Service Dogs for Veterans

Memorial Day is a day off work for most people.  Let us not forget it is an actual holiday meant to honor the men and women who died in service to this country.

Regardless of your opinions about the conflicts of the last ten years, there is no denying that men and women have fought hard on behalf of this country.  Some return home in body bags.  Others return with serious physical and mental injuries that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.

In recent months, a few news articles have appeared stating a shocking fact.  The Department of Veteran’s Affairs does not provide assistance animals for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  They will only provide assistance animals for veterans who are physically disabled.  While the VA planned to study the impact assistance animals made on veterans with PTSD, the study has been halted. 

Furthermore, the ADA rules were recently tightened so that emotional support animals do not qualify as service animals.  An establishment could legally refuse to allow an assistance animal on the premises unless it helped someone with a physical disability. 

Anecdotal evidence alone shows that veterans suffering from PTSD benefit tremendously from their dogs.  Several organizations are trying to provide veterans with the dogs they need since the government is not going to help.  I have links at the end of this post that provide you with more information about the topic as well as a couple of organizations that assist.

This is a tragedy.  I urge you to contact your Congress person and tell him or her that the VA study should resume as quickly as possible.  They should also reconsider the ADA rules.  Emotional support animals are valuable and should have the same status that is provided to assistance animals for people with physical disabilities. 

Given Congress’ track record, please consider supporting organizations that train service dogs for veterans.  While we are waiting for Congress and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs to do SOMETHING, veterans can get the help they need from private sources.

Have a safe Memorial Day.

Rescue Mommy

Reference links:

http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/index.asp

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/1/prweb10377254.htm

http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/about.asp

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/07/us/cnnheroes-cortani-veterans-dogs/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/09/us/cnnheroes-ptsd-service-dogs/index.html?iid=article_sidebar

 

Veterans Need Your Help

It was a cold January morning three years ago. I was exhausted. My dog Dino had cancer and was having a bad episode. We spent Saturday night/Sunday morning at the emergency vet hospital. I was running late for the short walkie we took every morning.

When we stepped outside, I immediately smelled wood smoke. It was a bit unusual for someone to be burning that early or even in January, but you never know about people. As we approached the gate to our driveway, I looked up. Thick, black smoke billowed into the sky. My first thought was my parents’ house was on fire.

I could hear the sirens of the fire trucks. I returned Dino to the house, jumped in my car, and raced up the road. To my horror, I rounded the last curve before my parents’ driveway and saw my grandparents’ house on fire. It was too late for the fire department to save the house. It was fully involved – with my grandfather trapped inside. My grandmother had frantically tried to save him but could not.

Even though it has been three years, memories of that day haunt me. Every time I smell wood smoke, the images flash in my brain. When I am under a lot of stress, I become hyper-vigilant about little things, like whether or not I unplugged the coffee maker. It is getting better than it was three years ago, but I doubt you ever really recover from that kind of shock.

If I get that upset over one event in my otherwise blessed life, what must our soldiers feel? These brave men and women have witnessed unbelievable horrors in their service to the country. When they return, many of them struggle to cope. Some turn to therapy dogs to assist them with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many stories have been written about how these dogs give soldiers a chance at regaining some small piece of their previous life.

Imagine my shock last week when I read that the Veterans Affairs Administration does not pay for dogs who assist patients with mental health issues. According to an article I read last week on CNN’s website, the VA is conducting a study to determine the efficacy of these dogs. What do the soldiers who are suffering now do while the government conducts the study?

Fortunately, organizations have taken it upon themselves to assist veterans by providing them with therapy dogs. Before donating or volunteering, be sure to research the organization. I have read that several inexperienced trainers have popped up offering therapy dogs, so do your homework.

At the end of this post, I have listed links to two stories about therapy dogs as well as a link to Puppies Behind Bars, an organization that trains service dogs. If you would like to help, I am sure they would appreciate your donation.

Rescue Mommy

Links:

http://www.apa.org/news/psycport/PsycPORTArticle.aspx?id=knightridder_2012_09_05__0000-4183-PM-VA-says-no-service-dogs-warranted-for-war-stress-sufferers-0905-20120905.xml

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/01/health/mental-health-service-dogs/index.html?iref=allsearch
http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/

Puppies Behind Bars

In Wednesday’s post, I told you about a program the NC Department of Corrections’ has established for training shelter dogs. Another program, called Puppies Behind Bars, also works with inmates. In this program, inmates train service dogs and explosive detection dogs. Here is the link:  http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/

I first learned about the organization a few years ago. A dog from the program was given to a veteran who had severe post-traumatic stress disorder. The dog gave him back his life. It was truly inspiring.

If you go to the “In the News” section on their website, you can watch videos and read stories about the program. It is well worth perusing; the organization is doing great things.

Rescue Mommy