Bill approved to make VA service-dog friendly

The House of Representatives could vote as early as next week on sweeping legislation that makes the Veterans Affairs Department more dog-friendly.

A House committee has approved legislation that would allow service dogs to be used on any VA property or in any VA facility, including any facility or property receiving VA funding.

“I’m really pleased this legislation is moving, just for the sheer fact we have been trying to do this for so long,” said Christina Roof, deputy national legislative director for the veterans’ service organization AmVets. “VA could have done this itself, by regulation, a long time ago if they wanted, but they haven’t done anything so it looks like Congress will.”

Under current law and regulation, VA is required only to allow guide dogs for the blind onto its property and into facilities because those are the only type of assistance animals specifically covered in federal law. Individual facilities directors can be more flexible, if they wish.

VA officials have been working since March on trying to come up with a new service dog policy but discussions have been bogged down, in part, over the question of whether the policy should specifically list the types of service dogs that should be allowed or to leave that open to interpretation.

Language included in HR 2074, a veterans’ health care bill passed Sept. 28 by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, would end the discussion. The provision is very direct, saying the VA secretary “may not prohibit the use of service dogs in any facility or on any property.” The bill makes no effort to define what constitutes a service dog.

Roof said she expects common sense would be used, with eligible dogs having received some specialized training in order to be considered a service dog and with facilities still able to have restrictions on where dogs could go on the premises. For example, a service dog would not be allowed into an operating room but might be allowed in the waiting room of a medical clinic, she said.

In addition to opening the buildings and grounds to service dogs, the bill would create a three-year pilot program in which veterans with post-traumatic stress or other post-deployment mental disorders would be involved in training service dogs for other veterans. The idea of the test is to see if being a dog trainer has any rehabilitation benefits for veterans.

Veterans who have service dogs would have priority in being hired as trainers under the pilot program.

Source: airforcetimes
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Dont Pet the Service Dog

Greg is a 19 year old from New Hampshire. Like most teens his age, he'll be going to college in September—taking classes, living in a dorm...

But unlike other freshman, Greg will have a four-legged roommate: his service dog, Sprinkles.

"When you first get a service dog, you set targets, like: 'I want my dog to help me with balance, stability and mobility," said Greg, who came to Dobbs Ferry this week for his bonding week with Sprinkles, who will be his second service dog. "But then you realize the dog helps you emotionally. My dog doesn't judge me; I can tell him anything."

Sprinkles was trained by ECAD (Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities), a local organization that trains dogs—mainly golden retrievers—to accompany people with physical and emotional disabilities ranging from orthopedic problems to post-traumatic stress disorder.

On Wednesday, ECAD hosted an open house at its training facility in Dobbs Ferry's Children's Village to honor International Assistance Dog Week. Assistance dogs include guide dogs, service dogs, hearing alert dogs, seizure alert/response dogs and medical alert/response dogs. International Assistance Dog Week was established as a result of the efforts of Marcie Davis, a paraplegic who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

"The main idea for Assistance Dog Week is to spread awareness of the prevalence of assistance dogs and to teach people proper etiquette surrounding them," said Carrie Picard, daughter of Lu and Dale Picard, ECAD's founders. "People know not to walk up and pet seeing-eye-dogs, but they don't realize you shouldn't touch service dogs either. They can be the arms and legs of a disabled person."

ECAD is a unique program in that it trains dogs to serve people with all disabilities—except sight and hearing impairment. It is also unique because much of the training is performed by students in special act school districts like Children's Village, Greenburgh Graham and Green Chimneys.

Greg, whose first service dog will stay home with his parents when he and Sprinkles head off to Salve Regina University in Rhode Island, said most public places are accommodating to people with service dogs.

"Hotels can be difficult though," he said. "Sometimes they want to charge more 'because of the mess'—which is ridiculous! Would you charge extra for someone with crutches?"

Greg believes "bonding week," or a service dog recipient's first week with the dog, is the most important time in their relationship.

"It's when you familiarize yourself with the dog," he explained. "Trust between a master and worker goes two ways. We have to work as a cohesive unit."

Rubbing Sprinkles, he added: "Everything flows so nicely with Sprinkles. I have a feeling we'll be just fine together."

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Source : Patch.com
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