Dec 20, 2009

“A Pup’s Journey to Greatness”

Al , Service Dogs

Today I’m gonna give you a chance to see something most people never get to see.

When they’re 8 weeks old, Canine Companions for Independence puppies are brought to the national headquarters campus in Santa Rosa by the breeder caretaker of the mama dog who gave birth to them. They are checked out thoroughly by the veterinary staff, given an identifying tattoo in their right ear, washed, and then sent on their way to puppy raisers across the U.S., who will raise and train them for the next 15-18 months. … Read More

Dec 17, 2009

Judge Who Raises Guide Dogs Upheld In Barring ‘Service Dog’ From Courthouse

Al Service Dogs

Moral of this story is it’s not the smartest move to take your questionable “service dog” into the courtroom of a judge who raises guide dog puppies with his wife (I believe for Guide Dogs for the Blind, but haven’t verified that):

“Federal judge rejects Ryderwood woman’s service dog discrimination suit”


Haven’t heard much about this case, either, even though it’s been going on for over a year, but I can’t say I’m surprised – it’s exactly the opposite of those “service dog discrimination” stories the “outraged public” waits around … Read More

Dec 15, 2009

Wounded Warriors On Ice

Al , , , , Veterans

Saw this USA Hockey Magazine story about the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program via the Walter Reed Army Medical Center fan page on Facebook yesterday – talk about motivational! (Not to mention probably the coolest hockey story I’ve ever seen.)


“I’m probably the only person you’ll ever meet who opted to have their leg amputated so they could play hockey, and that was my whole goal. I spent two and a half years at Walter Reed, and everyone there knew that my first goal in life was to get back

… Read More

Dec 14, 2009

Spinal Cord Injuries Are Rising Sharply Among Troops In Afghanistan

Al , , , Service Dogs

Recent short article from the Nov 4th USA Today (“Spinal injuries up among troops”) didn’t get much public notice, but it sure got my attention.

Turns out that, contrary to everything we’ve been hearing for some time about how spinal cord injuries are way down in Iraq, those injuries are actually way UP in Afghanistan.


And that plays directly with future placements of service dogs with OEF veterans. I don’t think it takes a genius to figure out that with the recent increased troop levels, the reality … Read More

Dec 4, 2009

Another Perfect Example Of Why We Have Service Dog Access Problems

Al Service Dogs

I said I was gonna concentrate on positive stuff, but no way can I pass this one up.

“Pink poodle, owner get apology from Denny’s”

Yeah, maybe the dog is legit, and, yeah, service dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and, no, the ADA doesn’t say you can’t have a poodle and dye it pink.

But, seriously, c’mon – we gotta be smarter than this.

Remember this one next time somebody starts giving you the lecture about how there’s really no problem on the service dog end of the … Read More

Dec 1, 2009

Every Service Dog Placement With A Veteran Should Be As Great As This One

Al , , , , , , Service Dogs

I said I was gonna stay positive and show you examples of how things should be rather than ones where I know they are not, and this story is a great start.

When you see someone talking about service dogs for veterans, I want the image of this team to immediately pop into your head, because this is the model, on both ends of the leash.  Beyond just being a great story on its face, as you read it, compare what you see here – and, just as importantly, don’t… Read More

Nov 25, 2009

Fighting Hard To Stay Positive

Al , , Service Dogs

I hafta tell you I’m really having a hard time staying positive lately, to the point of sometimes thinking about bagging my whole involvement with service dogs, especially getting them to veterans.

Almost every day I see questionable things from supposedly responsible organizations and people in the service dog world, particularly where veterans are involved. Like the veteran working his dog with no leash I just saw in a slick fundraising video from a service dog place that focuses solely on veterans (watched it four or five times and I … Read More

Nov 20, 2009

“I Coulda Had A V8″ – Don’t Let That Happen To You With Service Dogs

Al , Service Dogs

One of the biggest reasons I harp so hard on getting the best service dog you possibly can and point out things/places that aren’t so great is that I don’t ever want you to be this guy:

smack-forehead


Where you get a dog that turns out to be a great companion but a not-so-great service dog, you see one later that really IS that great, and you realize, “Man, if I’d have only applied to a better organization, paid more attention, and done some more research, I could’ve had one of … Read More

Nov 19, 2009

Every Veteran With A Disability Doesn’t Need A Service Dog, And This Is A Great Alternative

Al , , , , , Service Dogs

Just read about this great program for veterans recovering at Walter Reed that teaches them to train dogs at the Washington Humane Society. I’ve heard of other programs like this before, but not this specific one, and I think they’re tremendous.  Note particularly what the people involved say about the program:

Army Capt. Lawrence Minnis sits with his two adopted pit bulls at the Washington Humane Society’s Behavior and Learning Center, Nov. 12, 2009.Army Capt. Lawrence Minnis sits with his two adopted pit bulls at the Washington Humane Society’s Behavior and Learning Center.

“Homeless Dogs Help Healing Troops”

The reality is a service dog isn’t necessary or appropriate for every wounded veteran … Read More

Nov 18, 2009

Young Kyle Orent Raises $125,000+ For Canine Companions for Independence

Al Service Dogs

Just a quick and easy but great story for you today in case you haven’t seen it elsewhere.

Kyle Orent is an 11-year-old young man in New York who has raised over $125,000 for Canine Companions for Independence. You read that right – $125,000.  (I was gonna link to the nice Newsday story about Kyle, but they have now changed it to subscription-only access -  not a good move and won’t fly these days, but that’s another discussion. )

Kyle appeared on My Fox NY yesterday with Debbie Dougherty, … Read More

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