Vmf assistance/service, facility and companion dogs, the organization's most valuable assets, are provided at no cost to disabled veterans, whether the disabilities were incurred during military service or during private life following that service. It costs vmf as much as $35,000 to raise, train and place an assistance dog, depending upon its ultimate role and the complexity of the veterans' needs being served. Each of vmf's highly trained dogs is assessed throughout an ongoing 18 to 24 months training and placement cycle, to ensure the service dog is trained to meet a disabled veteran's specific needs. Vmf does not maintain a fixed training