National Pets for Veterans Day Date in the current year: October 21, 2024

It is estimated that between one in eight to one in five war veterans suffer from some form of PTSD, with two-thirds of those diagnosed not receiving treatment. Individuals with PTSD often experience symptoms such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, extreme wariness, and flashbacks. These symptoms can appear immediately after trauma or may emerge months or even years later.

Animal-assisted therapy is becoming increasingly common to help combat PTSD symptoms. While not all veterans with PTSD qualify for a psychiatric service dog, many of them can benefit from a companion animal. Studies have shown that pets can help alleviate loneliness, anxiety, stress, and depression by loving their owners unconditionally and providing affection.

In addition to its mental health benefits, caring for a pet can help veterans transition to civilian life because it promotes daily routine and responsibility. Many veterans are used to following a strict routine, and a lack of routine after decommissioning or retirement further adds to their stress. A dog adds a routine back to their life because a pet needs to be taken out and fed regularly. Moreover, owning a dog creates opportunities for outdoor activities, exercises, and socialization with other dog owners.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, between 6 and 8 millions dogs and cats are abandoned at shelters across the United States every year. About half of all shelter dogs end up being euthanized; many of them would have made excellent companions for veterans suffering from PTSD, but that chance had been taken from them. American non-profit organization Pets for Vets was created to benefit both military veterans in need of a companion and shelter animals in need of a stable and loving home. It rescues shelter dogs, trains them, and matches the dogs with veterans in need of loyal animal companions.

The person behind Pets for Vets and National Pets for Veterans Day is animal behaviorist and trainer Clarissa Black. She came up with the idea while looking for a way to help American veterans who suffered from PTSD and other issues related to their service and experienced difficulty transitioning to civilian life. In 2009, Black founded Pets for Vets to express gratitude and help veterans while saving animal lives.

National Pets for Veteran Day was created to commemorate the founding anniversary of Pets for Vets and raise awareness of the benefits veterans can get from owning and caring for a pet. You can get involved by donating to any charity that helps military veterans or homeless animals, volunteering at your local animal shelter, helping to host a fundraiser for a veteran organization, and spreading the word on social media with the hashtags #NationalPetsForVeteransDay and #PetsForVets.