“Veterans report that service dogs help break their isolation. People will often avert their eyes when they see a wounded veteran. But when the veteran has a dog, the same people will come up and say, 'Hi' to pet the dog and then strike up a conversation.”

American politician, comedian, screenwriter, and actor

Al Franken is an American politician, comedian, screenwriter, and actor. Born Alan Stuart Franken, he served as a United States senator from Minnesota from 2009 until his resignation in 2018. Before entering politics, he worked in entertainment and appeared on television and in film. He is known for moving from comedy and screenwriting into public office, and for his long career across both media and politics.