VA Program to Pair Vets, Dogs Getting a Boost

William Callahan and Taylor

A Veterans Administration program that was created in 2001 to provide service dogs to veterans has assigned only 2 dogs during its existence, its director admits.

William Callahan, a Vietnam vet, was told the program didn’t exist when he tried to obtain a service dog. He finally got his dog, Taylor, through a nonprofit organization.

The program, and the concept, are getting fresh support in Congress from Senators Al Franken (D-MN) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Representative Ron Klein (D-FL), including funding for pilot programs to document the benefits of service dogs for veterans.