HOW ARE DOGS MATCHED WITH VETERANS?
Veterans must be out of hospital for eight months and be able to provide the basic necessities of vet visits, food and exercise. They also need to demonstrate a desire to become more independent and a willingness to work with a highly trained dog. Veterans need to complete a short Puppies Behind Bars application and they will then be matched with a service dog school associated with Puppies Behind Bars. If accepted by the school, the soldier travels to New York or Colorado for a two week period where they are matched with the right dog and taught how to care for them. WHAT CAN THE SERVICE DOGS DO FOR THE VETS? Along with providing unconditional love, service dogs can provide a veteran with assistance for many daily tasks such as… Turn on and off the lights Open and close doors Pick up dropped objects Handle money and credit cards for cashiers Assist in taking off shoes and pants Remind the soldier to take his/her medicine Read the complete list of the service tasks the dogs learn WHY
