Summit Assistance Dogs in Anacortes, which trains companion dogs for people with hearing and physical disabilities, has officially announced a new program aimed at helping veterans.

In a statement released, appropriately enough, on Veterans Day, executive director Sue Meinzinger said huge number of troops need the skills and companionship of an assistance dog.

“Some men and women will have lost an arm or a leg, but perhaps even more devastating, they are at risk of losing their loved ones as they battle with the ‘invisible’ wounds of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” wrote Meinzinger.

The program, which was tentatively titled S.O.S., or Serving our Soldiers, will provide a canine companion at no cost to any qualifying veteran who receives a dog from Summit. There is an application process potential clients must go through.

Any interested veteran is urged to contact Summit at 293-5609 or go to www.summitdogs.org.