About the Pets for Vets® Program
The enduring bond humans share with animals has the power to reduce suffering, mitigate loneliness, improve mental well-being and bridge the gap between ourselves and others. For our returning troops, these benefits are especially important to help ease the transition into civilian life.
Pets for Vets® was created to improve the lives of both Veterans and animals by bringing them together in a thoughtful, caring way. Our goal is to give back to the brave servicemen and women who have given everything to our country, while finding homes for deserving shelter pets. By matching the right pet with the right Veteran, everyone wins! Shelter animals receive a second chance at life and Veterans receive a second chance at health and happiness.
After we receive an application, we reach out to the Veteran to get to know him/her better. We ask Veterans questions about themselves, their expectations, their needs and their lifestyle. There are no right or wrong answers. The more we know about the Veterans, the easier it is to make a successful and lasting match using our unique Super Bond® process. We then “interview” pets to find the one whose personality and temperament best complements the Veteran’s. Although most of our skilled A.C.E. trained animals are dogs, we have also placed cats and even a rabbit! It all comes down to the specific needs and desires of the Veteran.
Once a selection is made, the pet spends time in the home of one of our professional trainers who uses only positive reinforcement methods to teach good manners, basic obedience, and other valuable skills. Training may also include becoming comfortable with wheel chairs or crutches, as well as recognizing panic or anxiety disorder behaviors.
When Pets for Vets® A.C.E. trained animals meet their new owners, the connection between them is almost immediate thanks to the Super Bond® process. Because each pet is trained, healthy and up-to-date on all vaccinations, it is able to fit seamlessly into its new life. A Welcome Package of equipment and supplies is also provided to make the transition as simple as possible.
Creating an Unbreakable Connection
Have you ever met someone and felt an instant connection? Almost as if you had been friends all of your life even though you had never crossed paths until that very moment.
Pets for Vets® creates that same feeling of immediate recognition and comfort between Veterans and their A.C.E. trained pets through a unique philosophy called the Super Bond®.
The Right Pet for the Right Person
Think of the billions of people on earth, each with his/her own personality, quirks, hopes, dreams and desires. No two are exactly alike. The same goes for our animals. Consequently, it doesn’t make much sense to put two complete strangers together and assume it’s going to work out.
That’s why Pets for Vets® avoids a “one size fits all” program. Instead of choosing the first dog we see in the shelter, we work to match the right person to the right pet. We take the time to get to know the Veteran; then we do the same with the animal. This thoughtful, deliberate approach is what creates the Super Bond® – that intense, immediate connection so important to a successful, lasting relationship between the Veteran and his/her A.C.E trained animal.
Why the Super Bond® Is So Important
When a Veteran and his or her animal are compatible, the results are nothing short of incredible. Because of the Super Bond® Pets for Vets® helps create, the animal is immediately able to offer the comfort and companionship necessary to ease psychological trauma, mitigate loneliness and provide a sense of purpose. The connection is so strong that we have even witnessed animals instinctively performing behaviors they had not been trained to do – such as waking their Veterans from nightmares.
In the service, you always have someone next to you who looks out for you and watches your back—someone you look out for in return. Because of the Super Bond® that exists between them, our Veterans and their pets do the same for each.
Pets For Vets® has matched Veterans and pets around the nation. When a Veteran is matched with the right pet, both lives change for the better. The Veteran saves the animal and welcomes him/her into a loving home. The pet provides the Veteran with unconditional love and support, easing stress, depression, loneliness and anxiety. Together, they share a Super Bond™ that provides them both with a whole new “leash” on life. Search through our match stories, here, and see for yourself how both the Veteran's and the pet's lives have been changed forever.
Pets for Vets® has made more than 500 successful matches all over the country using the Super Bond® approach.