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Veteran Affairs won't cover costs of PTSD service dogs
More veterans are being diagnosed with PTSD, but there's little research about how service dogs help with this 'invisible disability.'

By

Laura Moss
Fri, Sep 07 2012 at 9:01 AM
 27

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Pets

Army veteran Brad Schwarz with his service dog, Panzer. Schwarz has suffered from PTSD since returning from a 2008 tour in Iraq. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Department of Veterans Affairs will pay for service dogs assigned to veterans with impaired vision, hearing or mobility, but it will not cover the cost of dogs assigned for mental disabilities like post-traumatic stress disorder, according to new federal regulations.
 
Many dogs provide support to veterans suffering from PTSD, but although more veterans are being diagnosed with the anxiety disorder, the VA says there's not enough evidence that these dogs help with the symptoms of combat-related disabilities. A new Army policy has already made it more difficult for soldiers to obtain service dogs and keep them on Army bases.
 
There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that service dogs help veterans cope with PTSD, but research lags and the VA is skeptical.
 
"VA has not yet been able to determine that these dogs provide a medical benefit to veterans with mental illness. Until such a determination can be made, VA cannot justify providing benefits for mental health service dogs," the department said.
 
There have been no double-blind, randomized controlled trials on the benefits of service dog and PTSD patients, and there are no widely accepted standards for training dogs to alleviate PTSD symptoms.
 
Researchers at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Fla., are conducting the first study to look at benefits of pairing veterans with PTSD with specially trained dogs. Congress recommended the three-year study, permitting the Department of Veterans Affairs to match as many as 200 veterans with dogs, but only 17 participants are currently enrolled.
 
Three service dog organizations partnered with the hospital to conduct the study, but Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs (GAMSD) is the only association still involved in the research. The organization trains PTSD service dogs to perform such tasks as awakening clients from nightmares and reminding them to take medication.
 
Carol Borden, GAMSD’s executive director, says she’s seen dramatic improvements in veterans’ lives after they’ve been matched with dogs.
 
"The results are very immediate. They’re very quick. It’s not a cure, but they are able to manage their challenges much better than they have in years,” Borden told NBC News.
 
Demand for PTSD service dogs is high, according to Borden, who says that most recipients spend four years on her organization’s waiting list.
 
Determining the need for service dogs
It’s estimated that 13 to 20 percent of the more than 2.6 million Americans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001 have or could develop PTSD.
 
But unlike service dogs for people with more obvious physical disabilities, there can sometimes be confusion over who can have a dog accompany them into certain places. The American Disabilities Act requires businesses to allow people with disabilities to enter with service animals, but dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. However, according to the ADA, dogs that calm a person with PTSD during an anxiety attack are considered a reasonable modification to ADA policies.
 
Service dogs assist disabled people with specific tasks like opening doors and pulling wheelchairs. Therapy dogs, on the other hand, provide comfort, motivation and emotional support. With proper documentation they can often be taken onto planes and other spaces where animals aren’t usually allowed.
 
Although PTSD service dogs are trained to respond to certain cues, such as nudging an owner into a petting session if he exhibits panic attack symptoms, and to perform tasks like reminding him to take medications, some people are skeptical of the idea that a dog can assist with a so-called "invisible" disability.
 
However, there’s evidence that interacting with animals produces biochemical changes in some people’s brains.
 
Research shows that when people focus on petting a dog, it can increase oxytocin, a chemical that quiets the brain’s fear response. Caring for a pet also helps people become more secure and self-sufficient, according to Hal Herzog, a psychology professor at Western Carolina University.
 
Training service dogs can also be a form of therapy, according to Rick Yount, founder of Warrior Canine Connection, an organization that has PTSD patients train service dogs. After completing a 2008 training program at a veteran’s hospital, many participants reported lower stress levels, decreased depression, better impulse control and improved sleep.
 
Yount says that it might be most effective for veterans with PTSD to train a service dog before receiving one themselves.
 
"They have to convince the dog the world is a safe place, rather than letting the dog prove to them that the world is a safe place,” he told MSNBC.
 
For more information on service dogs, visit the International Assistance Dog Week website.
 
