“I’ve had the chance to visit with veterans and their service dogs in my district, and it couldn’t be clearer how service dogs make life better for our veterans. From waking them from PTSD-related nightmares, helping them open doors, or finding an exit in a crowded space, it can be transformational,” said Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin.

“The PAWS Act is going to make a real difference for veterans across the country who may be struggling with ‘invisible’ service-related wounds like PTSD or depression, and could also support the work of amazing organizations right in our district, like Blue Star Service Dogs in Pinckney. This bill will create a pilot program at the VA to help connect veterans with service dogs in their communities, and through training and adoption, will improve veteran’s mental health and wellbeing.

“I’ve worked on advancing this bill for over two years, in two separate Congresses. Getting bipartisan legislation passed in today’s Congress isn’t always easy. But I’m proud to say that the PAWS Act passed the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support and is now officially law. When it comes to dogs and supporting our country’s veterans –– working together is just common sense.”

An average of 20 veterans die by suicide every day, and post-traumatic stress (PTSD) impacts between 11 and 30 percent of veterans who served. Research conducted by Kaiser Permanente and Purdue University has shown that working with service dogs alleviates the symptoms of PTSD, leading to better interpersonal relationships, lower risk of substance abuse, and overall better mental health.

Blue Star Service Dogs in Pinckney, Michigan –– a non-profit that rescues and trains shelter dogs, pairing them with combat veterans diagnosed with invisible wounds like PTSD –– is an organization that could directly benefit from the PAWS Act.