Service Dogs for Veterans
If you’ve never spent time with a service dog, it may sound like an exaggeration when people tell you that these animals have superpowers. But rest assured that service dogs have superpowers in spades! Professional service dogs can detect when their owners are anxious or suffering from a physical ailment and intervene. And all that is in addition to their already well-known ability to alert and guide those who are hearing or vision impaired.
Studies have shown that benefits of having a service dog can range from better sleep habits to a reduction in depression and even a longer life expectancy. This is especially beneficial for veterans who are at a higher risk than some of their civilian neighbors to suffer from anxiety, depression, and, sometimes, substance abuse.
If you’ve clicked on this article, there’s a good chance you’ve considered a service dog for yourself or a veteran in your life. As with all things online, the amount of information available can be overwhelming. So, if you’re asking what you should know and who you should contact, this article may help get you started.
Have a Companion, Be a Companion
For many of us, our parents repeatedly cautioned us when we were young that dogs are a tremendous responsibility. They’re very social creatures that require interaction, training, and devotion from their owners. Christopher Baity, founder of Semper K9 Assistance Dogs, reminds us that a service dog’s training is never done. Having a devoted companion means having to be one yourself, and that’s a full-time job.
If someone is struggling with mental health and anxiety, that can seem like a tall order. That said, spending time with a loyal companion probably isn’t going to feel like drudgery. There’s a good chance that it will be something in your day to look forward to, and we could all use a few things to look forward to throughout the course of the day.
Just be sure you can give your new companion the time they deserve and remember that this time is an investment for yourself as well. Be sure to talk with a mental health professional, your housemates, and your service dog initiative program to ensure that you and a service animal are potentially a good fit for one another.
In preparing for that change in your life, it’s worth noting that a service dog is not a substitute for other things you may need—like medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and good self-care habits. All these things cost money, so keep in mind that a service dog does not eat for free, and that they have healthcare needs just like you do.
What if You Already Have Pets?
Whether or not this is a tenable situation is completely up to the discretion of the organization you’re working with. But to make a long answer very short, be prepared to hear ‘no.’ Many professionals like to avoid potential household distractions and conflicts that could prevent a service dog from being an ideal companion. Distractions make it tough for any professional to be 100 percent effective, and that distraction could inadvertently come from your pet. That isn’t to say your family dog would not be a potentially good fit for a new service dog in the house, but the careful evaluation and experience of a service dog provider may advise against it.
Can Your Current Dog Become a Service Dog?
While the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn’t dissuade anyone from training their own dog to be a service dog, you would definitely need someone with a lot of experience to tell you whether or not your dog and you are good candidates for that kind of challenge that training entails. When you’re looking to be matched with a service dog, your family dog may not be ideally suited for success.
What if You’re Just Not a Dog Person?
Believe it or not, people who don’t have great experiences with dogs will seldom say so. Why? Because it’s a statement that can invite a lot of judgement from others. Interacting with dogs who aren’t well socialized can be challenging, and their aggressive behavior can leave a lasting impression on someone. If you or someone else you want to speak with about a service dog happens to fall into this camp of people, consider that you’ll be inviting a trained service animal into your home.
In no way do I mean to understate the time and dedication it takes for a dog and a veteran to form a relationship and learn one another’s idiosyncrasies but bear in mind that you’re not bringing home a puppy with no sense of boundaries who’s experiencing everything for the first time. It bears repeating that training and socialization is a lifelong process that requires a lot of time, and a service dog is not going to be a puppy by the time they are certified.
Who Should You Contact?
Pave USA, Semper K9, and K9s for Warriors all have a quick and easy application process on their respective websites. While it can feel a little strange to fill out an online application for something so deeply personal, try to think of it as just another way of making an appointment with a professional. These are non-profit organizations, so you can rest assured that they’re interested first and foremost in doing what’s right for veterans and the service dogs that are matched with them. And getting in touch means you’re doing the right thing for yourself.
Written by: Lanna Perkins, Education Writer
