Aug 25, 2010

Over $400 Million In Insurance Claims Paid For Dog Bites Last Year

Al Service Dogs

I’ve been surprised to hear from my friends with service dogs just how often they are lunged at or even attacked by other dogs, including some other “service dogs” – it’s a lot bigger problem than I realized. Pretty much everybody I know has had it happen at least once, and seems like every time I turn around there’s another story.

Even so, this article a few days ago was still a big surprise to me, and I’ll bet I’m not alone – another one I didn’t see a lot said about, either:

“Dog bites cost U.S. home insurers 6.4 percent more in 2009 than in the prior 12 months, with the average claim exceeding $24,000 for the third straight year, an industry group said.

The injuries cost $412 million in 2009, compared with $387.2 million a year earlier, the fifth straight annual increase, the Insurance Information Institute said in a statement today on its website. The number of claims increased 4.8 percent to 16,586.

Dog bites account for about a third of homeowners’ insurance liability claims, the institute said. The cost to the industry climbed more than 25 percent since 2003 as medical expenses for victims increased.”

“Dog-Bite Costs for Home Insurers Rise to $412 Million“

Another “not fun” story and something none of us wants to think about, but definitely one you wanna keep in mind whenever you read any story about dogs, particularly where public access and safety are involved.

Aug 22, 2010

You’ve Seen All The Rest, Now Get The Best

Al , , , Service Dogs

Lotta times I think of that old Billy Mays line “You’ve seen all the rest, now get the best.”

(Hey, I liked Billy – he was a true “Pittsburgh guy”, and he loved dogs, too).

Certainly applies with service dog organizations, especially when it comes to their names. For example:

There are a lotta places with “Canine” in their name, but only ONE Canine Companions for Independence.

There are also a bunch with “Paws” in their name, but only ONE Paws With A Cause.

And some with “Assistance Dogs” in their name, too, but only ONE Assistance Dogs of America, Inc.

I could keep going, but you get the idea.

Now I have a very good feel for “who’s who”, so knowing who the real players are isn’t really that tough for me.  But for most of you, I’m sure that trying to make sense of all the service dog organizations out there is confusing, and the naming similarities aren’t helping any.  So whaddya do?

I’ll say what I always say – just look closely, and start with the list of Assistance Dogs International accredited organizations.

Things will start becoming clearer, I ga-ron-tee.

Aug 19, 2010

Congressman Asks VA Secretary To Allow Service Dogs In All VA Facilities

Al , Service Dogs

The latest from my friend Christina Roof at AMVETS in the ongoing attempt to get service dogs approved in all VA facilities – a letter from Rep Ron Klein of Florida asking Secretary Shinseki to change the regulations to reflect this. (Click on the images for larger, more readable versions.)

Some of you are already aware of this, but individual VA facilities control their own access, and VA has said they cannot order them to allow service dogs because they don’t have regulatory authority to do that. This has resulted in the ultimate irony in some cases – a veteran has his service dog approved by the VA, but is then unable to take the dog into the VA medical facility where he receives care.

As I’ve said before, classic thing where your initial reaction is “This is so dumb, you must be making it up.” and then you realize “No, this is so dumb, you couldn’t make it up.”

Definitely something that is long overdue being corrected.  Stay tuned.

Aug 18, 2010

Service Dog Organization Ordered To Refund $190,000, Stop Providing Dogs

Al Service Dogs

Here’s one that hasn’t gotten a lotta attention – not surprising since it doesn’t fall into the feelgood service dog category so many love to repost.

I’ve been following this story for two years, so, naturally, I was very interested to see this today:

Missouri service dog firm ordered to refund customers

Aug 18, 2010, 9:10 AM

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A mid-Missouri company and its owner have been ordered to stop providing service dogs for people with diabetes.

The Jefferson City News Tribune reports Wednesday that Heaven Scent Paws, of St. Elizabeth, also was ordered by a trial judge to pay more than $190,000 for restitution.

The Missouri attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit in 2008 against the company seeking to force compliance with consumer protection laws.

