SAVES Act

The SAVES Act establishes a VA grant program to provide service dogs to veterans with specific disabilities. Nonprofit organizations must be accredited (e.g., by Assistance Dogs International) and apply competitively to receive grants for training service dogs, teaching veterans to use them, and offering aftercare. The program targets veterans enrolled in VA care with covered disabilities like PTSD, mobility issues, blindness, or military sexual trauma. It requires grantees to ensure equal access for women veterans and evaluate program effectiveness, with $10 million authorized annually for fiscal years 2024-2028.