Veterans with Dogs (VWD) specialises in training assistance dogs to support British Armed Forces veterans with recognised mental health difficulties. Our programme is designed exclusively for those who have served in the British military, British Allied Forces and the Merchant Navy.
On this page you’ll find the information you need to help decide whether to apply to VWD.
Please read the eligibility criteria, exclusions and application process before submitting a Register of Interest.
We also recommend you check out the FAQ's for more answers to common questions.
In order for VWD to accept a Register Of Interest, a Veteran must meet all of the following basic criteria:
The Financial Responsibility:
Can you manage the ongoing costs of dog care, including:
Your Home Environment:
Is your household supportive of an assistance dog?
The Training Commitment:
Are you prepared to:
Your Lifestyle Adaptation:
An assistance dog represents a significant lifestyle change.
The Travel Requirements:
Our programme involves:
Important:
Carefully consider these points before deciding to apply. Our goal is to ensure successful partnerships between Veterans and assistance dogs, which requires significant dedication of the Veteran and readiness for change.
There are circumstances where an application would be declined based on any of the following:
The following summarises the processes that are used to select candidates to participate in our programme:
(*Attendance of PALS Meet & Greet is a pre-requisite to a full application being accepted).
If you meet the eligibility criteria then first of all submit a 'Register of Interest' form.
(You will automatically receive confirmation we have received your submission and a copy of the ROI).
Once checked we will then write to you within 28 days of the outcome of your ROI.
We will then write and invite you to the next available Meet & Greet day in Devon where you will meet some of our Team and be given a more in depth overview of the PALS programme. It is at this point you are then given a full application to take away and complete.
We look forward to hearing from you and we can be contacted directly if you have any further questions.
Veterans with Dogs (VWD) is committed to treating every potential applicant with fairness and respect. We actively welcome applications from all veterans of the British Armed Forces who are experiencing mental health difficulties, regardless of their background or personal circumstances.
Our commitment to equality means that all applications will be considered based on merit and need, without discrimination on the grounds of:
We recognise the diverse nature of our veteran community and value the unique experiences each applicant brings. Our selection process focuses solely on:
Priority may be given to applicants who have exhausted other treatment options and for whom we believe an assistance dog would be particularly beneficial. This approach ensures that our resources are directed towards those Veterans who can benefit most from our programme.
VWD is dedicated to supporting Veterans in their journey towards improved mental health and wellbeing. We strive to create partnerships between Veterans and assistance dogs that enhance quality of life and promote independence.
By applying this Equal Opportunities Statement, we aim to ensure that every eligible Veteran has a fair chance to benefit from our services, reflecting our commitment to the wellbeing of all those who have served our country.