the VA to cover the cost of service dogs for veterans diagnosed with PTSD.

For Navy veteran Chris Luna, the change has been life-altering. After being paired with his service dog, Astro, Luna says his quality of life has drastically improved—his sleep is better, his reliance on medication and alcohol has decreased, and he feels more emotionally supported.

“We only compete with suicide”

The statistics are staggering, everyday, at least 20 veterans commit suicide. K9s for Warriors has completed over 1,000 pairings, and because the dogs are often rescued from shelters, each match saves two lives—one veteran and one animal.

As the SAVES Act awaits action in Congress, the message from veterans and advocates is clear: these dogs change lives, and more veterans should have access to them.

Learn more about K9s for Warriors and how you can help at caninesforwarriors.org.