Our Veterans Need More Volunteers to Raise Service Dogs: Here’s How Businesses Can Help

Countless veterans fighting PTSD and adapting to life with disabilities are currently on waiting lists for a service dog who could change – and quite possibly save – their lives. The lack of volunteers willing and able to take a puppy everywhere with them for 18 months has stretched wait times up to two years. Potential volunteers may consider their personal lives too full for a puppy, especially with the regular demands of a 9-to-5 job.

Businesses and HR leaders have an opportunity to be part of the solution, however, by allowing employees to bring these dogs to work with them. In addition to strengthening the culture within a company, training service dogs allows employees to collaborate and save lives as they unite behind a common mission. Businesses can – and should – allow employees to raise service dogs in the workplace for the good of their employees and our veterans.

The Benefits of Workplace Animals

It’s a joy to have these dogs in the office. A far greater joy, however, is hearing from the veterans they are paired with that these dogs saved their lives. Working to address the shortage of veteran service dogs through increasing the number of volunteers is an opportunity to serve those who have devoted their lives to protecting us. At PenFed Credit Union, our mission of service extends beyond providing financial products and services, which is why we’ve opened up our workplace to training service dogs, including our current service dog in training, Pilot. The opportunity to save lives is available to all of us – we just need to take it.

As a business leader, I’ve seen how allowing employees to raise future service dogs in the office has a myriad of immediate benefits for employees across the board. Even besides the common sense fact that people love puppies, research proves the advantages of a dog-friendly workplace. Dogs can lower stress, improve communication, foster social cohesion and boost productivity – all key drivers of a healthy and effective workplace. In our own experience at PenFed, we’ve found that a puppy’s joyful presence helps to cultivate a kind and respectful atmosphere, whether it’s a board meeting or an all staff meeting. Raising service dogs in the workplace isn’t just a cute perk; it’s a step toward a stronger and more productive team.

Additionally, volunteering to raise service dogs in the workplace is a team effort that cultivates a culture of teamwork and camaraderie. At PenFed, all of our employees are invested in the service dogs their coworkers are raising. Coworkers have voted on names, played with them and taken them for walks. Raising a future service dog in the office is a wonderful opportunity for coworkers to support each other as they work to change the life of a veteran. Employees rally around this effort because they recognize that it is an extension of our ethos of service – it is a tangible representation of why we do what we do.

The need for volunteers to raise service dogs is clear. The opportunity to fill that need is clear. Business executives and HR leaders must think creatively about how they can empower their employees to address this nationwide shortage. Opening up the workplace to future service dogs is a powerful way to highlight a company’s mission by prioritizing the simple steps that can drastically improve countless lives. When Pilot sits by my side here at PenFed, he’s a constant reminder that our work is about more than numbers and task lists, but about changing lives through service. Sometime next year, he’ll sit by someone else’s side as a reminder of the hope and capability they have during even the darkest times.

James R. Schenckis the President and CEO of PenFed Credit Union, America’s second-largest federal credit union, serving nearly 3 million members worldwide.

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