You Can Train The Dog, But Can You Train The Human?
Posted on | July 30, 2010 | 1 Comment
Great timing on this new video today.
First, it’s funny (and I can definitely use a laugh with all the serious stuff I’ve been writing about here lately), and, second, it gives you a real behind-the-scenes look at just what it takes to train service and hearing dogs to perform actual tasks for people with physical issues who really need them (as opposed to all the “feelgood dogs” I see stories about daily – sorry, said I wasn’t gonna get serious).
Tags: Assistance Dog > Canine Companions for Independence > Hearing Dogs > Veterans
“Oh, Yeah – My Service Dog Does That For Me, Too.”
Posted on | July 27, 2010 | No Comments
I stay on top of things and always pay attention to trends in the service dog world, especially where veterans are involved, and several I’ve seen lately concern me. Here’s one…
I’ve read a number of recent stories where a veteran has a service dog, the veteran has no physical injuries, the dog has been given to the veteran solely to help them deal with post-traumatic stress, and yet the dog has been trained to perform physical tasks (e.g., picking up dropped objects) for someone with physical issues who requires those functions. Sometimes you have to read between the lines to figure that out, other times I’ve seen the articles come right out and say the tasks weren’t needed for this person, but were taught in case the dog had a partner with physical issues that needed them.
Tags: Americans with Disablities Act > Post Traumatic Stress > PTSD > Veterans
Bet You Have No Idea Just How Low The Bar Is To Say Your Dog Is A Service Dog
Posted on | July 26, 2010 | No Comments
I used to say “You can slap a cape on any dog and call it a service dog.”, but that’s not really true – you don’t even need the cape.
You know, I honestly didn’t write this today because it’s the 20th anniversary of the ADA with all the associated attention, or because the revisions to the existing part of the regulation covering service animals were just signed by the Attorney General Friday, although both those things make it a great time to bring this up.
When You Hear “Service Dog”, Think “Public Access”
Posted on | July 24, 2010 | No Comments
Because public access is what drives and frames the whole service dog discussion.
When somebody says their dog is a service dog, public access is really what we’re talking about. If I describe my dog that way, the clear implication is that the dog does stuff for me and I can take it with me wherever I want. And, when it comes down to it, that’s the primary, if not only, reason to differentiate your dog in that way. (Note I didn’t say that that’s what defines a service dog – that’s another post.)
Waving The BS Flag
Posted on | July 22, 2010 | No Comments
Every day I see dog stories that are…well, frankly, bull.
Nowhere do I see this problem more than with the almost constant daily barrage now of feelgood stories about dogs doing wonderful things for military people, both active duty and veterans, particularly those who are suffering with post-traumatic stress as their primary issue. Problem is, when you look closer and you know what to look for, there’s a lotta bull in those stories. Well-meaning bull, but bull nonetheless.
Pit Bulls As Service Dogs? Why?
Posted on | July 15, 2010 | 2 Comments
Not the first time I’ve addressed this one, but it comes up again this week because of this article Monday in the Miami Herald:
Patient Luis Medina at Hialeah Hospital gets a visit from Ruby, a pit bull therapy dog. With them, left, is Dr. Reinaldo Carvajal.
“Service or menace? Pit bulls skirt law by being used as service dogs”
Let’s just bypass the “scam” angle and assume for the moment this isn’t being done just to get around the ban and these really are service dogs.
“He Makes Me Cry A Lot, Because I’m So Grateful For Him”
Posted on | July 13, 2010 | No Comments
Those are the emotional words of Canine Companions for Independence graduate Kelly Bussio describing her service dog Tadaki in this new video from Salt Lake City station KSL-TV yesterday.
“Amazing dog services Salt Lake paraplegic”
Beyond the obvious emotional story, the video does a great job showing many of the skills of a properly trained service dog, in particular pulling someone in a manual wheelchair, an often misunderstood but very important function for some.
Tags: Assistance Dog > Canine Companions for Independence > Spinal Cord Injury
“VHA’s Guide And Service Dog Program Could Not Ensure That All Qualified Veterans Received The Opportunity To Benefit From Service Dogs”
Posted on | July 9, 2010 | No Comments
That quote is from this audit report published a few days ago by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General, a report that confirms what many, including me, have been saying for years.
“Audit of Guide and Service Dog Program”
If you’re not aware of the long history on this subject, see these previous posts, the first of which I wrote 15 months ago after I’d already held off writing it for over a year:
“Out Of Everything I’ve Done To Try And Improve My Life, Nothing’s Even Come Close To Getting My Service Dog, Napal”
Posted on | June 30, 2010 | No Comments
I’ve written about my friend Air Force veteran Jason Morgan and his Canine Companions for Independence service dog Napal before here, here, and here.
This short news video from KXAS in Dallas yesterday pretty much speaks for itself and really captures them very well.
“Local Veteran’s Life Changed By A Dog”
Tags: Air Force > Canine Companions for Independence > Disabled Veterans > Spinal Cord Injury > Warrior Games > Wounded Warrior
Look – And Closely – For Assistance Dogs International Accreditation
Posted on | June 18, 2010 | No Comments
Great time for a reminder about this with the annual Assistance Dogs International conference taking place in Toronto next week.
Said it before, say it again: first thing you need to look for with a service dog organization is if they are ADI accredited, which you can find here: ADI Accredited Members
And don’t go by the ADI logo on their website, either, because that can be misleading. Like this one on a heavily promoted place’s site:
Note that it says Full Member underneath it – it’s nice that they at least joined, but, sorry, that’s very definitely NOT the same as being an Accredited Member.
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I'm very active with Canine Companions for Independence as a former member of the Veterans Task Force and puppy raiser. Retired US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant with my last assignments at the Air Force Academy as the Fourth Group Sergeant Major and Dean of Faculty Superintendent.
I'm actively looking for a paid position doing what I already do full-time as a volunteer.
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