“A Missed Opportunity: Why the SAVES Act Falls Short for Veterans and Service Dogs”

Written By IT Department

Subtitle: Bipartisan isn’t always better if the bill lacks clarity, standards, and long-term vision.

When we see bipartisan support and headlines promising hope for veterans, it’s natural to feel encouraged. The SAVES Act (H.R. 2605/S.1441) is one such bill, framed as a major step forward in funding service dogs for veterans with PTSD, TBI, mobility challenges, and more. With endorsements from major organizations like the American Legion, DAV, and K9s For Warriors, many assume this is the bill we’ve all been waiting for.

But once you move past the title and dig into the details, it becomes clear: the SAVES Act may do more harm than good in its current form. In fact, it risks funneling taxpayer dollars into a program that lacks structure, fails to define outcomes, and does nothing to address the real barriers preventing veterans from accessing qualified service dogs.

What the SAVES Act Actually Does:

  • Creates a 5-year pilot program, granting up to $2 million each to select nonprofits that train and place service dogs.

  • Includes a broad eligibility definition for veterans, from mobility impairments to PTSD and “other conditions” the VA deems appropriate.

  • Requires no out-of-pocket costs for veterans and includes veterinary insurance even after the pilot ends.

  • Allocates $50 million total over five years.

While these seem like positive steps, the bill has critical gaps that undermine its own potential—and ultimately, the well-being of veterans it claims to support.

The Glaring Issues:

1. A Pilot With No Finish Line
A five-year pilot may seem generous, but considering the average working service dog takes 18–24 months to train, we’re looking at only a brief window of placements—let alone the time to evaluate outcomes. There’s no clarity on what defines success, no infrastructure for program continuation, and no safeguards for veterans mid-process if the program ends abruptly.

2. Funding Without Framework
$2 million may sound substantial, but without benchmarks for how many dogs should be trained or how funds must be allocated (i.e., training costs, veteran support, ongoing care), the number of actual placements could be disappointingly low. Who is held accountable for outcomes? This is not defined.

3. No Outcome Metrics, No Proof of Success
Perhaps most troubling is the lack of performance metrics. The VA is tasked with reporting—but with no baseline for what “success” looks like, how can Congress or the public assess whether this program is worth extending or replicating?

4. Vague Eligibility = Inconsistent Access
By allowing placements for any condition “the Secretary determines appropriate,” the bill opens the door to subjectivity and regional disparities. Veterans in one area may qualify, while others are denied due to inconsistent application of criteria. Worse, prescribers often have no training in service dog modalities and could be recommending them without understanding training standards or suitability.

5. Leaves Rural & Underserved Veterans Behind
There’s no mechanism to ensure geographic equity in grant distribution. Large, well-connected organizations may absorb all funding, while small or rural nonprofits (often closer to underserved veteran populations) are left behind.

6. No Required Standards for Training or Providers
This is arguably the most dangerous flaw. There is no mandate for standardized training, task work, or handler preparation. Without common benchmarks, veterans could receive dogs that are ill-prepared for public access or their specific needs—putting both the handler and public at risk.

7. No Plan for Life After the Pilot
What happens after five years? There’s no continuity plan. Who supports veterans and their dogs after federal funding disappears? The vet insurance is extended, yes—but funding for operations, follow-up care, and dog retirement? Not addressed.

8. Outreach Relies on Nonprofits, Not the VA
Lastly, the VA isn’t required to directly educate veterans or providers about the pilot. That responsibility is left to grantee organizations—many of which already struggle to keep up with operational costs. This reinforces the information gap for veterans who may not even know this option exists.

Why This Matters

This bill, in its current form, favors “big names” over best practices and risks leaving behind the very veterans it aims to serve. By failing to set training benchmarks, provider standards, and prescriber education, it may dilute the integrity of the service dog industry while misallocating precious taxpayer dollars.

The U.S. needs a long-term, thoughtful approach that:

  • Mandates prescriber training on animal-assisted intervention.

  • Includes outcome tracking and mental health benchmarks.

  • Requires uniform standards for dog training, placement, and handler support.

  • Ensures regional equity and transparency in nonprofit selection.

  • Builds a permanent infrastructure—not just a 5-year experiment.

A History of Missed Opportunities

The VA’s track record with service dog pilots offers little confidence. A 2010–2013 PTSD study faced serious implementation issues and failed to show measurable outcomes, largely due to unclear standards and inconsistent dog quality. A 2016 pilot to expand veterinary benefits reached only around 100 veterans at a cost of $230,000 per year. Most recently, the PAWS Act—a 2021 law authorizing $10M over five years—has struggled to launch due to lack of allocated funding and execution delays. Despite good intentions, these efforts share a common flaw: insufficient structure, limited reach, and no clear path to long-term success. The SAVES Act risks following the same path unless major revisions are made.

Call to Action

We urge lawmakers, stakeholders, and veteran advocates to press pause on supporting the SAVES Act until these issues are addressed. Bipartisan support is not enough if the structure is flawed. Our veterans deserve more than good intentions—they deserve a system that works.

It’s time to push for legislation that puts veteran outcomes first—with real standards, real accountability, and real impact.

If you care about getting more highly trained service dogs into the hands of veterans who need them, speak up. Demand that Congress go back to the drawing board and build a bill that will stand the test of time—and truly serve those who served us.

IT Department