To help heal the emotional wounds of military veterans by using the power of the human-animal bond to provide a second chance for shelter animals by rescuing, training and pairing them with America's servicemen and women who could benefit from having a companion animal. At Pets for Vets®, we believe our country owes its Veterans, many of whom suffer from combat stress and other emotional issues related to their service, an enormous debt of gratitude. At the same time, we are keenly aware that, despite how much we love dogs and cats and recognize their benefit on our mental and physical health, there is still a tremendous pet homelessness problem in the U.S. Pets for Vets® was established in 2009 with a mission to both support U.S. Veterans and provide a second chance to homeless animals by rescuing, training, and pairing them with Veterans who could benefit from having a companion or emotional support animal. While each Veteran-pet match costs about $2,000, this service is offered at no cost to the Veteran, many thanks to our dedicated volunteers and generous public contributions. The Washington DC Metro Area Chapter, founded in late 2016, is excited to expand the Pets for Vets® program to our local community.