The attorney general’s office said the company had offered a three-week training program in Cole County for diabetics to obtain service dogs that would alert them to high or low blood sugar.

But the attorney general’s office says many dogs were unable to do that. Some customers also were denied refunds.

“Missouri service dog firm ordered to refund customers”

I wasn’t involved directly in the case, so don’t know everything, but here are some things I do know.

One, I can’t remember ever seeing the authorities – even local ones, much less a state attorney general – go after a service dog place, so I knew this had to be a big deal when I first saw it two years ago. (“Nixon lawsuit against St. Elizabeth dog trainer alleges that diabetic alert service dogs were not properly trained”)

Two, I don’t know any of the families who got dogs personally, but do know someone who was involved trying to help this family here in Colorado, and he told me just how much a mess this made of their lives. (“Family says service dog didn’t serve”)

Three, you could still read gushing stories about how great this place was even while this was going on, like this one: “Service dog helps Missouri priest continue parish work”. Let that be a huge lesson to you – be skeptical about everything you read or hear, including what I tell you.

Four, just like with everything else, courts are not the answer to this problem, and if you are looking for justice or for them to solve things, you will be disappointed. Sure, it’s nice to see them nail somebody and apparently get one right for a change, but the reality is the families – even if they ever actually get their money – have had their lives completely disrupted by this.  And who knows what happened with the dogs – haven’t heard and didn’t do a hard look to find out.

You know, I have no idea what the motives of the people who started this organization are – if they’re crooks, or well-meaning people who just got in over their heads, or something else.  But I have to say I’m a point where I just don’t care anymore – I’ve spent too much time in the past trying to figure that out, normally in trying to give somebody a break.

In the end, what matters is results – is a place training great service dogs, creating lifelong service dog team partnerships, and serving the needs of those who receive dogs from them. They could have all the great intentions in the world, but if that’s not happening, doesn’t matter.

http://www.digitalburg.com/artman2/publish/Missouri_News_3/Missouri_service_dog_firm_ordered_to_refund_customers.shtml

Aug 12, 2010

Be Smarter About Service Dogs Than 99% Of The Population In Only 2 1/2 Minutes

Al , , , Service Dogs

Excellent new CBS News video today with Canine Companions for Independence graduate teams of Frank Sciaretta with Service Dog Bastien, and Linda and Mark Cummins with Skilled Companion Dog Meesha, as well as CCI Northeast Region Executive Director Debbie Dougherty.

If you wanna be smarter about service dogs than 99% of the population (including a number of celebrities and politicians – big surprise there, huh?), gimme 2 1/2 minutes and watch it.

Watch the images, but pay close attention to the words, too, because they hit all the high points and very quickly. Bottom line: whenever you hear or read anything about service dogs, rack it up against what you see here.

Tons more I could say, but I’ll just add that the video will also give you a very good feel for why I have the attitude I do and what’s behind a lot of what you see me say here.



“Canine Companions Give Help, Hope to the Disabled”

Aug 11, 2010

Great Picture And Super Example of ‘Wheelchair Etiquette’

Al , , Veterans

Great picture today via the Disabled American Veterans Facebook page of US Air Force Thunderbird #7 and Ops Officer, LtCol Derek ‘Taz’ Routt, with DAV Past National Commander Jim Sursely at the recent EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

“PNC Jim Sursely chats with LtCol Derek Routt of the Air Force Thunderbirds“

Not only is it a really nice picture to begin with, by squatting like that in front of Jim, Taz has also provided a super example of good etiquette when you’re talking to someone in a chair.

Based on just what I see pretty often, I’m not sure most people know they should try to get at or below the eye level of the person in the chair and not make them strain their neck and look up at you.

If YOU didn’t…well, now you do. :-D

Aug 9, 2010

I Can’t Guarantee You’ll Get A Service Dog If You Apply, But…

Al , , , , Service Dogs, Veterans

…I CAN guarantee if you don’t, you won’t.

Simple as that – CCI isn’t just gonna give you a dog, and I’d like to believe no other reputable organization will, either.

