Spinal Cord Injuries Are Rising Sharply Among Troops In Afghanistan
Recent short article from the Nov 4th USA Today (“Spinal injuries up among troops”) didn’t get much public notice, but it sure got my attention.
Turns out that, contrary to everything we’ve been hearing for some time about how spinal cord injuries are way down in Iraq, those injuries are actually way UP in Afghanistan.
And that [...]
Fighting Hard To Stay Positive
I hafta tell you I’m really having a hard time staying positive lately, to the point of sometimes thinking about bagging my whole involvement with service dogs, especially getting them to veterans.
Almost every day I see questionable things from supposedly responsible organizations and people in the service dog world, particularly where veterans are involved. Like [...]
Every Veteran With A Disability Doesn’t Need A Service Dog, And This Is A Great Alternative
Just read about this great program for veterans recovering at Walter Reed that teaches them to train dogs at the Washington Humane Society. I’ve heard of other programs like this before, but not this specific one, and I think they’re tremendous. Note particularly what the people involved say about the program:
Army Capt. Lawrence Minnis sits [...]
Why Haven’t We Heard More About This Well-Known Veteran’s Service Dog Discrimination Case?
Haven’t had a lot to say lately, largely because I haven’t seen a lotta good things to write about, or even bad things that have enough substance to make them worth commenting on.
There is one story, though, that, while not a good one, definitely got my attention and I wanna talk about because no one [...]
Wounded Warrior Receives Canine Companions Service Dog Raised in Prison Program
That’s what the headline and angle for this story could’ve actually been (or something like it) if someone wanted to write it that way.
The story I’m referring to is this article from The Oregonian a few days ago about Canine Companions for Independence puppies being raised at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility for women in [...]
Finally, The Real Story About The VA And Service Dogs For Veterans
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 [...]
“Franken – Isakson Service Dogs For Veterans Act” Introduced
The much discussed bill sponsored by Sen Al Franken, D-MN, was introduced on the floor of the US Senate today.
The actual bill is not online yet, but here’s the press release in its entirety for your review.
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Senators Franken and Isakson Introduce the Service Dogs For Veterans Act
Sen. Franken’s First Piece of Legislation Will Help Wounded [...]
Why You Don’t See Me Writing About Some Very Popular “Service Dogs For Veterans” Stories
If you ever see a service dog story, especially if it involves a wounded warrior or veteran with a disability, where everybody BUT me seems to be talking about it, chances are pretty good this is why – I wrote this post a little over three months ago, and it all still applies:
“Service Dogs, Veterans, [...]
Fort Carson Red Cross Station Manager Strongly Supports Wounded Warriors
Very nice article in the Fort Carson, Colorado Mountaineer newspaper today about my friend Susanne Harlandt, the American Red Cross Station Manager there.
Susanne Harlandt, Fort Carson Red Cross station manager, speaks with Sgt. Eddie Doyle, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
It’s a very personal interview where Susanne really lays [...]
How To Be Smarter Than Celebrities Are About Service Dog Programs
Based on some of the things I’ve been reading online and seeing on TV today, looks like it’s a really good time to say this yet again:
I don’t care if you “heard about it on Oprah”, or you read about it here on my blog, or a well-known veterans organization is associated with it, or [...]
