Congressman Troy Downing (R-MT) has joined Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) in urging the Department of War to continue the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program (WWSDP). In a letter sent to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the lawmakers expressed their support for the program and highlighted its importance for veterans.
Downing emphasized Montana’s large veteran population and the value service dogs provide. “The Treasure State has one of the nation’s largest veteran populations, many of whom rely on four-legged partners to help them recover from the physical and invisible scars of war,” said Congressman Downing. “I was proud to advocate on behalf of Montana’s veteran community, their service dogs, and the many unsung heroes at partnering organizations who work behind the scenes to make these connections possible.”
DeeDe Baker, Founder & Executive Director of Dog Tag Buddies—a Billings-based organization that supports veterans—also spoke about WWSDP’s significance. “The Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program is not a luxury—it is a lifeline,” said Baker. “For veterans in rural states like Montana and North Dakota, it is often the only path to the independence and social mobility that service dogs make possible.”
According to excerpts from the lawmakers’ letter, WWSDP is a competitive grant program run by the Department of War that helps nonprofit groups connect trained service dogs with veterans facing conditions such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, mobility or hearing impairments, blindness, and other disabilities. The program currently supports 28 organizations across 23 states, including Dog Tag Buddies in Montana and Service Dogs for America in North Dakota.
The letter urges continued funding for WWSDP through available administrative measures until future appropriations are secured. It notes that $17 million for WWSDP is included in a House-passed defense spending bill. Without continued funding, organizations may have to halt new placements or shut down services.
“The service dogs provided with the support of WWSDP are an essential lifeline for veterans who faced the harshest consequences of war to live independently and have a companion to support them. Without funding for the next year, service dog organizations across the country will be forced to suspend new intakes, stop matching dogs to veterans, and even in some cases shut down services altogether,” according to the letter.