More service dog stories on MNN:
 

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Comments: 27
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Teritrekker
Teritrekker Apr 24 2013 at 5:09 PM
I have recently joined TADSAW (Train a dog save a warrior. www.tadsaw.org) as a dog trainer for their program. A warrior can fill out an application with the organization to be put with a trainer and paired with a dog. I have just paired my first warrior with a dog and we have had our first training session. He has already had issues with his apartment manager and I sent him the ADA rules governing service dogs. It is very clear in the rules that one needs not have any certification or documents
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stating that the dog is indeed a service dog and the person and dog cannot be refused admittance anywhere unless the dog is out of control and the handler takes no action to control the dog, or if the dog is not housebroken. Nor can a business ask for a demonstration of the dogs abilities. There is also no rule that says the dog needs to pass CGC or a public access test. I have done basic obedience and socialization for hearing service dogs in the past and have had only two instances where the business stated the dog wasn't allowed. The dogs were wearing vests letting everyone know they were service dogs, so eventually were allowed access. I am excited and humbled to have been approached by this organization and it has become our mission to make sure these vets are treated with the respect and compassion they deserve. We are selecting rescue and shelter dogs for the program and the organization is 501c3 and runs on donations. They are based in Austin, TX, and are trying hard to get trainers all around Texas.
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ellis.unit1
Joaquin Rafael Roces Jan 22 2013 at 10:14 PM

Let's see...it the 1970's the VA was skepptical about Agent Orange. It the 1980's it was skeptical about PTSD. It the 1990's it was anthrax vaccinations from the first Gulf War, and now its PTSD dogs....Hhhmmmm...

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anonymous
Guest Jan 19 2013 at 3:46 PM

hi

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anonymous
Guest Jan 19 2013 at 3:47 PM

hello

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anonymous
Guest Jan 05 2013 at 2:21 PM
If you are a disabled Veteran in need of a service dog check out www.patriotassistancedogs.org. They matched and placed me with a service dog for my PTSD, TBI and stability issues. He has been a lifesaver and turned my life around. I'm now back in the workforce and on less pills. It wasn't easy as I had to train with him for 2 months and then pass the Canine Good Citizen and Public Access Test together. We are now a certified service dog team. When you involve the GOV it can be difficult.
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The local community has been very supportive of the organization and me. The fundraising to pay for the cost of the dogs has all been donations made from individuals or businesses. Wonderful program with well trained dogs with super temperments. Temperments are very crucial to a working service dog. No barking and no aggressiveness.
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anonymous
Cynthia Dec 03 2012 at 11:31 AM
This is not true. The VA WILL NOT PAY FOR A SERVICE ANIMAL NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION. Dogs are donated through 501c organizations. The Lions Club will donate a guide dog to a blind veteran. The VA will pay for some of the up keep of the animal once it has been given to the veteran. I have been dealing with this for over 19 years. I do not have a body thermostat due to a head injury in the Gulf War. I am now trying to purchase my 5th service animal. I have a court case pending against my
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landlord that kneed my one service animal. the cost of the animal, the training and medical has been at my expense. I live within my means, in fact I have done without to afford a service animal. It is better that I have the animal in which will alert, than I be driving and cause harm to someone else. If you want to know about the VA and their dealings, look up the TV interview with Fred Downs, interviewed by Mr. Lamb. It was aired in 1993. (about 3/4 through you will hear Mr. Downs relate to service animals). The VA still to this day takes the same stand. They are willing to pay for all the research instead of helping a veteran.
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anonymous
Joan Nov 17 2012 at 7:22 AM

Imy father and my four brothers have served our country. My oldest brother suffers from PTSD. He takes a lot of medicine for this that costs thousands of dollars per year for the military and citizens of the united states. The medicine is not therapeutic because each year the doses go up or the medicine he was on no longer is effective. His symtoms are very observant to anyone who is around him. He copes everyday with his fears and a dog would be a god send to him.

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anonymous
MAUREEN Oct 03 2012 at 11:39 PM
The Americans With Disabilities Act!!!!!! (READ) If you are an employee or owner of ANY business open to the public including but not limited to,. restaurants, hotels, taxis, shuttles, stores, MEDICAL FACILITIES, theaters, parks, health clubs,airports, or zoos and you are being handed this card, you have probablyviolated the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the civil rights of the card holder. Violators of the ADA can be required to pay money damages and penalties. For more information
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about the rights of the persons with disabilities with service animals, please contact The United States Department of Justice at :1-800-514-0301
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anonymous
Maureen Oct 03 2012 at 11:27 PM
I am a service dog trainer at Great Lakes Assistance Dogs, a 501(c) 3 Non-Profit organization in Grand Ledge, Michigan. I am currently helping a Veteran with PTSD fundraise and ask for donations so that we can train and test his dog to become a certified service dog. For more information at just how helpful and amazing these furry hero's are visit our website www.gladdogs.org or "Like" us on Facebook. Educating yourself and others on how important these dogs are in the lives of those living with
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disabilities is the first step. The second step is getting the VA to understand the importance and the difference of a service dog and just a pet.
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anonymous
Dogs4Vets Sep 10 2012 at 8:24 PM

http://www.orlando.va.gov/features/Paws_of_Freedom_pups_dig_in_against_P....
Orlando VA providing companion dogs for Vets

