Dog Chow Campaign

In honor of National Service Dog Awareness Month, Purina Dog Chow is launching its third annual “Service Dog Salute” campaign. A service dog can be life-changing in helping veterans with PTSD and other post-combat challenges. Unfortunately, due to the cost and time it takes to train a service dog, less than 1% of veterans in need can obtain one. Dog Chow is on a mission to help change that. The Service Dog Salute campaign supports the care and training of more service dogs for America’s military veterans — so that every hero in need can find a canine hero of their own.

Psychiatric service dogs are not the same as emotional support, therapy or companion dogs. Like service dogs for the blind, deaf and physically disabled, psychiatric service dogs for veterans must be specifically trained to help their handler perform tasks they cannot otherwise perform on their own. The training process can take from one to two-and-a-half years to learn to perform tasks such as:

Placing body weight on the veteran to promote a sense of calm during panic attacks

Waking the veteran from upsetting dreams or night terrors

Reminding the veteran to take medications. Alerting the veteran when someone is approaching from behind. Patrolling the perimeter of a room for triggers and threats

Over the next year, Dog Chow will follow the journey of several service dogs in training that are currently preparing to serve a veteran in need.

I’m here for a very important cause its service dogs for our veterans and I’m working with Purina Dog Chow,” said Bobby Bones. “Our soldiers who have been fighting for us they come back and they have the tools to have some normalcy and these animals do that for them. So many of them come back with PTSD. Here is what is up they cost $20,000 each that is a crazy amount of money. I realize that and Purina realizes that. That is why together you can 1) buy one of these specially marked bags.

“And every time you buy a bag you will make a donation to Got Your Six Support Dogs & The Tony LaRussa Animal Rescue Foundation’s Pets.”

“Purina and Dog Chow are also working with members of Congress in support of federal legislation to provide training and service dogs for veterans. The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act (HR4305) will create a pilot program in the VA to give veterans access to treatment derived from working with service dogs. The bill has been approved by the House, but still awaits passage in the Senate