OIF Veteran Andrew Pike and his CCI Service Dog Yazmin

And, while it might not seem that way at first, that’s exactly how you want it. You don’t want someone to just give you a dog, or tell you they already have a specific one picked out for you and all you need to do is fill out the application.

If you’re gonna do this right, and make a lifelong match of a dog and human into a team, you have to know both ends of the leash exceptionally well. On the human end, that means a fairly thorough application process – CCI, for example, has a written application followed by phone and in-person interviews, and will tell you the process takes several months.  It’s not accidental that the resulting matches they make are legendary.

I wanted to bring this up again now because with everything I’ve been saying here lately about options other than service dogs, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.  I’m still VERY concerned that not nearly enough veterans apply for them, especially those with severe injuries like SCI.

I’ve heard the usual reasons for not applying for several years now and I’ve addressed those here (see “I Don’t Want To Take Someone Else’s Dog” among others). On top of that, I’m even more concerned now because, if I went by what I see online, in the news, and on TV, I wouldn’t even know that service dogs have a role helping veterans with serious physical injuries – I’d think the only thing they do now is help with post-traumatic stress, which is very much NOT the case.

Now, I don’t want to waste your or an organization’s time, either.  For example, if you’re 100% certain that you need a seizure alert dog, there’s not much point in applying to CCI because they are very upfront that they don’t train those type of dogs. So you do need to research the places where you’re gonna apply

Lemme let you in on a little secret.  Well, maybe not a secret, but something I don’t remember ever seeing advertised, and that I know for a fact is true.  Part of the process in an organization determining if someone is a good candidate for a dog is whether they show enough initiative to ask for one in the first place.  So take a hint.

Look, there’s no way you’re gonna get “voluntold” for this one.  If you’re seriously thinking about a dog and have done the research, apply – don’t think it to death, just do it.

And, while it might not seem that way at first, that’s exactly how you want it. You don’t want someone to just give you a dog, or tell you they already have a specific one picked out for you and all you need to do is fill out the application.

Aug 6, 2010

Pets For Patriots – What A Great Idea

Al , , , , , Service Dogs, Veterans

I had a great conversation yesterday with Beth Zimmerman, the founder, Executive Director, and CEO of Pets for Patriots.

You definitely need to read their site and blog for the details of how they’re going to make this happen – it’s a good plan – but here’s their stated mission:

“Pets for Patriots’ vision is to end animal homelessness by supporting the permanent placement of adult dogs and cats with every available, able, and willing military family in the U.S.”

Great concept in general, but what really caught my eye was Beth’s post (“Pets for Patriots launches new program with the U.S. Army“) a few days ago about visiting the Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) office recently here at Ft Carson, and specifically this sentence:

“Wounded soldiers who don’t qualify for a service animal – but would benefit from a new pet friend – will be referred to us.”

Exactly!  This is another outstanding example of a key concept I wrote about last November after reading about the Washington DC Humane Society’s Dog Tags program where troops rehabbing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center train dogs in basic obedience so they have a greater chance of being adopted. Please go read that post in its entirety (it’s not long) – everything I said there is still true today (in fact, even more so) and I’d just have to repost the whole thing here: “Every Veteran With A Disability Doesn’t Need A Service Dog, And This Is A Great Alternative“

No question in my mind that dogs have an important role to play with helping our wounded warriors recover, just not necessarily SERVICE dogs, something so many seem to assume.

We absolutely have to look at the ENTIRE range of options when we’re talking about dogs helping veterans, especially where post-traumatic stress is involved. Things like veterans training dogs in shelters so they have a better chance to be adopted, or adopting great pets, or working with a therapist who has a Canine Companions for Independence Facility Dog, or raising dogs that will eventually be service dogs for someone else (with the caveat that those dogs receive advanced training from a professional trainer), and so on.

Let’s be very clear – Beth is coming at things from a different and broader angle than I am, but Pets for Patriots is also a perfect fit for what I’m looking to accomplish and gives me one more very valuable option to offer people. I very much look forward to working with her as she expands this program both locally here in Colorado Springs and around the country as well.