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Welcome to SFVetsAdoptPets.org
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SF Vets Adopt Pets - Support for U.S. Veterans Adopting Shelter Pets for companion or service animal needs.
Our role is to pull together the many organizations, information and
resources that exist to enable Veterans to heal with a Service Dog or
enjoy a Companion Animal adopted from a pet shelter. And to encourage
Pet Shelters to honor our Veterans with adoption fee waivers.
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The Problem
- Our Military Men and Women are returning from war with a multitude of wounds, some physical and some psychological.
- Our animal shelters are euthanizing animals by the millions.
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The Solution
- To
help Veterans heal with a Service Animal, or enjoy the benefits of a Companion Dog
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“Pets for Vets” Is a caring effort in which everyone benefits. Cats and dogs are adopted into homes and Veterans gain the love and companionship that pets bring. San Francisco VAMC celebrates its 11th year of “Pets for Vets,” providing pets to Veterans at no cost.The program has given out certificates for 169 four-legged companions, an effort in which everyone benefits. According to the Centers for Disease Control, owning a pet can have measurable medical benefits. Studies show that it can significantly lower feelings of loneliness while increasing opportunities for exercise and socialization. Read News Features |
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“Dog Tags” Photo Exhibit To complement the free adoption program, the halls of the San Francisco VA Medical Center have been graced with a permanent gallery of 30 professional photographic portraits of Veterans with their pets. The theme has a rich poignancy: men and women who served their country and the animals that serve them with allegiance and love. The photo exhibit, entitled “Dog Tags,” has been extremely popular with Veterans, visitors, and staff alike, and has been featured on Bay Area TV news programs and the regional Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) magazine, Our Animals. | VETERANS - call (415) 221-4810 x2004 or
contact Russell Lemle at Russell.Lemle@va.gov or Sulema Jackson at Sulema.Jackson@va.gov
San Francisco VA Medical Center "PETS FOR VETS" | |
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Healing is Happening - A dog or cat gives a special kind of love for healing and happiness. |
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Organizations that provide
Service Dogs
To Veterans
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Adopt a pet on your own from
Animal Shelters
and Rescues |
Organizations that provide
Companion Animals (Pets)
To Veterans
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What Is a Service
Dog (Animal)?
Service animal means any dog
that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an
individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric,
intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild
or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of
this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be
directly related to the handler´s disability. |
What Is a Companion
Dog (Animal)?
A pet and the
#1 Reason to Adopt
from Shelters and Rescues
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What Is a Therapy
Dog (Animal)?
Therapy Animals are not legally defined by
federal law, but some states have laws defining therapy animals. They are
usually the personal pets of their handlers, and work with their handlers to
provide services to others. For example, they visit Hospitals, Assisted Living,
Children Reading to Dogs, Tail Waggin' Tutors, DSR Disaster Stress Relief, Home Visits, Hospice, Libraries, Nursing Homes, Schools.
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Benefits of Service
Dogs
Service Dogs are specially trained
to help perform a multitude of tasks for a large range of disabilities that increase mobility, and independence of their
human partners, improving the lives of both person and dog. |
Health Benefits of Companion Dogs
Pets can decrease your: Blood pressure, your Cholesterol levels, Triglyceride
levels, Feelings of loneliness.
Pets can increase your exercise, outdoor activities, and socialization & THEY LOVE YOU ! |
Benefits of Therapy Dogs
"How do
you feel when you pet my dog?" asked the dog's
handler.
The man
smiled, "I feel good."
"That's
why we come." | |
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