President Biden signs PAWS Act, allowing VA to fund the training of service dogs for veterans

[IronLionZion]

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/national/president-biden-expected-to-sign-paws-act-would-allow-va-to-pay-for-service-dogs-for-veterans/77-bc7ad07c-a961-42ad-bbf6-263ea35cf3fa

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — President Biden signed the PAWS Act into law Wednesday.

The PAWS ACT, or 'Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members for Veterans Therapy Act,' authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a pilot program on dog training therapy that will provide dog-training skills and service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses.

"This has been a five-year battle to try and convince the federal government that what we do every day is valuable and helps veterans," Rory Diamond, CEO of K9s for Warriors said to First Coast News. "They're finally agreeing and we're getting a big breakthrough here."

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the bill earlier this month after it was passed by the House in March.

Diamond said the $10 million, five-year pilot program will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022. For the first time in American history, he says the VA will pay for service dogs for veterans with PTSD.

The news release says the new law will also:

Designate eligible veterans to receive dog training instruction from nongovernmental accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit Service Dog training organizations (i.e., K9s For Warriors)
Allow eligible veterans to learn positive reinforcement training in skills that are unique to their own needs to help address or alleviate their PTSD symptoms
Provide veterans participating in the program with the opportunity to adopt a dog that they actively assisted in their training, provided that the veteran and their health provider determine it to be in the best interest of the veteran.

News you can use

[SheltieLover]

1. K&R!

[Budi]

2. I'll give a reason why the last paragraph is critical to this program

...provided that the veteran and their health provider determine it to be in the best interest of the veteran.
Wish they'd include, "determine it to be in the best interest of the DOG, as well."

A veteran I know of has been treated for years for ptsd related issues.
He is a full on Alcoholic.
His children don't want to be around him.
He recently bought a young Great Pyrenees for his new wife.

They kennel it, that's ok. But they kennel it 80%of their waking hours.
Since it's a pup & chews everything it finds, his method of discipline is to beat the dog & kennel it for 2-3hrs.

His kids witness this & say that "when the dog is found chewing something of their dad's, he will hit the dog in the face so hard they can hear the dogs teeth smack together"
This is his alcoholism, ptsd, & just his general need for control. He's just kinda always been mean, but that behavior has become the more often, than the less.

He is in need of more than his Ptsd counciling apparantly is giving him, but is somehow protected because of the fact that he is currently seeing a PTSD counselor.
The law there is a fine line with Veterans, I'm told.

It's just become a viscious circle of protection & abuse that's gotten worse.
Th family has tried to intervene but he is always told to just continue with his ptsd counselling, which has been ongoing for 5 years now.

What's the recourse? There seems to be none.

So back to this wonderful worthy program, I would like to see it include protections for the Dog assigned to the waiting Veterans.

I believe this story shows more of the failures of some of those who take part as Counselors to a Veteran patient with PTSD diagnosis than anything else.
There are several failures here that are apparant.

I hope the program takes care of the dog after they're adopted as well as the Veteran.

Its not my family, so there's not a lot I can do to help other than listen & offer some advice as a friend.
I fear it'l will take a ragedy to finally get somone with authority over the situation to listen & act.

😕

Reading this OP is encouraging but it also invoked this red flag of a personal story as well.

[IronLionZion]

3. The dog should be taken away if it's being abused

since the veteran clearly needs more or different kind of treatment. The PAWS law provides funding to train up service dogs since that is quite expensive. Agree there should be protections for the dog.

[Budi]

4. The only word of mistreatment is from the kids who witness it.

When confronted dad says they're overeacting & there are no signs of abuse to back up their story. His new wife stays silent.
Then comes the, "I'm a veteran being treated for ptsd" & that ends that & he's told to continue with his counselling.

That's the frustration of this viscious circle of all around failure.
And why I thought of this personal story when I read this OP.

I trust that the Vets in this program are suitable & find a lasting mutual companion. 🐾

I hope he doesn't apply for a dog thru this program. 😕

[Politicub]

5. K&R - puppy kisses are among the best therapies.