WATCH ABOVE: An extensive study commissioned by Ottawa has determined service dogs can help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. But the Trudeau Liberals won't commit to funding the animals, and veterans are demanding to know why. Mercedes Stephenson has a Global News exclusive.

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Update: This story includes an updated response from Veteran Affairs Canada received after the story was first published.

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Canadian veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are out of luck if they expect the government to help them find a service dog anytime soon.

That’s because the Department of Veteran Affairs (VAC) continues to deny veterans and their families funding for service dogs despite growing evidence showing their effectiveness in treating PTSD and its related symptoms.

READ MORE:Trudeau Liberals leave $372M meant to help veterans unspent since taking office

“The difference [between having a dog and not having a dog] can best be described as night and day,” said Medric Cousineau, an air force veteran and the founder of Paws Fur Thought, an organization that helps match former soldiers with service dogs.

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“It may not seem like a huge difference to the average person, but for those of us battling those demons, it’s huge.”

VAC’s continued denial of funding for service dogs comes on the heels of a government-commissioned report obtained exclusively by Global News that shows “significant” reductions in PTSD symptoms and an overall improvement in the quality of life for veterans matched with service dogs.

WATCH: Here’s how one veteran says a service dog changed his life

Researcher at Quebec City’s Université Laval – who followed 31 veterans and their dogs since 2016 – also found significant improvements in sleep quality, self-esteem, depression and mobility, meaning veterans who participated in the pilot project spent less time in bed and more time accomplishing tasks on their own.

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While recognizing the cost for providing service dogs isn’t cheap – roughly $15,000 per dog – Cousineau says the government is failing in its promise to provide veterans with the services they need.

“What it boils down to is dollars and cents,” Cousineau said.“I don’t know how they can sleep … trying to reconcile human lives based on dollars. It makes no sense to me.”

Government silent on where to go next

The final report was delivered to Veteran Affairs at the end of July, roughly eight weeks ago.

Yet the government has remained silent on whether the report’s findings will be accepted and whether veterans will begin receiving funding for service dogs.

WATCH: Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan says he has not yet read report commissioned on PTSD service dogs

Seamus O’Regan, the minister of veteran affairs, could not comment on the report when questioned by Global News, saying he hadn’t read it yet.

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“I’m going to go read it now,” O’Regan said Tuesday on Parliament Hill. “As soon as I’ve read it, we will come back as quickly as possible,” he said.

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Asked when veterans can expect a decision on whether they’ll receive funding for service dogs, O’Regan could not answer.

“I’ve got to read [the study] before I can give you an answer,” he said. “So let me read it.”