Government should support programs providing service dogs for veterans with combat injuries

OTTAWA–The federal government should commit financial support to programs that provide service dogs for veterans and soldiers with combat injuries such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, or mobility injuries says Official Opposition Critic for Veterans Affairs, Peter Stoffer (Sackville – Eastern Shore).

“Programs that provide service dogs for veterans, like Courageous Companions, provide a wonderful opportunity to assist veterans with combat-related injuries,” said Stoffer. “Veterans suffering from PTSD have an opportunity to train service dogs and these dogs are then placed with veterans who have mobility limitations related to a combat injury. These types of programs are meeting with great success in helping veterans and their families with their injuries.”

Stoffer was joined at the press conference by Jessica O’Neill, a program operator with Courageous Companions in Ottawa, former Veterans Ombudsman Colonel (ret’d) Pat Stogran, and veterans who talked about their personal experiences and the benefits of service dogs.

“The United States is certainly taking the lead on this issue as they have a very successful Paws for Purple Hearts program in place at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre. We would like to see the same opportunities for veterans and their families here in Canada. It is clear that service dogs provide many benefits for injured veterans and their families. I encourage the federal government to commit to financial support for these types of services.”