Comments on: Why The VA Has Provided No Money For Service Dogs – In Their Own Words http://www.albrittain.com/service-dogs/why-the-va-has-provided-no-money-for-service-dogs-in-their-own-words/ Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:56:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Carol F. King http://www.albrittain.com/service-dogs/why-the-va-has-provided-no-money-for-service-dogs-in-their-own-words/comment-page-1/#comment-554 Carol F. King Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:11:13 +0000 http://www.albrittain.com/?p=645#comment-554 He certainly has done a poor job of information research on Service Dogs. I am not a dog trainer, however I've been in the Mainstream Assistance Dog World as a consumer and on the Board of Directors of the Internation Association of Assistance Dogs (IAADP)for 6 years. I am an Advocate for people with disabilities who use Assistance Dogs, I qualify as a Court Expert Witness on Federal Assistance Dog laws, and CA State Laws. I have an idea for a plan based on the Prisoner Training Model, where VA Patients at each VA medical center with a Professional Trainer could place a screened and selected dog with each Patient wanting an Assistance Dog, in groups of 10 Patient/Dog Teams the Professional Trainer could several times a week work with all Patient/Dog teams. Training the Patients to train their own Assistance Dog complete with the specific tasks that Patient needs from the dog. The problem with going to not-for-profit organizations as to a Military "in house training program" is the 2-7 year waiting list. To get dogs for the Veterans non-profit organizations can't just drop their civilian 2-7 year waiting list, to supply dogs for Veterans. However the Military can do it in house, at a very reasonable cost, and supply Assistance Dogs much faster than the Traditional way. This would include PTSD Service Dogs. It can be done. He certainly has done a poor job of information research on Service Dogs. I am not a dog trainer, however I’ve been in the Mainstream Assistance Dog World as a consumer and on the Board of Directors of the Internation Association of Assistance Dogs (IAADP)for 6 years. I am an Advocate for people with disabilities who use Assistance Dogs, I qualify as a Court Expert Witness on Federal Assistance Dog laws, and CA State Laws.

I have an idea for a plan based on the Prisoner Training Model, where VA Patients at each VA medical center with a Professional Trainer could place a screened and selected dog with each Patient wanting an Assistance Dog, in groups of 10 Patient/Dog Teams the Professional Trainer could several times a week work with all Patient/Dog teams. Training the Patients to train their own Assistance Dog complete with the specific tasks that Patient needs from the dog.
The problem with going to not-for-profit organizations as to a Military “in house training program” is the 2-7 year waiting list. To get dogs for the Veterans non-profit organizations can’t just drop their civilian 2-7 year waiting list, to supply dogs for Veterans. However the Military can do it in house, at a very reasonable cost, and supply Assistance Dogs much faster than the Traditional way. This would include PTSD Service Dogs. It can be done.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.albrittain.com/service-dogs/why-the-va-has-provided-no-money-for-service-dogs-in-their-own-words/comment-page-1/#comment-551 Jeff Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:24:31 +0000 http://www.albrittain.com/?p=645#comment-551 From my 22 yrs of service...I understand perfectly that the taxpayer and the VA have the right and responsibility to ensure our vets are getting quality help from good quality dogs, and the way to do this is establish standards of training and certification for these dogs. That said...I find no reasonable explanation as to why this process has taken so long. Those involved with this evaluation should be fired and replaced by professionals who are qualified to establish standards and procedures for vetting service dogs. This process should not take more than a year...period. From my 22 yrs of service…I understand perfectly that the taxpayer and the VA have the right and responsibility to ensure our vets are getting quality help from good quality dogs, and the way to do this is establish standards of training and certification for these dogs.

That said…I find no reasonable explanation as to why this process has taken so long. Those involved with this evaluation should be fired and replaced by professionals who are qualified to establish standards and procedures for vetting service dogs. This process should not take more than a year…period.

]]> By: Deborah http://www.albrittain.com/service-dogs/why-the-va-has-provided-no-money-for-service-dogs-in-their-own-words/comment-page-1/#comment-482 Deborah Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:26:31 +0000 http://www.albrittain.com/?p=645#comment-482 Well, after serving 22 years in the military and seeing/hearing double talk, this does not surprise me. Our soldiers are the most important people there are, and the Government needs to get off their ars and do something aside from doing surveys and SAY we are making rules and regulations. Stop spending this money on you and put it where it is needed! If one of their children needed the dog, believe me they would break all the rules to get one. TAKE CARE OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR SOLDIERS Well, after serving 22 years in the military and seeing/hearing double talk, this does not surprise me. Our soldiers are the most important people there are, and the Government needs to get off their ars and do something aside from doing surveys and SAY we are making rules and regulations. Stop spending this money on you and put it where it is needed! If one of their children needed the dog, believe me they would break all the rules to get one. TAKE CARE OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR SOLDIERS

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