Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act

Summary: Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year pilot program to assess the effectiveness of addressing veterans' post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through the therapeutic medium of educating those veterans in the training and handling of service dogs for veterans with disabilities. Requires: (1) the Secretary to carry out the pilot program through contracts with appropriate nongovernmental entities located in close proximity to at least three but no more than five VA medical centers, and (2) each of those entities to be certified in the training and handling of service dogs and to have a training area that would be appropriate for use in educating veterans with mental health conditions in the art and science of service dog training and handling. 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON DOG TRAINING 
              THERAPY.

    (a) In General.--Commencing not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall enter into a 
contract with one or more appropriate non-government entities for the 
purpose of assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment 
mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through a 
therapeutic medium of training service dogs for veterans with 
disabilities.
    (b) Duration of Pilot Program.--The pilot program required by 
subsection (a) shall be carried out during the five-year period 
beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
    (c) Locations of Pilot Program.--In entering into contracts for 
purposes of the pilot program, the Secretary shall seek to enter into 
contracts with appropriate non-government entities located in close 
proximity to at least three but not more than five medical centers of 
the Department.
    (d) Appropriate Non-Government Entities.--For purposes of the pilot 
program, an appropriate non-government entity is an entity that is 
certified in the training and handling of service dogs and that has a 
training area that would be appropriate for use in educating veterans 
with mental health conditions in the art and science of service dog 
training and handling. Such training area shall--
            (1) include a dedicated space that is suitable for grooming 
        and training dogs indoors;
            (2) be wheelchair accessible;
            (3) include classroom or lecture space;
            (4) include office space for staff;
            (5) include a suitable space for storing training 
        equipment;
            (6) provide for periodic use of other training areas for 
        training the dogs with wheelchairs and conducting other 
        exercises;
            (7) include outdoor exercise and toileting space for dogs; 
        and
            (8) provide transportation for weekly field trips to train 
        dogs in other environments.
    (e) Design of Pilot Program.--Each contract entered into under 
subsection (a) shall provide that the non-government entity shall--
            (1) ensure that veterans participating in the program 
        receive training from certified service dog training 
        instructors;
            (2) ensure that in selecting assistance dogs for use in the 
        program, dogs residing in animal shelters or foster homes are 
        looked at as an option, if appropriate, and ensure that all 
        dogs used in the program have adequate temperament and health 
        clearances;
            (3) ensure that each service dog in training participating 
        in the pilot program is taught all essential commands 
        pertaining to service dog skills;
            (4) ensure that each service dog in training lives at the 
        pilot program site or a volunteer foster home in the vicinity 
        of such site while receiving training;
            (5) ensure that the pilot program involves both lecture of 
        service dog training methodologies and practical hands-on 
        training and grooming of service dogs; and
            (6) ensure that the pilot program is designed to--
                    (A) maximize the therapeutic benefits to veterans 
                participating in the program; and
                    (B) provide well-trained service dogs to veterans 
                with disabilities; and
            (7) in hiring service dog training instructors to carry out 
        training under the pilot program, give a preference to veterans 
        who have successfully graduated from post-traumatic stress 
        disorder or other residential treatment programs and who have 
        received adequate certification in service dog training.
    (f) Administration.--In order to carry out the pilot program under 
section (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
            (1) administer the program through the Recreation Therapy 
        Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs under the 
        direction of a certified recreational therapist with sufficient 
        administrative experience to oversee the pilot program; and
            (2) establish a director of service dog training with a 
        background working in social services, experience in teaching 
        others to train service dogs in a vocational setting, and at 
        least one year of experience working with veterans or active 
        duty service members with post-traumatic stress disorder in a 
        clinical setting.
    (g) Veteran Eligibility.--The Secretary shall select veterans for 
participation in the pilot program. A veteran with post-traumatic 
stress disorder or other post-deployment mental health condition may 
volunteer to participate in the pilot program, if the Secretary 
determines that there are adequate program resources available for such 
veteran at the pilot program site. Veterans may participate in the 
pilot program in conjunction with the compensated work therapy program 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (h) Collection of Data.--The Secretary shall collect data on the 
pilot program required under subsection (a) to determine how effective 
the program is for the veterans participating in the program. Such data 
shall include data to determine how effectively the program assists 
veterans in--
            (1) reducing stigma associated with post-traumatic stress 
        disorder or other post-deployment mental health condition;
            (2) improving emotional regulation;
            (3) improving patience;
            (4) instilling or re-establishing a sense of purpose;
            (5) providing an opportunity to help fellow veterans;
            (6) reintegrating into the community;
            (7) exposing the dog to new environments and in doing so, 
        helping the veteran reduce social isolation and withdrawal;
            (8) building relationship skills, including parenting 
        skills;
            (9) relaxing the hyper-vigilant survival state;
            (10) improving sleep patterns; and
            (11) enabling veterans to decrease the use of pain 
        medication.
    (i) Reports to Congress.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a), and each 
year thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program. Each such 
report shall include--
            (1) the number of veterans participating in the pilot 
        program;
            (2) a description of the services carried out under the 
        pilot program;
            (3) the effects that participating in the pilot program has 
        on the following--
                    (A) symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and 
                post-deployment adjustment difficulties, including 
                depression, maintenance of sobriety, suicidal 
                ideations, and homelessness;
                    (B) potentially relevant physiological markers that 
                possibly relate to the interactions with the service 
                dogs;
                    (C) family dynamics;
                    (D) insomnia and pain management; and
                    (E) overall well-being; and
            (4) the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to 
        the extension or expansion of the pilot program.
    (j) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term 
``service dog training instructor'' means an instructor who provides 
the direct training of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and 
other post-deployment issues in the art and science of service dog 
training and handling.