Photo: Donald Teel / Unsplash
Today is Veterans Day, and across New England, people are thanking those who served. For many veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder, part of daily life includes a four-legged partner: a trained service dog that wakes them from nightmares, notices rising anxiety and makes crowded places easier to manage.
Service dogs for veterans have grown popular over the past two decades, often faster than the science behind them. That is changing. Here is what researchers have found, what federal law says, and how pet owners can respect these working dogs in public.
What the research shows
The most widely cited recent study was published in JAMA Network Open in 2024 and reported by Military Times. Researchers compared 81 veterans who received service dogs with 75 veterans who were still on a waiting list for one. The dogs came from K9s For Warriors, which matches trained dogs with veterans during a three-week group class.
After three months, PTSD symptoms improved in both groups, but veterans with service dogs improved more on average. To reduce bias, psychology doctoral students measured symptoms without knowing which veterans had dogs. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The researchers were careful about limits. The study was small. About 40% of veterans in both groups already owned pet dogs. All participants could use other PTSD treatments. Co-author Maggie O’Haire of the University of Arizona’s veterinary college said service dogs should complement existing care, not replace it, according to the report.
What these dogs actually do
A psychiatric service dog is trained for specific tasks, not simply companionship. Under a federal pilot program created by the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, signed in August 2021, dogs are trained to recognize anxiety attacks or nightmares and alert or wake the veteran, to block crowds to create personal space, and to fetch medication or a phone, according to the Military Officers Association of America.
The PAWS Act pilot requires at least five VA medical centers to partner with accredited service dog organizations. Veterans and dogs go through a work-therapy training program, and at the end, veterans can choose to adopt their paired dog. After five years, the VA reports results to Congress, which decides whether to continue, expand or end the program.
What the law says about service dogs
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, including psychiatric disabilities such as PTSD. Emotional support animals, which provide comfort simply by being present, are not service animals under the ADA, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s ADA guidance.
That distinction matters in daily life. Businesses open to the public generally must allow service dogs. When it is not obvious what a dog does, staff may ask only two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability, and what work or task it has been trained to perform. They cannot require documentation or ask the person to explain their disability.
How pet owners can help
If you are out with your own dog this holiday season, a few habits make life easier for service dog teams:
- Keep your dog close. A pet that rushes up to a working dog can distract it at a critical moment.
- Do not pet or call a working dog. A vest means the dog is on the job. Speak to the handler, not the dog.
- Give space in crowds. Holiday markets, parades and stores can be hard for veterans with PTSD. A little room helps.
- Never fake it. Putting a vest on a pet that is not trained undermines trust in real service dogs and can create dangerous situations.
Questions to ask a service dog organization
Veterans and families researching service dogs face a crowded field, and quality varies. A few questions help separate strong programs from weak ones:
- Is the organization accredited? Assistance Dogs International is one widely recognized accrediting body. The PAWS Act pilot works with accredited organizations.
- What tasks will the dog be trained for? A good program can name specific, trained tasks tied to the veteran’s needs.
- How are dogs and veterans matched? Look for programs that train the veteran and the dog together.
- What support continues after placement? Follow-up training and help when problems arise matter as much as the first weeks.
- What does it cost? Many reputable programs place dogs with veterans at no charge, funded by donations. Be cautious of high fees with vague promises.
Other ways to help this Veterans Day
Not every veteran needs a service dog, but many love their pets. If a veteran neighbor has a dog, offering to walk it during a medical appointment or a busy week can be a real gift. Donating to accredited service dog organizations helps fund the long, expensive training each dog needs. And simply thanking the veterans in your life, including those whose dogs walk beside them, never goes out of style.
The Boston Made Pets Take
Boston Made Pets believes service dogs are one of the clearest examples of what dogs can do for people. The research is encouraging, and it is also honest about what it does not yet prove. That honesty is good news for veterans: it means programs are being studied carefully rather than sold on hope alone.
The best way to honor veterans who rely on service dogs is to respect the work those dogs do. Teach children not to pet working dogs, keep pets under control in public, and support accredited organizations that train dogs to recognized standards. If you are a veteran curious about a service dog, talk with your VA care team or a licensed clinician about whether it fits your treatment plan.
What it means for you
- Studies suggest service dogs can reduce PTSD symptoms for some veterans, alongside other treatment.
- Service dogs are trained for specific tasks; emotional support animals are not covered as service animals under the ADA.
- Staff may ask only two questions about a service dog.
- Respect working dogs in public: no petting, no distractions, plenty of space.
This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. Veterans should talk with their VA care team or a licensed clinician, and pet owners with health questions should consult their veterinarian.
Sources: Military Times; Military Officers Association of America; ADA.gov
Quick check
How much did you catch? Tap a question to see the answer.
1. How many veterans with service dogs were in the 2024 study?
Answer: 81, compared with 75 veterans on a waiting list.
2. Are emotional support animals service animals under the ADA?
Answer: No. Service animals are dogs trained to perform specific tasks.
3. What should you do when you see a dog in a service vest?
Answer: Give it space and don’t pet or call it; speak to the handler instead.