BELIEVET Canine Service Partners GTM21

BelievetTM provides service dogs, free of charge, to disabled veterans, helping them to lead more productive, independent lives.

It is your dedication to our mission that makes BelievetTM  a strong and steadfast organization that not only makes an impact on veterans, but also on the families, friends and communities of our graduate teams.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs conducted a broad survey of recent veterans to gain better insight on their overall health.  In raw numbers it is estimated that a sobering 500,000 troops from the Gulf Wars alone have been diagnosed with PTSD, according to Miriam Reisman ("PTSD Treatment for Veterans:  What's Working, What's New and What's Next,"  U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2016.

PTSD can be described as a mental health condition that may result from experiencing or witnessing trauma.  Symptoms include nightmares, severe anxiety, depression, and confusion.  This condition, often accompanied by major depression and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI), can make it difficult, if not impossible, to meet the normal demands of daily life.  According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 20 deployed veterans die by suicide every day in the United States (Office of Suicide Prevention, "Suicide Among Veterans and Other Americans, 2001-2014," 2016).

Trained service dogs can provide an essential source of security, affection and connection for our veterans.  BelievetTM   dogs are custom-trained for mobility and psychiatric tasks.  They can wake a veteran from a nightmare, ease their anxiety in a crowded public place, and provide comfort through companionship and physical contact.  Our dogs also help keep veterans on a schedule because the dogs need care and attention on a regular basis.

There is a growing body of research and clinical evidence supporting the value of service dogs.  Despite this, neither the Veterans Health Administration nor most private insurers pay for or provide reimbursement for psychiatric service dogs for people diagnosed with PTSD.

A service dog provides a sense of security, greater independence, non-judgmental acceptance, affection, physical assistance and peace of mind.

You contribution will contribute to a better life for a veteran.