1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pups for Patriots Act of 2017 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) According to the Department of Veterans Affairs about 11 to 20 of every 100 veterans (11 to 20 percent) who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or in Operation Enduring Freedom are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress. (2) The invisible wounds of war, including post-traumatic stress, can cause debilitating symptoms in veterans leading to depression, social isolation, and suicide. (3) Studies and first-hand accounts demonstrate that service dogs provide support to veterans by mitigating their disability, allowing for professional and social reintegration. (4) Service dogs reduce stress and anxiety levels, ease depression, provide comfort, and restore confidence in affected veterans. (5) Currently, waiting lists for service dogs average between 18 and 24 months, with intensive compulsory training costing an average of $25,000 per service dog. (6) The estimated cost of owning a service dog once adopted is $1,200 to $1,600 per year for food, supplies, and general veterinary health care. 3. Pilot program (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall— (1) enter into contracts with qualified nonprofit organizations for the provision of service dogs to eligible veterans, including the procurement, training, and evaluation of each such service dog; (2) ensure that each dog provided as a service dog under the program meets the standards described in section 4(b); and (3) provide veterinary insurance for each service dog provided to an eligible veteran pursuant to such a contract. (b) Eligible veterans In this section, an eligible veteran is a veteran who— (1) served on active duty in the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001