This Veterans Day, military veterans had something extra to honor – the introduction of a new bipartisan bill aimed at supporting vets dealing with PTSD by providing funding for service dog programs.
The Service Dogs Assisting Veterans – or SAVES Act – was introduced in Congress, and is already bringing light to those suffering following their tours of duty.
Retired Master Sergeant Dave Crenshaw, an Iraq War veteran who faced complex PTSD, recently shared his story to raise awareness for the bill. He credits his service dog, Doc, with giving him renewed purpose after years of struggling.
Crenshaw, who once felt “death would bring peace,” now speaks of the life-changing impact that Doc, his Labrador-pointer mix, has had on his life.
Trained through the nonprofit K9s for Warriors, Doc helps Crenshaw manage his anxiety, often sensing panic attacks before they escalate. Doc also helps to ground him with simple gestures, like nudging him with his snout.
For Crenshaw, who served in Tikrit and later worked in high-stress law enforcement, Doc has been an “early warning system” and a constant source of support, he told NJ.com.
The SAVES Act could provide up to $2 million in grants to organizations like K9s for Warriors, offering more veterans the chance to access service dogs trained for specific mental health needs.
“Roughly 20 veterans die by suicide every day, and K9s For Warriors is determined to change that,” the organization states, highlighting its mission to reduce suicide rates among veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual assault trauma.
The bill has gained support from the House For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of representatives with military backgrounds.
Advocates say the personal testimonies of veterans like Crenshaw, who serves on the boards of veterans’ nonprofits and has worked to raise awareness on veterans’ mental health – and have strengthened the bill’s appeal.
Crenshaw, who recently appeared on Good Morning America to raise awareness, said: “Doc gave me the will to live.”
He went on to say that he hopes the bill will help more veterans experience the same life-changing support he found in Doc.
If passed, the SAVES Act could open doors for thousands of veterans, providing not only companionship but a path toward better mental well-being.