Frequently Asked Questions About Veterans and Service Dogs

While a PTSD diagnosis qualifies Veterans for service dogs under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in general, it’s just the first qualification for eligibility with NWBB. Find out if you or a loved one might qualify to apply for a service dog with NWBB.

Service dogs and emotional support animals both provide real comfort, but they are legally different. A service dog is individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability, like interrupting a panic attack or waking a Veteran from a nightmare, and is granted full public access rights under the ADA. An emotional support animal offers comfort through companionship but is not task trained and does not carry the same public access rights. Read more about the difference between service dogs and emotional support animals.

According to the National Center for PTSD, 7 percent of all Veterans, about 1.26 million American Heroes, will experience PTSD at some point in their life. PTSD is more common among female Veterans (13 percent) than male Veterans (6 percent), and among Veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, that number climbs to 29 percent. Learn more about how many Veterans suffer from PTSD.

PTSD is caused by chemical changes in the brain following a traumatic event. The amygdala, the brain's fight or flight center, stays on high alert long after a Veteran returns home, so everyday triggers like loud noises or crowds can reignite the same stress response felt in combat. This can lead to hypervigilance, flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and social isolation. Discover the full effects of PTSD on Veterans and how service dogs help Veterans heal.

Under the ADA, Veterans with PTSD service dogs have the right to bring their dog into most public spaces, including restaurants, stores, and government buildings. Businesses may only ask two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability, and what task the dog is trained to perform. They cannot request documentation or ask about a Veteran's disability. Many states add further protections, including penalties for service dog fraud and interference. Explore the full guide to ADA service dog laws.

Yes. Under the Air Carrier Access Act, a dog individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, including psychiatric disabilities like PTSD, qualifies as a service animal on U.S. flights. Airlines may require a DOT behavior and training form, and for flights of eight hours or more, a relief attestation form. Once onboard, the dog must stay in the floor space in front of the handler and cannot block the aisle. NWBB Veterans complete public access training at Portland International Airport to prepare for exactly these situations. Read the full guide to traveling with a service dog.

At Northwest Battle Buddies, it costs $35,000 to raise, train, and pair one dog with a Veteran handler, covering the Puppy Foster Program, the Canine Training Program, and the Veteran Training Program. Thanks to generous donors, NWBB provides every service dog completely free of charge to the Veteran. See the full cost breakdown of a PTSD service dog.

Yes. Research from the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine found that adding a service dog to standard care was linked to lower PTSD symptom severity, lower anxiety, and lower depression after just three months. Service dogs help Veterans reconnect with their communities, easing the isolation that is a major risk factor for suicide. Learn about the interventions helping prevent Veteran suicide.

Veterans must have deployed overseas with an honorable discharge, hold a formal PTSD diagnosis from a medical professional, and meet personal readiness standards. Full eligibility details are covered in our Frequently Asked Questions guide for Veterans.

Yes. Northwest Battle Buddies places service dogs with qualified active duty personnel, as long as the service member's command submits written approval to participate in the five week training program. Learn more in our complete guide to PTSD service dog FAQs.

Once approved, Veterans join a waiting list. Wait times depend on dog availability and finding the right match between Veteran and service dog, so some Veterans begin training within months while others wait longer. Find out more about the matching and training timeline.

Veterans train with a service dog together for five weeks, learning to work on and off leash in simulated public settings, spending overnights together, and completing public access training in real world places like malls, restaurants, and grocery stores. See the full training process for Veterans and their service dogs.

You can make a lasting impact by pledging a recurring monthly gift through Operation Never Quit, sponsoring a service dog in training through Pledge-a-Pup, or fostering a future service dog. See 4 of the best ways to donate to Veterans.

There are several meaningful ways to get involved. You can foster a puppy in training if you live in Washington, Idaho, or Oregon, donate items from the NWBB Amazon wishlist, or organize a fundraiser in your own community. Discover 3 ways to volunteer and help Veterans with PTSD.