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 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; 
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(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 service dog training instructors; 
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(4) 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; 
(5) ensure that each service dog in training 
participating in the pilot program is taught all es-
sential commands pertaining to service dog skills; 
(6) 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; 
(7) ensure that the pilot program involves both 
lecture of service dog training methodologies and 
practical hands-on training and grooming of service 
dogs; and 
(8) 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. 
(e) VETERAN ELIGIBILITY.—A veteran with post- 
traumatic stress disorder or other post-deployment mental 
health condition may volunteer to participate in the pilot 
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program under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines 
that there are adequate program resources available for 
such veteran at the pilot program site. Veterans may par-
ticipate in the pilot program in conjunction with the com-
pensated work therapy program of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
(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 
service 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; 
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(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. 
(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; 
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(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 
issues in the art and science of service dog training and 
handling. 
Æ 
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