Just How Big the OEF/OIF Veteran Need for Service Dogs Could Be – And What Will Be Required from Us to Meet It

Posted on | April 29, 2009 | No Comments

I can’t give you a definitive answer on how large the potential number of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran candidates for service dogs is – there are just way too many variables.

What I can do, though, is give you the official OEF/OIF casualty numbers and go from there: almost 35,000 wounded warriors with varying levels of injuries, including around 900 amputees.

( http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/gwot_reason.pdf and http://www1.va.gov/vetdata/docs/4X6_fall08_sharepoint.pdf )

Now, if I just arbitrarily say the number of people who need service dogs is 1% of that total number – and, again, I have no way of knowing if that’s accurate, it’s just a seemingly conservative “pull it out of the air” number to start from – that’s roughly 350 dogs. Shoot, let’s say it’s just half a percent – that’s still about 175 dogs.

Either way, in case it’s not obvious, that’s a lotta dogs when you are talking fully-trained service dogs. To put it in context, the largest organization of the bunch graduates about 200 dogs a year.

Those casualty numbers have stayed fairly constant for a while now, so I’ve had plenty of time to think about them, and there are a coupla things that jump right out at me.

First, I’d expect to see a lot more demand for service dogs coming from this population, which is why I harped on the subject of education so hard in my last post. But, hey, maybe I’m just flat wrong and there’s not anywhere near the kinda need I think there is.

But if I’m not wrong, even at the low percentages we’re talking about, that’s a huge additional need. And while I don’t think the larger service dog organizations are prepared to handle a load that large if it materializes, I also don’t think there’s any way we get close to handling it without them.

For me, that means I’m gonna continue to spend my time and effort supporting those places because I believe they offer the best hope to make the biggest and most effective positive impact on the largest number of people. Others have a different view and believe they can be more effective through supporting smaller programs or doing things individually.

Personally, I think it’s gonna take a combination of large places, small places, individual trainers, and maybe even some people training their own dogs, just as it does now. And I think there’s a place at the table for everybody, as long as they are up to the standard and make good placements, which is why I harp on that subject so hard.

That’s not a new discussion, it’s been going on for a long time, I’m familiar with it, and I certainly have no problem with respectful disagreements. That’s to be expected – organizations and trainers focus on different areas of need, feel competent in some areas, not competent in others – and there are great places of every kind – big, small, individuals, you name it.

Unfortunately, the pattern has been for that discussion to deteriorate into attacks on the larger organizations. Let me forewarn you – given the track record, I fully expect to see that same thing happen in the veterans area if it hasn’t already, so don’t be surprised when things turn ugly.

You’ll know that’s started when you see certain things. Look for a pattern – the first sign will normally be when you hear someone say something like “the big guys suck, I know better than they do, and I can do a better job training a dog”. As the discussion goes on, I’m willing to bet that at some point a person making those statements will say that either they were looking for a dog for themselves and the place couldn’t meet their need, or they were involved with the organization and became disillusioned with it over time.

Nothing wrong with either of those things per se – that stuff happens, and that’s how many great new ideas, products, companies, and organizations have come about in many areas. Where the problem starts is when there are attacks about the competency, motives, and sometimes even the character or integrity of the people working with those organizations.

Me? I don’t have time for any of that stuff. I’m focused on getting more top-notch dogs placed with all these young veterans who’ve done so much for all of us, and anything that doesn’t further that goal or, even worse, gets in the way of it (and the kinda stuff we’re talking about here definitely falls under that heading), I just don’t have time for.

What I’m looking for is more people to get on the bus with me and make this happen. The numbers here tell me that we have a potentially huge job ahead of us, and that’s where we need to be concentrating our time and effort.