The first two dogs provided to veterans under the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (DVA’s) Psychiatric Assistance Dogs program have been welcomed to their new homes to change the lives of their new owners.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Darren Chester said the program would change lives and save lives.
“I have no doubt these two dogs, Zuma and Leon, will make a difference to their new owners and help them to manage their mental health and wellbeing,” Mr Chester said.
“The dogs will now begin their next phase of training together with their owners and within their own environment, and importantly, as part of the veterans’ post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) management plan.
He said he looked forward to seeing more eligible veterans signing up to experience the difference an assistance dog could make to their mental health and to their overall quality of life.
Mr Chester said Zuma and Leon were handed over from one of the approved providers based in Queensland, Smart Pups, which is supplying eligible veterans nationwide with trained psychiatric assistance dogs through the DVA program.
“The program is available to eligible veterans who have a diagnosis of PTSD and forms part of their PTSD management plan, along with financial assistance from DVA for the upkeep of the dogs,” Mr Chester said.
“Since the program was announced in September 2019, there have been more than 130 requests from veterans interested in adding an assistance dog to their treatment plan,” he said.
