On behalf of Animal Lover Funding, we propose that the Department of Veterans Affairs provides funding for assistance dogs to help returning veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. PTSD greatly impacts the quality of life of our veterans and their families. It can make daily functioning difficult and effect their ability to successfully hold a job or easily reintegrate into civilian life. The Americans with Disabilities Act states that dogs used to assist those with PTSD is a reasonable modification to its policies, yet the VA will not pay for them.

Options such as the Homefront Dogs Program through Gabby Jack Ranch provides soldiers with these assistance dogs to help them better reintegrate into society and greatly increases their quality of life. Let’s turn trauma into triumph and help programs like this receive better funding to help our veterans who have already sacrificed so much for us.