I have wanted a service dog for a long time, so my conversation with Deana Stone of America’s VetDogs at MIC 2026 felt especially personal. A service dog can represent far more than companionship. It can become a source of independence, practical assistance, emotional connection and consistency. For someone living with an invisible illness or a physical restriction, that relationship may also help restore some sense of humanness that can get lost when so much of life begins to revolve around symptoms, appointments and limitations. There is something powerful about learning how to care for another living being while also allowing yourself to be cared for in return. America’s VetDogs trains and places highly skilled service dogs with veterans and first responders living with disabilities, with each dog prepared around the individual needs of the person it will eventually serve. What moved me was the way this program provides that support at no cost to the recipient. Veterans have already given so much of themselves in service to this country. Providing the dog, training, travel, lodging, meals and ongoing support is one tangible way of taking care of the people who once devoted themselves to taking care of others.
The gift, however, takes patience. America’s VetDogs primarily works with Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and crosses of the two, and the process of raising, training and preparing a dog for service can take approximately two years. Once the right match is made, the participant spends two weeks in residence at the Smithtown campus learning how to work with the dog as a team. Training includes obedience, personalized tasks, handling techniques, canine communication, dog care, public access skills and practice in real-world environments such as stores, transportation settings and other community spaces. Before graduating, each handler and dog team must successfully complete the Assistance Dogs International Public Access Test. The relationship with America’s VetDogs also continues after graduation through ongoing support and lifetime aftercare.
I am not ready for a service dog yet. I travel too much right now to give that relationship the consistency and routine it deserves. But one day, I hope I will be. Speaking with Deana reminded me that receiving a service dog is not simply about being given an animal. It is about waiting for the right partner, building trust and learning how to move through the world together. There is something deeply meaningful about knowing that people have spent years raising, training and preparing a dog to eventually become part of someone else’s life. For veterans and first responders living with disabilities who may already be ready for that partnership, America’s VetDogs offers an opportunity to receive that support without the financial cost standing in the way. And for me, it remains something to look forward to one day.
