Service Dogs for Veterans Page 2 of 2 - NEADS World Class Service Dogs

Service Dogs for Veterans

NEADS has been providing fully-trained Service Dogs for United States veterans since 2006. Programs include Service Dogs for Veterans from any conflict who have a permanent physical disability or hearing loss, or have MS or other progressive conditions and veterans with diagnosed service-related PTSD. Service Dogs are provided at no charge to veterans who are eligible for our program.

Learn more about our program, the history behind it, and the incredible veteran community we work with and serve.

All about Service Dogs for Veterans

Afghanistan: How Veterans can learn from Vietnam Veterans

Recommended reading about Afghanistan veterans and how they can get help through the VA: Afghanistan: “How Veterans can learn from Vietnam Veterans.”

Racing for Heroes: Interview with Katie Hanna and Katy Ostroff

NEADS Client Services Specialist Katie Hanna US Army (Ret) and Katy Harrison Ostroff, Manager of NEADS Client Services discuss NEADS® World Class Service Dogs and the veteran community.

Racing for Heroes: Interview with Kevin Lambert

Kevin Lambert of NEADS World Class Service Dogs speaks about service animals for the veteran community.

Honoring Our Nation’s Veterans

As we observe Veterans Day, a day which celebrates the service of all US military veterans, and National Veterans and Military Families Month this November, NEADS would especially like to…

Hospitalization and Recovery during a Pandemic

The pandemic has been difficult for all our TAD* veterans, but one client in particular, Rebecca, found herself in an extremely tough situation. A few months prior to the pandemic, she had to make the hard decision to have her second leg amputated. She had only had her Service Dog, Sully, for about 4 months at that time and was clearly worried about what to do with him while in the hospital…

Connecting in a Time of Isolation

When Covid-19 hit, we knew that connecting with as many clients as possible was important, particularly the veterans with PTSD in our Trauma Assistance Dog (TAD) program. Talking to these veterans, it was apparent that the isolation and stresses of quarantine, stay-at-home orders, and social distancing brought on by the pandemic was getting to them…

VA Service Dog Benefits

If you are a veteran interested in applying for a Service Dog, you are eligible to apply for the VA Service Dog Benefit if the reason you have the Service Dog is service-connected. The Service Dog must also be provided to you by a fully accredited organization (as NEADS is) through Assistance Dogs International (ADI) for PTSD, Hearing, and Physical Service Dogs, or International Guide Dog Federation for Guide Dogs.

NEADS – Here for Veterans

A message from NEADS Program Development Administrator to all our veteran clients and applicants.

What to Look for in a Service Dog for Veterans Program

Here are some key features to look for when evaluating a Service Dog for Veterans program and how the NEADS programs measure up.

Building Community at NEADS with Quilts of Valor and Blue Star Mothers

NEADS is proud of its partnership with three organizations who are integral to the NEADS community: the Blue Star Mothers of Leominster and Worcester, and Quilts of Valor. The Blue…