Through the incredible power of the human-canine connection, Veterans With Dogs trains and provides assistance dogs for Veterans with complex mental health challenges, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and ongoing training to qualify as a fully accredited partnership.
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There are an estimated 1.85 million veterans in England and Wales, with around 20,000 leaving the Armed Forces each year. Around 1 in 9 veterans experience probable PTSD, rising to almost 1 in 5 among those deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Many still face barriers to seeking help, including stigma and inconsistent access to specialist services, leaving too many veterans without the trauma-informed support they need.
We train and provide specialist assistance dogs through our unique PALS™ programme, pairing them with veterans to support mental health recovery. Our dogs are trained to recognise and respond to distress, helping reduce symptoms like panic attacks and hypervigilance. Veterans attend structured, trauma-informed residential training with their dog, gaining coping skills, confidence, and peer support. This holistic model leads to long-term improvements in wellbeing, independence, and family life.
