As all Americans continue to struggle to navigate through the COVID-19 crisis, our military veterans and their families have been hit particularly hard. There are millions of veterans who are more likely to experience job loss, financial concerns, and feelings of isolation and depression during this pandemic. Because of this, service and emotional support dog programs are even more important today than ever before as they assist veterans dealing with physical and mental challenges.
Service dogs provide more than just comfort. They assist these veterans with daily tasks such as getting their medicines on time, providing water from the refrigerator, assisting as they walk as well as if in wheelchairs. The Service Dog is truly a “life saver” for these veterans as they allow the veteran to become a productive person once again as many of them return to college, gain employment, purchase new homes for the families, and become more active in their local communities.
This month, Veterans Moving Forward (VMF) highlighted one of our newly graduated Service Dogs in Training (SDiT), “Harry.” SD Harry is named in honor and memory of Harrison “Doc” Meyer, U.S. Army, killed in action in Iraq in 2004. Serving as an Army Medic, “Doc” is credited with saving six of his fellow soldiers’ lives before being mortally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
DeAngelo Wynn, a U.S. Navy veteran, was first provided a VMF Service Dog, “Jug” many years ago. He will tell you that once Jug entered his life, Jug was a lifesaver. SD “Jug” provided Wynn with the means whereby he was able to get back to work, completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees, and is now pursuing doctoral studies. But time caught up with Jug, so he is now retired. Still needing a service dog to help with his challenges due to bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders, VMF was able to place his new “Battle Buddy,” Harry with DeAngelo a year ago.
Wynn said his first session with SD Harry “was just awesome.” Harry immediately took after DeAngelo as if they had been old buddies. “It’s a miracle to have a service dog, and now I’m blessed with two great buddies,” Wynn said. “It’s been life changing. I’ve gone from 11 medications to two.”
Here is just an example of another of our veterans, Maureen:
“It was my Primary Care doctor at the VA Hospital who suggested that I could really benefit from a service dog. Then my rehab team, cognitive rehabilitation specialist, physical therapist, physiatrist and occupational therapist were on board. They all thought that a dog could help enhance my mobility and ground my brain in the present moment with the opportunity for increased focus and concentration. Little did they know that Prince would do much more. With Prince, I am more physically active because I have help with my balance. I’m not afraid to go out and about because I’m not alone. Prince is always right by my side. He’s my helper, my companion, my co-worker, my closest friend, and my hero. I’m so grateful to Veterans Moving Forward for raising and training this incredible boy, Prince, the King of Dogs!!!”
The cost of providing these outstanding service dogs is quite large. From acquiring the puppies, training them for the two years, and then placing them with their new “Battle Buddy,” it is very expensive. At Veterans Moving Forward, our average cost per service dog, from acquiring the puppy at 8 weeks until their graduation around 2-years later, equates to approximately $50,000 per dog. This includes not only the two years of training, but the cost to obtain the dog, scheduled and unscheduled medical expenses, training equipment, facilities, and personnel.
Many Americans believe that the U.S. Government provides for our veterans via a “service dog program.” Unfortunately, this is not the case. The Department of Veterans Affairs has no program for directly providing these highly trained dogs to assist veterans dealing with their emotional or physical needs. While some supporting coverage exists, such as the Veterinary Health Benefit, it does not necessarily cover the full range of expenses that acquiring and providing for a service dog incurs. This is why nonprofit organizations like Veterans Moving Forward exist today.
Veterans Moving Forward is not only changing the lives of our Veterans, but we’re saving the lives of these heroes every day. Veterans Moving Forward is appreciative of all of our great supporters who truly believe in our mission of providing these deserving Veterans their “New Leash on Life.”
Dr. Gordon Sumner, PhD, is President and CEO of Veterans Moving Forward, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose headquarters and training center is in Dulles, VA. Veterans Moving Forward’s mission is to “provide service, emotional support, therapy or skilled companion dogs for veterans with physical and/or mental health challenges.”
For veterans interested in applying for one of our Service Dogs, please visit our website and submit your application. The only requirements are that the individuals served “Honorably” as documented in their DD Form 214, and that their Primary Care Provider also submits documentation stating that they support the veteran’s efforts to obtain a Service Dog, and should the veteran be under mental health care, that their mental health PCP also provide documentation supporting their request for a service dog. As we place our service dogs nationwide, there is no restrictions on location, type of injury or need, age, military branch of service, or being a fully retired veteran.
For information about the services Veterans Moving Forward provides, please visit www.vetsfwd.org.
The views expressed in this piece are the sole opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Center for Maritime Strategy or other institutions listed.
