Bipartisan bill headed to the president's desk will help support efforts to provide specially trained service dogs to veterans and first responders with disabilities

The U.S. Senate passed The Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act (S. 711) to honor the impact of working dogs on society, while supporting veterans, active-duty service members and first responders with disabilities.

A bipartisan bill headed to the president's desk will help support efforts to provide specially trained service dogs to veterans and first responders with disabilities.

The U.S. Senate passed The Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act (S. 711) to honor the impact of working dogs on society, while supporting veterans, active-duty service members and first responders with disabilities.

"Working dogs help our nation's active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders recover from injury, enhance their independence and improve their lives," U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, said in a statement. "This commemorative coin will honor the service of working dogs and provide funding to raise more service dogs for America's heroes. I'm proud to lead this effort to give back to those who serve our country."

The House passed similar legislation in May that would send surcharges from the sale of the commemorative coins to benefit America's VetDogs, which breeds, raises, trains and places service dogs at no cost to those in need.

"This legislation reflects what we can achieve together for a common cause," John Miller, the president and CEO of America's VetDogs, said in a statement released Wednesday. "Each coin purchased will help empower veterans and first responders to regain their independence, resilience and quality of life."

Upon receiving the president's signature, the law provides for the coins to be issued by the Department of the Treasury via the U.S. Mint in 2027. Funds raised via surcharges on sales of the coins will help cover the over $50,000 cost associated with preparing each service dog.

For many veterans, service dogs can be saviors by helping with mobility issues, PTSD, vision impairment, hearing loss, seizure response and animal-assisted therapy.

"Our veterans face unique challenges re-integrating into civilian life after they've left the military and we owe them solutions and support as they transition their lives," U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, said in a statement. "Service dogs provide the companionship and everyday assistance that make a real positive impact towards independence, quality of life and mental health. As we continue to confront the crisis of rising veteran suicide rates, I'm proud that our bipartisan legislation delivers solutions by expanding access to this critical form of support – and makes it available to America's heroes at no cost."

America's VetDogs has been transforming lives since 2003, providing specially trained service dogs to veterans facing physical and emotional challenges, including PTSD.

WBAL-TV is proud to have worked with America's VetDogs as part of the station's "Puppy with a Purpose" initiative. First, there was Camden, then came Brooks, and now, Tucker. In September 2022, 11 News was there when Puppy with a Purpose, Tucker, went to Capitol Hill as part of a mission to support the bill.