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windchymepub
windchymepub Sep 10 2012 at 1:11 PM
The legal advice given by the lawyer is solid. I am so sorry veterans...just sick over this. Document EVERYTHING when you are denied. Check into audio recording laws in your state and consider audio recording conversations where it is not illegal. Take names, ask for copies of documents they are citing, try to get them to sign the documents if you can, take pictures at every opportunity. Start building a file, it's your only way of fighting back at this point beyond making phone calls and contact
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to have things changed. I am sincerely hoping that a group of service men and women get together and class action sue (if possible)...there is strength in numbers. And yes, I have called my representatives and the white house itself to back you all up. Again, I am so sorry. Keep strong and keep on keeping on with your canine partners.
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anonymous
Alex Sep 08 2012 at 5:52 AM

People can pay for their service dog. Is VA supposed to pay for everything for veterans? They pay for PTSD benefits, and you receive free VA healthcare for PTSD. And now you think you should be reimbursed for buying a dog? VA should pay with only a little bit of research on the subject matter? You all stun me. And Maryriver, for you to think you should be able to bring your dog with you wherever you go is weird.

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anonymous
MAUREEN Oct 03 2012 at 11:49 PM
Alex it isn't just buying a dog. The process is much more detailed then that. For ex: Paws for a Cause charges roughly $30,000 dollars per dog and then trains it for a whole year. Great Lakes Assistance Dogs where I work charge $12,000 and that includes the dog and 12 months of training that we encourage the clients to take part in and also give the opportunity to make monthly payments on. These dogs are not inexpensive by any means...a lot of fundraising and donation requests help the majority of
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the people finally get there service dogs.
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anonymous
Guest Sep 08 2012 at 11:34 PM

Tell you what, You go fight for your country, get chemicals dumped on you, fed unsafe vaccines, be sick, and riddled with sever anxiety, ignored for twenty years, then recognozed, jump through all of the hoops...have outdated and negligent health care and then let's talk about the importance of the VA paying for service dogs.

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aanna39's picture
aanna39 Aug 23 2012 at 11:59 PM

I am also a non-combat PTSD and do not even have a service dog. However, I will be training a service dog and would like to know where he/she is allowed to go for socialization training. I kind of think it is ridiculous to refuse a service dog visit, just because of a poor relationship with people (LOL).

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anonymous
MAUREEN Oct 03 2012 at 11:41 PM

please visit Great Lakes Assistance Dogs on the web www.gladdogs.org or call the office at 517-622-0011 I would like to help answer any of your questions I can.
Maureen Whetter
Dog Trainer

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anonymous
Sweet Pea Aug 08 2012 at 10:36 PM
I have non-combat PTSD, and I can tell you that my service dog does more than 'provide emotional comfort.' I have friends who are veterans that depend on the VA system for physical as well as mental health care. This provision that only ADI-trained service dogs was buried in a bill so deep that very few people know it is there - with the exception of people that are adversely affected by the decision. Even though ADI only certifies a program, and not the dog, many people think that this 'certification'
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ensures that the service dog will be well-trained and well-behaved. Any dog can be well trained or poorly trained, regardless of whether it went through a program or not. Any service dog that is "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability (ADA definition)" should be allowed access. Why does the military system feel the need to reinvent the wheel? If the ADA is good enough for 'the rest of us' in the civillian world, why isn't it good enough for our veterans? Why should they have to jump through extra hoops? The VA will save money by allowing service dogs that are not from ADI-certified programs. Otherwise, these vets will have more hospitalizations, more medications, and worse: the suicide rate is already high. A service dog can reduce the number of suicides dramatically. Isn't a veteran's life worth it?
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silverwolf13's picture
silverwolf13 Aug 08 2012 at 7:48 PM

I have contacted 5 ADI facilities to ask about certifying my Service Dog and they have refused.

