The Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act, or SAVES Act, would require the Department of Veteran Affairs to establish a competitive grant program to fund nonprofit organizations providing service dogs to veterans with a range of disabilities from vision impairments to various forms of PTSD.“The SAVES Act will allow more veterans who are struggling with the invisible wounds of war to receive service dogs that could ultimately save their lives,” said Sen.
Research done by the VA in 2020 showed that veterans paired with service dogs had less severe PTSD symptoms and had “fewer suicidal behaviors and ideations.” The new plan would go a step further, expanding the pool of eligible veterans and providing funding for service dogs already trained and waiting for a companion.