Finally, The Real Story About The VA And Service Dogs For Veterans
Posted on | September 8, 2009 | 4 Comments
While I’ve addressed this subject before (“Why The VA Has Provided No Money For Service Dogs – In Their Own Words”), I’ve really held off and pretty much kept my mouth shut, hoping that some of the behind-the-scenes discussions I was aware of with the VA regarding service dogs for veterans would bear fruit, and not wanting to possibly mess those up. Plus, I really think some of the VA people working the issue are good guys and want to help, and I didn’t wanna risk torquing them off.
Well, without going into more detail, I will tell you that those talks have been going on for several years now, things have really fallen apart, and from all appearances they are going nowhere on the VA end. That’s why I was so glad to see this story all over the place this weekend, even with the misleading headline (BTW, the story doesn’t say this, but Taylor is a Canine Companions for Independence service dog – he and Bill Callahan graduated from the Southwest Regional Center in Oceanside, CA in February 2009.):
“After 8-year delay, VA program hopes to help vets”
I’m so used to misleading headlines by now – especially from the AP, where the vast majority of stories originate – that I just expect it, but I’m also really tired of them, too. (At least they got the Department of Veterans Affairs part right – it’s not the “Veterans Administration” and hasn’t been for years. I’m immediately suspicious of any story that starts out that way and you should be, too – it gives you a good idea right off just how thorough the person who wrote it is and how accurate the article may be as well.)
Just like this story – the real headline should be:
“Paraplegic Veteran Gets Service Dog With No Help From The VA”
Because that’s the key point here, and the dead honest truth. With all the hype of late, particularly all the buzz about “post traumatic stress” dogs (which I think is now helping to obscure the service dog need for veterans with severe physical disabilities like spinal cord injuries who, ironically, will almost certainly have post traumatic stress issues as well – but that’s a subject for another post), the reality is the VA has had over seven years to work this one and has really done zip.
I hear now that the VA says they have something in the works, but, honestly, we’ve all heard that one before, and that’s pretty much the same line in that article. Did you see any details? Nope. Could just be that with the two pending pieces of legislation (“Wounded Warrior K-9 Corps Act Introduced in Congress Yesterday”, “Service Dogs For Veterans Act Passes The Senate, But What Does That Mean?”) they are a little nervous and feel the need to look like they are doing something. Both of those bills definitely need work, but, hey, if they get the VA’s attention, that’s a good thing all by itself.
Nonetheless, I’ll say again what I’ve said before – I don’t think the government or the VA is the solution to this problem. But if providing some money gets top-notch service dogs in the hands of more veterans with disabilities who need them, then I’m all for it.
One thing that should have been done LONG ago is allowing veterans with service dogs to receive the same payments for expenses that veterans with guide dogs have been receiving for years. That I know of, the VA has not even agreed to do that, although if you look at their official web page for guide and service dogs, it appears that they now have – this is indicative of the serious confusion that’s all around this subject:
http://www1.va.gov/health/ServiceandGuideDogs.asp
Lemme leave you with a coupla things you can do here. One, you can certainly contact your elected officials to voice your opinion, and it wouldn’t surprise me if you hear about an effort to amend or combine those two pieces of legislation in the near future. By far the biggest thing you can do, though, is to educate any veteran you know who could be a potential candidate for a service dog (especially those with serious physical disabilities like SCI), or anyone who may know a veteran who might be a potential candidate for a service dog – in other words, everybody.
Please contact me if I can help with that at all.
Tags: Canine Companions for Independence > Disabled Veterans > Post Traumatic Stress > Spinal Cord Injury > Veterans > Wounded Warrior
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About Me
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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September 8th, 2009 @ 5:25 pm
How absolutely stupid for anyone to discriminate between the veterans and the disabled as far as to whom should or should not receive a service dog. Having raised one that is now currently serving disabled veterans in a role of ambassador for CCI service dogs, I take offense with the idea that my CCI service dog is not serving her “duty” to the wounded and disabled servicemen as a CCI graduate.
October 4th, 2009 @ 9:08 pm
Here is a organization that deserves recognition. And to add to your notes on service dogs and VA benefits. This has changed recently and they now cover costs of Veterinary services and immunizations. Good Luck on your blogging!
November 17th, 2009 @ 10:43 pm
I’m a Veteran who is getting the run around from the VA. On their web sight you have to get approved for a Service Dog. It says at no cost to you and they will pay for all cost for training. No you have to find a Service Dog trainer who will donate a dog etc. The VA will pay for Vet care and equipment. I’m waiting to find out if the President will sign the Service Dogs for Veterans Act, and when the Pilot Program to start.
April 7th, 2010 @ 11:10 pm
I went to the VA today with my service dog from TLCAD- Tender Loving Canine Assistance Dogs. Over the phone I was told all I need is a consult with my primary and a formal letter stating the stats on my service dog from the organization. My disability is degenerative disk disease in my lower back and Generalized Anxiety, both service connected. When I came in and the prosthetics supervisor saw I wasn’t in a wheel chair or missing any limbs he continued to refer to my service dog as an emotional companion. This is true but he also helps me with many mobility problems such as getting out of chairs and picking things off the floor and was trained to be a SERVICE dog. After I informed him about this he said that the VA would help me not by paying for his Vet bills like they say online but by replacing him with a “grabber”, cane, and seat assister. I was shocked. He said I needed to go back to my primary care and have him think of a better reason for me to have a service dog otherwise the bills are all on me. I told him this was terrible and all he had to say was “well its policy, you can check back in a year to see if its changed.” Thanks VA for all your help. Feel free to email me if anyone has an opinion on this.