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anonymous
Guest Sep 28 2012 at 11:41 AM
ADI "facilities" do not certify service dogs. ADI is an umbrella group for NON-PROFIT service dog training groups. They dictate what the members of their group can and can't do and membership is voluntary. There are many people and groups that train service dogs other than ADI members. Any dog that is behaved in public and has been trained to ameliorate some part of its handler's disability is a service dog and should be accepted as such. Every other restaurant, hotel, grocery store, movie theater,
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etc. has to do that -- Why shouldn't the VA have to abide by the same rules ????
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anonymous
JACKIE JONES Aug 08 2012 at 5:47 PM

AS A 100% DISABLED VIET NAM VET WHO HAD AND TRAINED HIS ON SERVICE DOG IT DOES NOT SURPRISE ME THAT THE VA AND CONGRESS OPT TO STUDY IT TO DEATH. MEANWHILE WE HAVE MANY VETS COMMITTING SUICIDE EACH DAY THAT A SERVICE DOG MIGHT PREVENT ONE THING MOST VETS NEED IS SOME HOPE OF THINGS GETTING BETTER AND OUR SYSTEM DOES TO MOST TO DESTROY THIS HOPE.

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luckycharm's picture
luckycharm Aug 08 2012 at 2:08 PM
This article is not entirely accurate. The statement "PTSD-trained dogs are often considered therapy dogs under the ADA" is just flat-out wrong. A therapy dog is a dog that visits facilities such as nursing homes and hospitals to provide emotional support to residents. What the writer probably meant to say was that PTSD-trained dogs are often considered emotional support animals under the ADA, but that is factually inaccurate, too. The ADA specifically covers animals used for psychiatric disabilities.
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You don't have to be disabled to have an emotional support dog, but you do have to live with a documented disability to have a service dog, and the dog must be trained in work or tasks that mitigate that disability. The law does not specify the nature or source of the training, although the VA is now going to be able to legally write policy excluding all but a very small minority of service dogs used by veterans. It should outrage every American that our military veterans would be protected under federal law within any non-VA medical facility, and yet the very agency set up to serve them is hell-bent on discriminating against them.
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anonymous
AngieGIJoe Aug 08 2012 at 1:51 PM
HR 1627 was just signed into law 2 days ago... This is our new barrier not included in the above story...Advice given to me by a lawyer... "You likely should continue to take GI Joe to appointments in the same manner as you have previously. Although I hope they will think about your health first and not give you any problems, if they do try to refuse your access be prepared to gather important information that will help any legal challenge that may develop. (this applies to everyone) Bring any VA
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paperwork you have related to his connection to your VA care. If anyone gives you a hard time or refuses you, record everything you can related to the refusal- name, dates, what they said. Ask them to show you and make a copy of any documentation they have that leads them to think your dog is not allowed. If they won't make a copy try to write down who the instructions are from and what they reference as the basis for refusal. Legally speaking, anticipating a problem isn't as strong a case as when the problem actually occurs." Call the White House NOW!!!
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thedagda's picture
thedagda Aug 08 2012 at 7:11 AM
I too am a vet that fights PTSD and am currently training my own service dog with the help of professional trainers. My dog has helped me so much with my symptoms, I have been able to reduce the amount of pills fed to me through the VA, and more importantly has saved the taxpayers money. Sadly now I am not allowed to take my dog into the VA as she is not trained through the ADI, I guess the govt wants to spend 25,000 dollars of taxpayer money just to allow me to get into the VA or just wish to keep
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me on the expensive pills they like to shove on me. Just seems a little stupid. Oh it has cost me about 700 dollars so far with her training and we are almost finished.
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anonymous
Cynthia Dec 03 2012 at 11:43 AM
Check out ADA reguirements for a service dog. You will find it states that you have the right to train your own dog. I am thrilled that you have taken the action of having your dog professionally trained. Many have made it hard on the rest of us that attempt to do the right thing. There is an internet site to register your friend as a service animal, once he/she is ready for certification. Your doctor or clinic is breaking the law. They can be fined under ADA. Document each visit, name of
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person and call ADA. They will send their own attorney.
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anonymous
Maryriver Aug 07 2012 at 8:30 PM

I just came from the VA clinic where I was told by the DR. that she would refuse to see me if I brought my therapy dog and she gave me a paper that states the VA Puget Sound policy. Seems the Dept of Justice changed the ADA in March of 2011.

I hope everyone reading this calls their congress person at once because with my PTSD this means I won't be able to visit a Dr. at all. I just can't believe this!

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