I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 359 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program 
on dog training therapy. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 14, 2015 
Mr. STIVERS (for himself and Mr. WALZ) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
a pilot program on dog training therapy. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Dog Training 
Therapy Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PRO-
GRAM ON DOG TRAINING THERAPY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 120 
days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program 
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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 dis-
order symptoms through a therapeutic medium of training 
service dogs for veterans with disabilities. 
(b) DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.—The pilot pro-
gram required by subsection (a) shall be carried out dur-
ing the five-year period beginning on the date of the com-
mencement of the pilot program. 
(c) LOCATIONS OF PILOT PROGRAM.—In entering 
into contracts for purposes of the pilot program, the Sec-
retary 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 train-
ing and handling of service dogs and that has a training 
area that would be appropriate for use in educating vet-
erans with mental health conditions in the art and science 
of service dog training and handling. Such training area 
shall— 
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(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 en-
tered 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 appro-
priate, and ensure that all dogs used in the program 
have adequate temperament and health clearances; 
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(3) ensure that each service dog in training 
participating in the pilot program is taught all es-
sential 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 grad-
uated from post-traumatic stress disorder or other 
residential treatment programs and who have re-
ceived adequate certification in service dog training. 
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(f) ADMINISTRATION.—In order to carry out the pilot 
program under section (a), the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall— 
(1) administer the program through the Recre-
ation Therapy Service of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs under the direction of a certified rec-
reational therapist with sufficient administrative ex-
perience to oversee the pilot program; and 
(2) establish a director of service dog training 
with a background working in social services, experi-
ence in teaching others to train service dogs in a vo-
cational setting, and at least one year of experience 
working with veterans or active duty service mem-
bers with post-traumatic stress disorder in a clinical 
setting. 
(g) VETERAN ELIGIBILITY.—The Secretary shall se-
lect veterans for participation in the pilot program. A vet-
eran with post-traumatic stress disorder or other post-de-
ployment mental health condition may volunteer to partici-
pate 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 partici-
pate in the pilot program in conjunction with the com-
pensated work therapy program of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
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(h) COLLECTION OF DATA.—The Secretary shall col-
lect data on the pilot program required under subsection 
(a) to determine how effective the program is for the vet-
erans participating in the program. Such data shall in-
clude data to determine how effectively the program as-
sists veterans in— 
(1) reducing stigma associated with post-trau-
matic stress disorder or other post-deployment men-
tal health condition; 
(2) improving emotional regulation; 
(3) improving patience; 
(4) instilling or re-establishing a sense of pur-
pose; 
(5) providing an opportunity to help fellow vet-
erans; 
(6) reintegrating into the community; 
(7) exposing the dog to new environments and 
in doing so, helping the veteran reduce social isola-
tion and withdrawal; 
(8) building relationship skills, including par-
enting skills; 
(9) relaxing the hyper-vigilant survival state; 
(10) improving sleep patterns; and 
(11) enabling veterans to decrease the use of 
pain medication. 
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(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 du-
ration 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 dis-
order and post-deployment adjustment difficul-
ties, including depression, maintenance of sobri-
ety, suicidal ideations, and homelessness; 
(B) potentially relevant physiological mark-
ers 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. 
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(j) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this section, 
the term ‘‘service dog training instructor’’ means an in-
structor 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. 
Æ 
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