The SAVES Act of 2025 establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program to award grants to nonprofits that provide service dogs to eligible veterans.
Thom Tillis
Senator
NC
The Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act of 2025 (SAVES Act) directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a pilot program that awards grants to nonprofit organizations providing service dogs to veterans. These grants, up to $2,000,000 each, will support programs that offer service dogs to veterans with physical or mental health conditions, ensuring the dogs are provided at no cost to the veteran. The VA will also provide veterinary insurance for these service dogs and oversee the grant program's implementation. $10,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for each of the five fiscal years following the establishment of the pilot program.
SAVES Act Proposes $50 Million Pilot Program to Provide Free Service Dogs to Veterans
This bill, the "Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act of 2025" (SAVES Act), sets up a five-year pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The core idea is to give grants to qualified nonprofit organizations so they can provide trained service dogs to eligible veterans completely free of charge. The program is slated to start within 24 months of the bill's enactment and authorizes $10 million in funding per year for its five-year duration.
How the Paw-tnership Works
Under this pilot, the VA won't be training dogs directly. Instead, it will award grants, capped at $2 million each, to nonprofits that already specialize in this area. To get a grant, these organizations need to apply and show they have solid plans for providing dogs, training both the animals and the veterans, offering ongoing support, and meeting humane standards based on guidelines like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A key rule outlined in Section 2 is that nonprofits cannot charge veterans any fees for the service dogs provided through this grant. The VA is also tasked with providing veterinary insurance for these dogs, a benefit that continues even after the pilot program officially ends, and must monitor how the grant money is used.
Who Qualifies for Canine Support?
The bill defines an "eligible veteran" broadly to include those dealing with a range of conditions. This covers physical challenges like blindness, visual impairment, loss of limb use, paralysis, mobility issues (which can include those stemming from mental health conditions), and hearing loss. It also specifically includes veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Essentially, if a service dog could help a veteran manage their condition and live more independently, they could potentially qualify under this program, as determined by the criteria set forth.
The Financial Leash and Long-Term Care
The SAVES Act authorizes a total of $50 million over five years ($10 million annually) to get this grant program running. This funding is specifically for the nonprofits to carry out their service dog programs for veterans. The inclusion of VA-provided veterinary insurance is a significant detail, ensuring that the long-term cost of caring for the dog doesn't become a barrier for the veteran, even after the initial five-year pilot concludes. The requirement for VA oversight aims to ensure these taxpayer dollars are spent effectively on getting well-trained service dogs paired with veterans who need them.