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Skip the jets and spend the money instead on a unique program that improves the quality of life for our battle-scarred veterans after they return home. The program is called the Wounded Warrior K-9 Corps Act and it would establish a grant program for organizations that provides our wounded soldiers and disabled veterans with service animals, such as physical therapy dogs and guide dogs.
The law creating the act was introduced by Rep. Ron Klein, D-Fla., and has the support of Ike Skelton, D-Mo., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
The law's biggest proponent is Irwin Stovroff, an 85-year-old decorated World War II veteran who resides in Florida. When Stovroff learned that the U.S. government didn't supply service dogs for wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan he made it his mission to overhaul the policy.
Stovroff has raised almost $2 million through a nonprofit organization he started to help train and pair up service canines with wounded combat vets. He is lobbying Congress to step in to expand the scope and reach of the program by providing competitive grants to supplement its fundraising so more of our wounded warriors can be matched with a dog. It can cost up to $50,000 to train a service dog. The bill would provide $5 million in grants to train more dogs.
Stovroff said a dog is the best thing that can happen to these soldiers, many of whom have lost limbs or their eyesight in combat. The help the dogs provide is not just functional, but also therapeutic.
We applaud Stovroff and urge Congress to pick up the slack. We have a duty and an obligation to take care of those who sacrificed so much while fighting under the U.S. flag. Congress should pass this bill and provide the resources for this worthy program.
