On
August 18, 2016, the VA announced their newest pilot program. The Service Dogs
Benefit Pilot will provide veterinary benefits for service dogs approved for disabled veterans with mental disorders with a chronic impairment that limits their
mobility.
The
VA already provides veterinary benefits for guide dogs belonging to veterans
with impaired hearing, vision, or mobility. This pilot program will extend
these benefits to veterans with mental disorders for whom a service dog has
been determined to provide the best way for that veteran to live independently.
Service
dogs are specially trained to perform tasks or services for a specific person
who has a disability which makes it impossible for them to do the task or work
on their own so they can live independently. This specialized training is what
makes service dogs different from comfort animals or pets. In order to qualify
for the veterinary benefits, a service dog must have been trained according to
VA regulations by a group or organization accredited by Assistance Dogs
International.
Medical
care provided under the veterinary service benefits include annual wellness
visits, immunizations, dental care, screenings, urgent or emergency care,
prescriptions, and other treatments that help the dog provide service to the
veteran. For more information on the VA’s service dog program, please go to http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/ServiceAndGuideDogs.asp.
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