'PAWS Act' would provide wounded warriors with service dogs
The Department of Veterans Affairs currently does not provide wounded warriors with service dogs, but that might be about to change.
A bill, dubbed the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act, would create a five-year, $10 million pilot program to have the VA help pair veterans suffering from PTSD with service dogs.
On "Fox and Friends" this morning, Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) explained that we're facing an epidemic of veteran suicides, so it's important that all servicemembers are honored and taken care of, no matter the wounds they bear.
Cole Lyle, who served overseas in the Marine Corps for six years, said that when he returned from Afghanistan in 2011, he found that the VA's treatments and drug prescriptions were actually exacerbating his PTSD symptoms.
That's why he decided to seek alternative methods of treatment, including getting a service dog, Kaya, who is trained to help him deal with his symptoms, such as nightmares.