Question Period Note: SERVICE DOGS

SERVICE DOGS

• The Government recognizes that there is great interest in using service dogs to assist Veterans with mental health conditions.

• Veterans Affairs Canada is currently reviewing the approach it is taking with mental health service dogs.

• Veterans Affairs Canada funded a small pilot study in 2015 to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using service dogs to assist Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. A final report was published in July 2018 with limited results.

• A 2021 United States Veterans Affairs study found that Veterans with service dogs reported greater improvements in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, suicidality, and anger reactions compared to Veterans with emotional support dogs. Future change in policy direction on service dogs by the United States Veterans Affairs is being closely monitored by Veterans Affairs Canada.

BACKGROUND – SERVICE DOGS

Canada Revenue Agency Expansion of the Medical Expense Tax Credit:
The Government of Canada expanded the Medical Expense Tax Credit to recognize specially trained service animals to assist individuals in coping with their mental health condition. Effective January 2018, this measure directly benefits Veterans and others in the disability community who rely on mental health service dogs.

Standards:
In 2015, Veterans Affairs Canada contracted with the Canadian General Standards Board to establish a set of national standards for mental health service dogs. In 2018, the Canadian General Standards Board withdrew its intent to produce a National Standard of Canada for Service Dogs. The reason was that there was no consensus amongst committee members that the standard could be achieved. As a result, the initiative to develop a national standard was discontinued.

Research:
In 2015, Veterans Affairs Canada funded a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of service dogs for Veterans with PTSD. While 31 Veterans were recruited, only 18 Veteran participants completed the pilot study over the course of an 18-month period. The 2018 final report identified that Veterans with PTSD who had a service dog for 12 months experienced increased physical activity, fewer nightmares, improved sleep quality, reduction in PTSD symptoms and increased quality of life. The Veterans had no reductions in medication usage or reliance on a family member or caregiver.
A 2021 United States Veterans Affairs study of 153 Veterans with PTSD found greater improvements in PTSD symptoms, suicidality, and anger reactions.

Funding to Wounded Warriors Canada:
In 2019, Wounded Warriors Canada received funding through Veterans Affairs Canada’s Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund to expand its PTSD service dog program and ensure that their service dogs meet or exceed any published standards available in Canada.

Funding to the University of Saskatchewan:
In 2019, the University of Saskatchewan received funding from Health Canada to develop a toolkit for service dog trainers to help them prepare animals for Veterans.
In 2021, Health Canada provided additional funding for the toolkit to be deployed through an online training course for service dog trainers. The course content addresses substance abuse, peer support and emotional connection between Veterans and animals.

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