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 
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 pro-
gram required by subsection (a) shall be carried out at 
least three and not more than five Department of Veterans 
Affairs medical centers during the five-year period begin-
ning on the date of the commencement of the pilot pro-
gram. 
(c) LOCATIONS OF PILOT PROGRAM.—In selecting 
medical centers for the pilot program required under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall ensure that each medical 
center selected provides a training area for educating vet-
erans with mental health conditions in the art and science 
of assistance 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. 
(d) DESIGN OF PILOT PROGRAM.—In carrying out 
the pilot program under this section, the Secretary 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 all pilot program sites; 
(2) establish, for purposes of overseeing the 
training of dogs at medical centers selected for the 
pilot program, a director of service dog training with 
a background working in social services, experience
in teaching others to train service dogs in a voca-
tional 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; 
(3) ensure that each pilot program site has cer-
tified dog trainers; 
(4) ensure that each assistance dog used in the 
program is purpose-bred for assistance dog work 
and has adequate temperament and health clear-
ances; 
(5) ensure that each assistance dog partici-
pating in the pilot program is taught 90 commands 
pertaining to assistance dog skills; 
(6) ensure that each assistance dog live at the 
pilot program site or a volunteer foster home in the 
vicinity of such site while receiving training; 
(7) ensure that the pilot program involves both 
lecture of assistance dog training methodologies and 
practical hands-on training and grooming of assist-
ance dogs; and 
(8) ensure that the pilot program is designed 
to— 
(A) maximize the therapeutic benefits to 
veteran participating in the program; and
(B) provide well-trained assistance dogs to 
veterans with disabilities. 
(e) VETERAN ELIGIBILITY.—A veteran with post- 
traumatic stress disorder or other post-deployment mental 
health condition may volunteer to participate in the pilot 
program under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines 
that there are adequate program resources available for 
such veteran at the pilot program site. 
(f) HIRING PREFERENCE.—In hiring service dog 
training instructors under the pilot program under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall give a preference to vet-
erans who have successfully graduated from post-trau-
matic stress disorder or other residential treatment pro-
grams and who have received adequate certification in as-
sistance dog training. 
(g) 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 and increase their sense of safe-
ty; 
(8) building relationship skills; 
(9) relaxing the hyper-vigilant survival state; 
(10) improving sleep patterns; and 
(11) enabling veterans to decrease the use of 
pain medication. 
(h) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the commencement of the pilot pro-
gram under subsection (a), and each year thereafter for 
the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary shall sub-
mit 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 by 
the Secretary 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. 
(i) 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