I'm very involved in the assistance dog community, including as a former member of the Veterans Task Force, volunteer, and puppy raiser at a major service dog organization. Retired as a US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant after a 20-year career as an airborne Russian and Vietnamese linguist with my last assignments at the Air Force Academy as Fourth Group Sergeant Major and Dean of Faculty Superintendent. More...
Social Media
The Dog Chief is not on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media sites, so you won't see those icons here. Here's why.
July 14, 2016
10 – VA PTS Service Dog Program Issues, Heeling Autism Update, Everybody’s Got Cute Puppies
Army Veteran Derrick Tillman, VA’s national dog trainer. Photo by Adam Hernandez.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | RSS | More
A lot to cover this week, most of it with an organizational focus and not all fun subjects, but important for you to know.
But not all of it – if you stick with me to the end, there’s a funny story I think you’ll want to hear.
This Week’s Stories / Links
● VA PTS Service Dog Program Issues
“You Can Spend Your Life Arguing About Stuff, Or You Can Get Something Done”
“VA Service Dog Study Members Speak Out for Its Expansion, Advocates say VA bureaucracy holding up the process”
● Heeling Autism Update
https://www.change.org/p/saveheelingautism-a-program-that-pairs-guidingeyes-service-dogs-with-children-with-autism
https://www.guidingeyes.org/29166/statement-from-the-board-of-directors-and-ceo-tom-panek/
#SaveHeelingAutism
● Everybody’s Got Cute Puppies
http://www.albrittain.com/service-dogs/everybodys-got-cute-puppies/
● Service Dog / Therapy Dog / ESA Comparison Chart
https://www.facebook.com/CanineCompanionsNOC/photos/a.223337114543072.1073741828.223086517901465/492860697590711/
http://www.albrittain.com/podcast/podcast-episode-5-all-people-see-is-a-d-o-g/
http://www.albrittain.com/service-dogs/emotional-support-animal-service-dog-all-the-public-sees-is-a-dog/
● American Humane Association “Wags4Patriots™ Guide to Getting a PTS Service Dog”
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-humane-schultz-family-foundation-and-ncr-foundation-create-guide-that-helps-veterans-in-need-obtain-service-dogs-300294652.html
http://site.americanhumane.org/assets/Wags4Patriots-guide-to-getting-a-PTS-service-dog.pdf
http://www.americanhumane.org/interaction/programs/military/wags4patriots.html
● New VA Veteran Suicide Study
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2016/07/07/va-suicide-20-daily-research/86788332/
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2801
http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/Suicide_Prevention_FactSheet_New_VA_Stats_070616_1400.pdf
● Early Times / K9s for Warriors – Reinforcements Video
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160706006304/en/Early-Times%C2%AE-Kentucky-Whisky-Raises-Awareness-Support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOZMmwT1g5Y
https://www.facebook.com/EarlyTimesWhisky/videos/10153781249152992/