Dog Tag Buddies partners veterans suffering from hidden injuries (PTSD, TBI, MST) with rescue dogs. Our program gives both the veteran and the dog a chance to lead a more fulfilling life. Services are at NO cost to the veteran.
Veteran Services
You must be a veteran with a hidden injury such as PTSD, TBI, or MST. Proof will be required to be eligible for the program. Documentation will include a copy of your VA Certification of Disability or a document from your physician. You must also provide a copy of your DD214.
*The submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance into our programs!*
Eligibility Requirements
Dog Tag Buddies is a non-profit organization that pairs veterans with hidden injuries (PTSD, TBI, MST) with rescue dogs and then places the two in training for the dog to become a companion animal or a service dog depending on the veterans needs. All at no cost to the veterans!
To apply, veterans must submit a completed application along with copies of their VA Certification of Disability or a document from your physician and copy of the veteran’s DD214 via email or mail. After submitting all the proper documentation, background check is completed for all applicants. Following the background check, we will schedule a face-to-face meeting to sit down and chat with the veteran and any of the veteran’s family or caregivers. The last step of the application process is a house inspection to better understand the home life and ensure that a dog can be placed within the home.
*Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance into our programs!*
If accepted, Dog Tag Buddies works with the veteran to find their perfect match in a rescue dog. After pairing the two and ensuring that the dog is a good fit with the veteran, family and any other potential pets in the home, the team is placed into our training program. The training starts with 10 weeks of basic obedience and is required for all teams. Upon completion of Basic Training, service dog teams continue on the advanced, public access, and task training. Service dog training requires a minimum of 32 weeks to complete.
Once in training, the team is supplied with everything they need to start when caring for a dog such as food bowls, leashes, collars, crates. All teams go to a 10-week basic obedience training class, and this class meets once a week for an hour. By the end of this training, our teams will have their dogs pass the Canine Good Citizen test. Then if our veteran is in need of a service dog, the team will continue their training to have the dog meet the needs of the veteran.
Do you need an ESA or Service Animal?
A Service Dog is
Trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability
Able to pass Public Access Test and perform an essential function for their handler that cannot be performed by themselves due to a disability or impairment
Protected by ADA, allowed in public establishments that normally don’t allow dogs
With handler 24/7
An Emotional Support Animal is
Provides comfort and companionship
Protected by Equal housing but not ADA
Allowed in public establishments that allow dogs
Companionship of a dog has been shown to help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve general well being
Dog Tag Buddies' Training Programs
Dog Tag Buddies’ training is conducted in small groups of 6 teams or less, and classes consist of veteran only teams.
Emotional Support / Companion Animal teams do 10 weeks of basic obedience training culminating in the passing the AKC canine good citizen certification.
Service Animal teams do 32 weeks of ADDITIONAL training after basic obedience and receive a minimum of 300 total training hours. Those 300 hours of training consist of basic training, advanced training, public access training, and task training.
Dog Tag Buddies always wants to be an available resource for our vets. We want nothing but the best for those we serve, and our resources page provides information and accessibility to organizations that can help in the ways we may not be able.
“Why do you need a service dog?” While this is a legitimate question, why do complete strangers feel...
The Americans with Disabilities Act
Under the ADA, businesses and organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go.
A PERSON WITH A DISBAILITY CANNOT BE ASKED TO REMOVE THE SERIVCE DOG FROM THE PREMISES UNLESS: 1. The dog is out of control and the dog’s owner does not take effective action to control it. 2. The dog is not housebroken.
What a Business Can and Cannot Ask
When it is obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions:
Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform.
Staff CANNOT ask:
about the person’s disability
require medical documentation
require a special identification card
ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task
What does a service dog look like?
A service dog is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.
A service dog must be well-trained, well-behaved in public, and under control at all times.
Service dogs must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the animal’s work.
A service dog cannot display any aggressive or guarding behavior.
A service dog must cease sniffing behaviors unless released to do so.
A service dog ,must ignore solicitations for food or affection.
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