Veteran Service Dog Coalition

06/19/2026

The data is clear, and it matters.

Veterans from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom experience PTSD at a lifetime rate of 29 percent, more than four times higher than World War II and Korean War veterans, and significantly higher than the general population.

These numbers represent a generation of veterans who deserve every effective tool available to support their recovery. Trained service dogs are one of those tools, backed by a growing body of clinical evidence showing meaningful reductions in PTSD symptom severity and improvements in daily functioning.

The data tells us the need is real and significant. Our job, as organizations and as a coalition, is to make sure access matches that need.

06/05/2026

💙 It's PTSD Awareness Month, and we need to talk about something that doesn't get enough attention.

The VA recognizes guide dogs for veterans who are blind. It recognizes hearing dogs for veterans who are deaf. It recognizes mobility service dogs for veterans with physical disabilities. And that recognition matters deeply, those veterans deserve every bit of that support.

But a veteran living with post-traumatic stress?

That veteran's service dog, trained to recognize the early signs of an impending panic attack before the veteran even feels it coming, to interrupt that response before it spirals, to help a veteran's nervous system learn that the world is not a threat, does not qualify for the same VA support.

Let's be clear about what these dogs actually do. A PTS service dog is not trained to keep people away or shield a veteran from the world. That would only keep a veteran stuck. These dogs are trained to do the opposite, to help veterans move back into the world. To rebuild the confidence that the worst-case scenario is not going to happen. To restore the social connection, independence, and quality of life that post-traumatic stress works so hard to take away.

That is not a comfort measure. That is medicine.

And the evidence agrees. A 2024 clinical trial published in JAMA — one of the most respected medical journals in the world, found that veterans with PTS service dogs had 66% lower odds of a PTSD diagnosis compared to those receiving usual care alone.

Congress agreed, too. The PAWS Act (PL 117-37) became law in 2021, giving the VA the authority to recognize PTS service dogs.

But the VA's regulation hasn't been updated. A rule written in 2012, before this evidence existed, before Congress acted, is still the reason these veterans are turned away.

The law has moved. The VA has not.
Our veterans deserve better. All of them. 💙

We are part of a national coalition working to change this. Follow our page for updates, and share this post if you believe every veteran deserves access to every tool that can help them heal.

06/04/2026

This month, we pause to recognize the invisible wounds carried home by the men and women who served our nation.

Post-traumatic stress doesn't announce itself. It shows up in the middle of the night, in crowded grocery stores, at family dinners. It isolates. It exhausts. And for far too many veterans, it goes untreated — not because help doesn't exist, but because the path to that help is blocked by barriers they should never have to face.

Trained service dogs are changing that. Not for every veteran. But for those who benefit, the impact is profound — reduced symptoms, restored independence, a reason to leave the house, a presence that notices what no one else can see.

This PTSD Awareness Month, we are standing with every veteran still fighting that invisible battle. You are not forgotten. The work to reach you is not finished.

05/25/2026

In Flanders fields, the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row, that mark our place; and in the sky the larks, still bravely singing, fly scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago, we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
in Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep, though poppies grow
in Flanders fields.
By John McCrae

05/23/2026

Real change happens when organizations stop competing and start collaborating.

The Veteran Service Dog Coalition was created to bring together like-minded organizations, advocates, trainers, and supporters who believe veterans deserve access to high-quality service dog programs, evidence-based support, and a stronger voice at the national level.

This is bigger than any one organization.

Together, we can elevate standards, share resources, advocate for meaningful policy change, and improve access for veterans across the country.

If you believe in the power of collaboration over competition, we invite you to follow and support the coalition on LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/veteran-service-dog-coalition/

Because veterans deserve more than fragmented efforts. They deserve unified action.

Veteran Service Dog Coalition | 3 followers on LinkedIn. Uniting service dog organizations for veterans with a focus on the human at the end of the leash. | Dedicated to empowering veterans and the organizations that serve them, every step of the way. At the Veteran Service Dog Coalition, we are uni...

04/23/2026

For some veterans, healing doesn’t come in a pill bottle or a clinic visit.

It comes in the quiet presence of a service dog, the nudge during a panic attack, the space they create in a crowded room,
the grounding that brings someone back when everything starts to slip.

These dogs aren’t just companions. They are trained, life-saving support for veterans living with post-traumatic stress.

And yet, many are surprised to learn that the VA does not currently recognize PTS alone as a qualifying condition for service dog support under its primary policy.

At the same time, Congress has acknowledged their value, and the research continues to grow.

This isn’t about fault. It’s about people.

It’s about veterans who are doing the hard work of healing—
and the tools that help them get there.

In rural communities especially, where access to care can be limited, service dogs can make the difference between isolation and engagement, between surviving and truly living.

We have the evidence. We have the stories.

Now it’s about continuing the conversation and ensuring our policies reflect both.

Because every veteran deserves access to what helps them heal.

03/09/2026

Mobility Dog Resource Group asked us to share the links below. They are asking with mobility teams to participate in a survey.

https://mobilitydogresources.org/mobility-dog-survey/

They have also added a Mobility Harness Highlights and Tips sheet to the website.

https://mobilitydogresources.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Mobility-Harness-Highlights-and-Tips-rv1-PDF.pdf

Your donation to the Mobility Dog Resource Group will enable us to continue to share the resources on our website with as many people as possible as well as create funds for mobility dog harnesses and specialty veterinary assessments for mobility dog teams in need.

01/23/2026

Registration is open!

ADA National Network Learning Session: "Unleashing Service Animal Best Practices in Healthcare Settings"

February 19, 2025
2:30 PM Eastern Time / 11:30 AM Pacific Time

The ADA sets clear rules for service animals, yet real-world application in healthcare is rarely one-size-fits-all. This session goes beyond the two allowable questions to examine policies, procedures, and practices across emergency, outpatient, inpatient, and long-term care settings. Through real-w...