DESPITE FEDERAL RECOGNITION AND BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, VETERANS WITH INVISIBLE INJURIES CONTINUE TO FACE BARRIERS TO CARE
San Martin, CA — As the Nation recognizes PTSD Awareness Month this June, Operation Freedom Paws is calling attention to the growing gap between federal recognition of service dogs and the real-world access veterans have to these life-saving programs, treating post-traumatic stress (PTS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other invisible wounds of war. While Congress and federal agencies have acknowledged the therapeutic value of service dogs through multiple legislative efforts, many veterans, particularly those living in rural and underserved communities, still cannot reliably access these programs.
“The barrier is no longer whether this works,” said Mary Cortani, Executive Director of Operation Freedom Paws. “The barrier is whether veterans can access it.”
- California is home to approximately 1.5 to 1.8 million veterans, the largest veteran population in the nation.
- More than 110,000 veterans live in rural areas with limited access to specialized care.
- Approximately 570 veterans die by suicide in California each year.
- Veterans in rural and underserved communities often travel hours to access care, if services are available at all.
- Nearly 750,000 California veterans are enrolled in VA healthcare.
For many veterans, accessing care requires traveling hours for appointments, if services are available at all.
Evidence-informed service dog programs have been associated with meaningful improvements in:
- Reduction of PTS symptom severity
- Daily functioning and independence
- Social engagement and reintegration
- Emotional regulation and quality of life
Congress has already taken steps to recognize these outcomes.
The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act (Public Law 117-37) authorized the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide dog-training therapy and expanded the Secretary’s authority to provide service dogs for veterans with mental health conditions who do not have mobility impairments.
The SAVES Act (H.R. 2605 / S. 1441) further reflects growing bipartisan recognition of service dogs as a therapeutic support for veterans with PTS and other mental health conditions. However, the legislation has still not reached the floor for a vote.
Additionally, the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program (WWSDP), established under Public Law 116-283, Section 745, was designed to strengthen nonprofit service dog providers and expand veteran access nationwide.
Additionally, Title 38 has not yet been amended to formally include service dogs for veterans with PTS, limiting broader access to benefits and support for veterans who rely on these service dogs.
Despite these legislative efforts, significant implementation gaps remain.
Inconsistent federal funding limits nonprofit provider capacity and long-term sustainability, while the VA has yet to fully operationalize service dogs as a recognized treatment pathway for veterans with PTS.
“Federal policy increasingly recognizes the value of service dogs,” said Cortani. “What veterans need now is consistent access, implementation, and accountability.”
Operation Freedom Paws is urging policymakers and federal agencies to:
- Provide stable, annual funding for the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program
- Support full integration of service dogs as a recognized therapeutic support for PTS within the VA system
- Ensure equitable access for veterans in rural and underserved communities
- Strengthen partnerships between the VA and accredited nonprofit service dog organizations
ABOUT Operation Freedom Paws
We deliver a one-year, evidence-informed program that integrates:
- Service dog training at no cost to the veteran or their family
- Individual, family, and group therapy, with a licensed therapist present at every class
- Family inclusion and support throughout the entire program
“We focus on the human at the end of the leash,” said Mary Cortani. “This is about restoring function, independence, connection, and ultimately, saving lives.”
Media Contact:
Mary Cortani, Executive Director/Founder
Operation Freedom Paws
(408) 683-9010
media@operationfreedompaws.org
https://operationfreedompaws.org
EIN: 45-2566382
Author: caLegion Contributor
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