Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in service of our country.

As we honor the men and women who died to protect our freedoms, it’s also essential to recognize the canine heroes who provide unwavering support to veterans every single day—service and support dogs.

These remarkable animals are more than just companions; they are trained professionals who bring comfort, stability, and safety to those who need it most.

Service, Support, and Therapy Dogs: What’s the Difference?

Not all working dogs serve the same purpose, and understanding these distinctions helps us appreciate their unique contributions:

• Service Dogs: Professionally trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities.

For veterans, this includes support for PTSD, mobility assistance, and medical alerts. Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and have full public access rights.

• Emotional Support Dogs: These animals provide comfort and companionship to their owners.

While they don’t perform specific tasks like service dogs, their presence alone can help reduce anxiety and provide emotional stability for veterans facing mental health struggles.

• Therapy Dogs: Trained to provide comfort in public settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and VA facilities.

These dogs serve communities rather than individuals, bringing joy and calmness to veterans and others needing companionship.

 

How Service Dogs Transform Veterans’ Lives

For many veterans, service dogs are life-changing companions that provide essential support:

• PTSD Management: According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, between 11-20% of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD.

Service dogs trained for PTSD support can recognize anxiety triggers, interrupt negative or harmful behaviors, provide grounding during flashbacks, and create a buffer in crowded public spaces.

• Mobility Assistance: For veterans with physical disabilities, service dogs help with daily tasks like retrieving items, operating switches, opening doors, and providing stability when walking.

This assistance promotes independence and dignity.

• Medical Alert: Some service dogs are trained to detect and alert to changes in a veteran’s medical status, such as an oncoming seizure, dangerous blood sugar levels, or other critical health concerns.

 

• Isolation Reduction: The companionship of a service or support dog often encourages veterans to engage more with their communities, reducing isolation that can exacerbate mental health struggles.

 

The Journey of Training a Service Dog

Training a service dog requires extensive time, expertise, and resources:

★    Selection Process: Only about 30% of dogs evaluated are selected for service dog training, based on their temperament, intelligence, and adaptability.

 

★    Training Timeline: The comprehensive training process typically takes 18-24 months and costs between $25,000 and $50,000 per dog.

 

★    Specialized Training Phases:

❖   Foundation Training: Basic obedience, manners, socialization, and public access skills

❖   Task-Specific Training: Customized professional training for the specific needs of the veteran

❖   Team Training: The trainer teaches the future handler and service dog to work together as a team

❖   Ongoing Support: Most reputable organizations provide lifetime support to the service dog team

 This investment creates a partnership that transforms lives through mutual trust and support.

Honoring Veterans, Supporting Service Dogs

As we commemorate Memorial Day, there are meaningful ways to honor both our veterans and the service dogs that support them:

• Support Accredited Organizations: Consider supporting non-profit organizations dedicated to training and placing service dogs with veterans, such as K9s For Warriors, Paws for Purple Hearts, and America’s VetDogs.

 

• Understand Access Rights: Service dogs with proper training are legally permitted in public places where pets are typically not allowed.

Respecting these rights honors the vital work they do.

 

• Proper Interaction Etiquette: When encountering a service dog team, remember that the dog is working.

Always ask permission before approaching; never pet, call to, or distract a service dog without the handler’s explicit permission.

 

• Spread Awareness: Share information about the life-changing impact of service dogs for veterans in your community and on social media.

 

Caring for Working Dogs

Service and support dogs have unique needs due to their demanding roles:

• A high-quality diet helps to keep a service dog at a healthy weight and supports them nutritionally as they engage in important tasks for their handler
• Regular veterinary care helps to maintain peak performance and catch health issues early so they can be addressed before they interfere with the dog’s work
• Health and nutritional supplements can be given from puppyhood through the senior years to help support joint health, digestive health, vision health, cognitive health, and more.

 

Look for the Quality Seal and Find Peace of Mind

At the National Animal Supplement Council, we’re proud to support the health and well-being of all animals, including these exceptional service dogs who make such a profound difference in veterans’ lives.

When you shop for pet supplements, look for the yellow NASC Quality Seal to know you’re buying from responsible suppliers who have successfully passed a comprehensive third-party audit and maintain ongoing compliance with rigorous NASC quality requirements.

To learn more about the NASC’s commitment to animal health through quality supplements and responsible care, visit www.animalsupplements.org.