Paws of Duty: Healing Begins at Home

It Shouldn’t Take a Battle to Get a Battle Buddy: What Veterans (and Civilians) Deserve to Know About Service Dogs

A Reflective Look at Service Dogs, Systemic Barriers, and Local Solutions

Beyond the Quick Fix

We live in a world addicted to speed.
Same-day shipping. Instant downloads. Swipe-now answers.

And when it comes to our mental health, society has followed suit. You walk into a doctor’s office feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed—and the first response is often a prescription. The "quick fix."

But is it really fixing anything?

Don’t get me wrong—medication can be life-saving for many, and there’s no shame in that. But we’ve created a culture where the only accepted solution is the fastest one. Where slowing down, exploring deeper tools, or finding connection outside of a pharmacy bottle often feels radical.

I believe we need more than a cookie-cutter approach to mental health. We need something more creative, more holistic, more human.

For me, that something was Luciano—my dog.
What started as comfort turned into discovery: he was grounding me during panic attacks. Laying across my lap when the anxiety swelled. His presence became a lifeline. That’s when I found Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT)—a technique I hadn’t known by name, but had experienced in real-time.

Luciano became my psychiatric service dog. And in a time when I felt like I was falling apart, he helped me piece myself back together.

That transformation sparked the creation of Paws on Planes Inc.—a business built to help others find the same kind of support I never knew existed.

And I’m not alone. There are countless people—especially veterans—who don’t need another pill. They need a battle buddy. A real one.

That’s why I want to shine a light on Chip Neumann and the incredible work he’s doing through Midwest Battle Buddies. Here in the Midwest, Chip is helping veterans access trained service dogs in months (not years), without $50K price tags or impossible hoops to jump through.

Because healing doesn’t have to be fast—it just has to be real.

The Freedom They Fought For (And Still Deserve to Feel)

The real fight doesn’t always end when the uniform comes off. For many veterans, the transition to civilian life includes a quiet, internal war—one filled with anxiety, flashbacks, and isolation. It’s a battle fought in silence, behind smiles, and beneath the surface.

As Chip Neumann of Midwest Battle Buddies explains, “Every day over 20 veterans take their lives due to PTSD. However, it has been shown that 82% of those diagnosed with PTSD have symptom reduction after partnership with a service dog and another 40% reported a significant reduction in use of medications. The dog allows the handler the freedom to interact with the public in a positive light, knowing that he/she has a constant companion.”

That’s not just sobering—it’s unacceptable that veterans are not receiving the proven help they need. 

Properly trained service dogs are more than companions. They’re life preservers for people navigating invisible disabilities. And this kind of support isn’t only for veterans.

Beyond the Battlefield

While much of the conversation around psychiatric service dogs rightfully focuses on veterans, the truth is—you don’t need to wear a uniform to be fighting a battle.

Mental health challenges don’t discriminate. Anxiety, PTSD, depression, social phobias, and trauma impact people from every walk of life. And for many, a trained service dog becomes more than a companion—it becomes their calm in the chaos.

Psychiatric service dogs can be trained to:

• Interrupt panic attacks before they spiral
• Wake someone from debilitating night terrors
• Apply deep pressure therapy (DPT) to ground anxiety
• Create space in overwhelming crowds
• Provide medication reminders or alert others in emergencies

In addition to the task work— Service Dogs restore a sense of safety, independence, and connection.

If your mental health is affecting your ability to function or to live fully—you’re not alone, and there are options.

At Paws on Planes, we work with people from all walks of life—veterans, parents, businesswomen, students.

Beyond the task work, dogs reduce stress at a biological level. Studies show:

• Interacting with dogs lowers cortisol (the stress hormone)
• Petting a dog raises oxytocin (the bonding/love hormone)
• Dogs can reduce blood pressure and heart rate, promoting overall well-being

For me, Luciano can reduce my level 12 anxiety down to a manageable level within minutes. 

When the System Gets in the Way

Legislation like the SAVES Act is designed to help veterans get access to service dogs through government grants. But there’s a major flaw: the requirement that nonprofits be accredited by specific organizations like Assistance Dogs International (ADI).

While well-intentioned, this requirement excludes local nonprofits like Midwest Battle Buddies—who are getting dogs to veterans in months, not years, and for a fraction of the cost.

The result? Veterans are put on waitlists up to seven years long, while struggling today.

Meanwhile, local, community-based organizations are sidelined.

Service Dog Support Doesn’t Stop at the Door

At Paws on Planes Inc., we help clients confidently travel with their service dogs—from navigating paperwork and TSA protocols to making sure your pup fits comfortably within the footprint of your airplane seat.

But that journey doesn’t start at the airport. It starts with organizations like Midwest Battle Buddies.

Led by people like Chip Neumann in Wichita, Kansas, Midwest Battle Buddies is changing lives by pairing veterans with service dogs and providing free, ongoing group training. These sessions empower veterans to be active participants in their dog’s training, deepen the human–canine bond, and create a powerful sense of community among fellow veterans.

There’s no cost for the dog, the training, or the certification. Just the pride that comes with being a Battle Buddy.

How to Find (or provide) Support Where You Live

Looking to begin your service dog journey—or help someone else start theirs? Here are a few ways to find real, reliable support:

• Search for nonprofits working with veterans or psychiatric service dogs in your area
• Talk to your therapist or VA rep about local referrals
• Avoid "instant certification" scams promising legality with a vest and a $99 card

Use Midwest Battle Buddies as a benchmark: values-driven, client-focused, and mission-first. Visit their site here → LEARN MORE.

 
Veteran or not, you deserve the support that helps you move through the world with dignity. Whether you’re looking to start your service dog journey—or already navigating air travel with one—resources exist.

Let’s connect you with the right ones.

🛫 Book a Consult with Paws on Planes - LEARN MORE.

🐕 Learn More About Midwest Battle Buddies - LEARN MORE.