State Senator Christine Johnson wants to make life a little furrier for veterans.

In March, Johnson introduced a bill to the General Assembly that would allow Illinois veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to have greater access to service dogs in public areas. The bill aims to increase the scope of the current state definition of service animal to allow for psychiatric disabilities like PTSD to be taken into consideration.

“We need to make sure that our laws are compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act,” Johnson said. “We also need to make sure that people with psychiatric disabilities have the support they need.”

According the National Center for PTSD, a branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 7 to 8 percent of the population will develop PTSD at some point in their lives, while the statistics for military veterans is much higher. An estimated 11 to 20 percent of veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq suffer from PTSD.

The proposed bill passed in the Senate and is now in the House for debate and revision. The legislation redefines the term service dog, and expands uses of such dogs, according to the Illinois General Assembly’s website.

“Although service dogs are not a cure for this condition, they have been proven to help them manage the intense anxiety that their condition causes,” a press release from Johnson’s office states.

The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners website states service dogs can help PTSD sufferers “break the spell” of anxiety attacks by providing a relaxing and comforting partner during distress. The service dogs can be trained to assist by distracting their owners from their current activity while maintaining a sense of teamwork and companionship.

The service animals will be an effective method of helping the rehabilitation of veterans, Johnson said.

“Along with medication and therapy, trained service dogs can also help victims of PTSD manage their symptoms so they can perform their daily duties,” Johnson said. “The animals can help keep their owners and those around them safe, much like they do with individuals who have hearing or vision impairments.”

Nicholas Bender, sophomore business major administration and Marine Corps veteran, supports the legislation.

“This is a great opportunity to provide a companion for these veterans,” Bender said. “This can provide a relationship for veterans that is a key component in their lives. Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows how much of a family member they can become, and how they are always there for you.”