All About The PAWS Act
Thanks to a bill recently signed into law, struggling American veterans now have the ability to get a furry helper. The Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members (PAWS) Act is a bipartisan political initiative that provides mental health support to Veterans across the nation, and does so by providing grants for service dogs and other resources. The House and Senate unanimously passed the PAWS Act earlier this year, and became law this week. The PAWS act which statesthat the “Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make grants to eligible organizations for the purposes of providing service dogs to eligible veterans” is set to begin its efforts in helping veterans immediately.
Why We Need The PAWS Act
Service dogs can mediate the burden of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD affects many people and has many root causes. For example, doctors diagnose approximately 1 in 11 people in the U.S. with PTSD during their lifetime. Many of these people experience PTSD due to health problems, abuse, and accidents.
While veterans are not the only group of people affected by PTSD, they are more likely to experience the detrimental effects of it than their civilian counterparts. For instance, as many as 20 veterans lose their lives to suicide every day as a result of PTSD. The evidence of the effectiveness of service dogs in treating PTSD along with the rate of death by suicide among veterans makes it clear that the PAWS Act is necessary.
A Special Thank You To Those Who Helped Make This Happen
Attorneys Mike and Claire Hancock are proud of their daughter Hannah and of her role in passing this act. Hannah Hancock served as Ohio Congressman Steve Stivers’s social media director. She saw the process of bringing this legislation to life firsthand and proud to see her work pay off. Congressman Stivers was a key supporter of the PAWS Act and led the charge to have it passed by the House of Representatives. Moreover, Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, was also instrumental during this process. Finally, Hancock Injury Attorneys recognizes the efforts of everyone involved to make the PAWS Act a reality.
Hancock Injury Attorneys Supports American Veterans
The Hancock Injury Attorneys team is proud to always support veterans and those who suffer from severe PTSD. We’ve helped veterans in the past and have won compensation for their injuries stemming from personal injury claims.Our doors are always open to veterans!