But the mental toll of their job is just as critical. Isolation, loneliness, depression and PTSD are all too common among our service members and veterans, and emotional and mental health are often listed as top issues affecting active-duty military families today.

VOTE FOR THE FIRST USO CANINE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

VOTE FOR APACHE VOTE FOR IRMA VOTE FOR MAVERICK VOTE FOR PEPPER

That's where a very special four-legged fleet of USO Canine Volunteers come in — our volunteer therapy dogs — and we're inviting you to vote for your favorite one today. Research shows that interacting with animals can make an incredible difference in one's physical and mental health, releasing hormones that can elevate moods and decrease anxiety and loneliness.

From the Midwest to Bavaria, we've seen the incredible impact USO Canine Volunteers can have on lifting our troops' spirits, and today, we hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to meet a few of our furry friends and vote for your favorite! Click here to choose your favorite USO Canine Volunteer now!

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE DOG NOW

Whoever wins this friendly competition, the real winners are our troops, who can experience the benefits of the USO Canine Program day in, day out — all thanks to military supporters like you.

Thank you for making all of our work possible,

The USO

P.S. Using USO Canine Volunteers to help service members cope with the challenges of military life is just one of many creative ways the USO supports our heroes. But as a nonprofit organization, this is all made possible by the generosity of patriotic Americans like you. So please, will you make a donation today to help us continue supporting our troops?