Wounded Warrior

Apr 27, 2009

If You Want More Service Dogs For Veterans, First You Have To Get More Veterans Who Want Service Dogs

Al , , , Service Dogs

“I didn’t think I needed an assistance dog. Then I saw them in action, helping other people with disabilities… Having a CCI assistance dog has really changed my life.” - Jeffrey Adams

Most of the discussion I see about getting service dogs for disabled veterans is completely backwards – people keep talking about getting more service dogs when what we need to be talking about is getting more disabled veterans who want service dogs.

The simple fact is not enough disabled veterans, especially OEF/OIF vets, are asking for service dogs … Read More

Apr 18, 2009

Why The VA Has Provided No Money For Service Dogs – In Their Own Words

Al , , , , Service Dogs

I saw yet another upset comment this morning about “Why doesn’t the VA pay for service dogs?”, so I thought this would be a good time to outline the concise history of their position, especially since I don’t believe it can be found all in one place anywhere.  The subject comes up all the time and if you have an interest in this area, you definitely need to know the background so you can have an intelligent discussion and come to an informed opinion.

First, you need to know that … Read More

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 8, 2009

Tough Questions You Need To Ask About Every Service Dog Organization

Al , , , , , Service Dogs

Last time I talked about how you can’t know if a dog is really a service dog, and ended up promising I’d tell you how you can have a huge impact on the overall quality of service dog placements, and why it’s absolutely critical that you do. (I’ll forewarn you that this is a longer post than I like to write, but it’s that important.)

Lemme get right to the heart of things and tell you first why it’s so critical.  Some people, including me, fear that there’s a … Read More

Apr 5, 2009

Service Dogs, Veterans, And PTSD

Al , , , , Service Dogs

I’ve been wanting to say something about this subject for some time, but I’ve been wrestling with just what to say because I want to add something helpful and not just more fuel for all the arguments about what is a controversial subject.  So, I think the best thing to do is just tell you my approach and how I got there.

Probably no topic generates more heat in the assistance dog world than just what is and what isn’t a real service dog.  Once you get past the subject … Read More

Apr 3, 2009

Air Force Amputee Reenlists

Al , , Veterans

TSgt Christopher Frost, an EOD guy who lost his right leg to an IED in Iraq, recentIy reenlisted:

Air Force amputee reenlists

Whole story is here:  “Don’t Call Him a Hero”.

The hard part for me is there are so many of these tremendous young wounded warriors who’ve given so much that I could never talk about them all or say enough.  I still come into contact with a lot of young active duty military people, especially Army troops at Fort Carson, many of whom know I’m an old retired guy and will … Read More

Mar 27, 2009

New Red Cross Therapy Dog Program at Fort Carson, Colorado

Al , , Therapy Dogs

Nice article in today’s Fort Carson Mountaineer newspaper about the newly established Red Cross therapy dog program at Evans Army Community Hospital. Of course, I’m a little biased because that’s our wonderful dog, Zephan, in the picture:

Red Cross Therapy Dog at Fort Carson Colorado

There’s no direct link to the article – you have to get the complete newspaper pdf and then look on page 21. One caveat: “service dog” wasn’t used accurately in the article – they should’ve just been described as therapy dogs. Nothing sinister there, just an honest mistake somewhere along the way in … 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

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