Disabled Veterans

Apr 14, 2009

“I Don’t Want To Take Someone Else’s Dog.”

Al , , , Service Dogs

Something CCI has heard more than once from potential candidates for a service dog, especially younger veterans, is “I don’t wanna take somebody else’s dog.”  Meaning, they think there’s somebody with a more severe need than they have, and they don’t want to take a dog that would be going to that person.

Can’t happen.  Lemme say that again – can’t happen.

In fact, not only is it not possible, the exact opposite might be true – they might actually provide an opportunity for a dog to be placed … Read More

Apr 10, 2009

“Writing A Prescription For A Pet Does Not Transform Fluffy Or Fido Into A Service Animal.”

Al , , , Service Dogs

Amen.

I saw this quoted in a response by someone to an earlier letter in a small newspaper in Northern California today (“Will the real assistance animal please stand up?”).  The response then goes on to talk about how dogs have to be trained for specific tasks to be considered service dogs.

Of course, I don’t disagree with that at all – I would just add that, while there’s no question those tasks are a critical element, a successful service dog placement goes way beyond that. You want … Read More

Apr 7, 2009

How Do I Know If That’s Really A Service Dog?

Al , Service Dogs

Simple – you don’t. And you probably never will.

Lotta things I could show you, but here’s a direct quote from the Department of Justice’s proposed changes to 28 CFR 36, “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities”, the part of the ADA that addresses service animals:

Proposed training standards.

The Department has always required that service animals be individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, but has never imposed any type of formal

… Read More

Mar 20, 2009

How to Find the Best Service Dogs for Disabled Veterans

Al , , Service Dogs

I get asked all the time whether a specific service dog organization is good or what service dog organizations I’d recommend, particularly when talking about service dogs for disabled veterans.

It’s a great question because there are so many places out there saying they provide service dogs  for veterans, people really want to help, and potential candidates for assistance dogs want to know where to apply, but it’s confusing.  How can you know which ones are the best and which are the ones to avoid (and, make no mistake, there … Read More

Mar 18, 2009

Wounded Warriors to Climb Mt Rainier

Al , Veterans

Camp Patriot is an organization whose stated mission is “to take combat injured veterans into the outdoors for life changing adventures”.

Something they’ve done for the last coupla years is a climb up Mount Rainier with a number of wounded warriors and others.  I first heard about it from one of the “others” who made the climb last year – Lt Col Robb Erickson, DO at the 114th Fighter Squadron of the Oregon Air National Guard in Klamath Falls.  Robb is an F-15 instructor pilot, was the fall semester 1991 … Read More

1 2 3 4 5 6