Center for Maritime Strategy
By Dr. Gordon Sumner
As all Americans continue to struggle to navigate through the COVID-19 crisis, our military veterans and their families have been hit particularly hard. There are millions of veterans who are more likely to experience job loss, financial concerns, and feelings of isolation and depression during this pandemic. Because of this, service and emotional support dog programs are even more important today than ever before as they assist veterans dealing with physical and mental challenges.
Service dogs provide more than just comfort. They assist these veterans with daily tasks such as getting their medicines on time, providing water from the refrigerator, assisting as they walk as well as if in wheelchairs. The Service Dog is truly a “life saver” for these veterans as they allow the veteran to become a productive person once again as many of them return to college, gain employment, purchase new homes for the families, and become more active in their local communities.
This month, Veterans Moving Forward (VMF) highlighted one of our newly graduated Service Dogs in Training (SDiT), “Harry.” SD Harry is named in honor and memory of Harrison “Doc” Meyer, U.S. Army, killed in action in Iraq in 2004. Serving as an Army Medic, “Doc” is credited with saving six of his fellow soldiers’ lives before being mortally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
DeAngelo Wynn, a U.S. Navy veteran, was first provided a VMF Service Dog, “Jug” many years ago. He will tell you that once Jug entered his life, Jug was a lifesaver. SD “Jug” provided Wynn with the means whereby he was able to get back to work, completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees, and is now pursuing doctoral studies. But time caught up with Jug, so he is now retired. Still needing a service dog to help with his challenges due to bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders, VMF was able to place his new “Battle Buddy,” Harry with DeAngelo a year ago.
Wynn said his first session with SD Harry “was just awesome.” Harry immediately took after DeAngelo as if they had been old buddies. “It’s a miracle to have a service dog, and now I’m blessed with two great buddies,” Wynn said. “It’s been life changing. I’ve gone from 11 medications to two.”
Here is just an example of another of our veterans, Maureen:
“It was my Primary Care doctor at the VA Hospital who suggested that I could really benefit from a service dog. Then my rehab team, cognitive rehabilitation specialist, physical therapist, physiatrist and occupational therapist were on board. They all thought that a dog could help enhance my mobility and ground my brain in the present moment with the opportunity for increased focus and concentration. Little did they know that Prince would do much more. With Prince, I am more physically active because I have help with my balance. I’m not afraid to go out and about because I’m not alone. Prince is always right by my side. He’s my helper, my companion, my co-worker, my closest friend, and my hero. I’m so grateful to Veterans Moving Forward for raising and training this incredible boy, Prince, the King of Dogs!!!”
The cost of providing these outstanding service dogs is quite large. From acquiring the puppies, training them for the two years, and then placing them with their new “Battle Buddy,” it is very expensive. At Veterans Moving Forward, our average cost per service dog, from acquiring the puppy at 8 weeks until their graduation around 2-years later, equates to approximately $50,000 per dog. This includes not only the two years of training, but the cost to obtain the dog, scheduled and unscheduled medical expenses, training equipment, facilities, and personnel.
Many Americans believe that the U.S. Government provides for our veterans via a “service dog program.” Unfortunately, this is not the case. The Department of Veterans Affairs has no program for directly providing these highly trained dogs to assist veterans dealing with their emotional or physical needs. While some supporting coverage exists, such as the Veterinary Health Benefit, it does not necessarily cover the full range of expenses that acquiring and providing for a service dog incurs. This is why nonprofit organizations like Veterans Moving Forward exist today.
Veterans Moving Forward is not only changing the lives of our Veterans, but we’re saving the lives of these heroes every day. Veterans Moving Forward is appreciative of all of our great supporters who truly believe in our mission of providing these deserving Veterans their “New Leash on Life.”
Dr. Gordon Sumner, PhD, is President and CEO of Veterans Moving Forward, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose headquarters and training center is in Dulles, VA. Veterans Moving Forward’s mission is to “provide service, emotional support, therapy or skilled companion dogs for veterans with physical and/or mental health challenges.”
For veterans interested in applying for one of our Service Dogs, please visit our website and submit your application. The only requirements are that the individuals served “Honorably” as documented in their DD Form 214, and that their Primary Care Provider also submits documentation stating that they support the veteran’s efforts to obtain a Service Dog, and should the veteran be under mental health care, that their mental health PCP also provide documentation supporting their request for a service dog. As we place our service dogs nationwide, there is no restrictions on location, type of injury or need, age, military branch of service, or being a fully retired veteran.
For information about the services Veterans Moving Forward provides, please visit www.vetsfwd.org.
The views expressed in this piece are the sole opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Center for Maritime Strategy or other institutions listed.