What is your opinion about Service Dogs used to help a Veteran through his/her personal battle with Combat PTSD?
PTSD
My wife has one, and it makes a huge difference in being able to go out in public, reducing medication, etc. Unfortunately, the waiting list for one is roughly two years, and the VA does not officially recognize service dogs as a treatment option.
A properly trained one can make a huge difference, but someone who "vests" their pet does more damage to those who need them to function. There is no national certification for service dogs, and access challenges by business owners because of previous experience with "vesters" can make going in public additionally difficult. There is a huge difference legally between a "service dog" and an "emotional support animal," bot in training and coverage by the Americans With Disabilities Act.
There is a distinction and that is that the ESA cannot go everywhere with you. They are however covered by the ADA as far as residency is concerned. If that pet is not an unreasonable request to have then it has rights. The other side of that is property owners could assert there is another reason why they won't rent to you.
I actually went through this. As long as you have a letter from your doctor, which I do have.
PTSD and mild TBI personal experience, I have noticed both my dog Max and Calico cat Daisy act strange 30 minutes before I have dizzy attacks or blurred visions, or falling attacks, they both bring toys or jump on me. I asked the website above to explain that behavior and was told that both animals are able to sense (smell) the slight chemical changes that my body goes through before an attack hits me. Max and Daisy are trying to teach me to trust them!
TADSAW - Train a Dog Save a Warrior
The Mission of TADSAW (Train a Dog Save a Warrior) is to provide for the training of a Medical Alert Service dog, as designated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, for any wounded warrior, active duty or veteran, surviving with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Dogs that are used to help Soldiers through PTSD are defined as "Comfort Dogs" or other similar terms, but not "Service Dogs".
You wouldn't think that it is that big of a deal, but the military doesn't actually recognize "Comfort Dogs" officially. They are usually "recommended" by behavior health to help Soldiers.
There are no entitlements or privileges associated with a Soldier who has a "Comfort Dog".
Just had a situation recently where a Soldier showed up with what he said was a "Service Dog", but it was actually a "Comfort Dog".
He was single and not authorized to live off post based on grade and housing occupancy numbers. So, another family in the Bn is "babysitting" his dog for him.
Since the military doesn't "profile" or issue/authorize "Comfort Dogs", HRC wouldn't know that they have one and wouldn't know to take that into consideration when they put them on assignment.
It's kind of jacked up. Since everyone agrees that they are beneficial, there should be something through profiling or EFMP to alert HRC to this so that they can take this into consideration when placing these Soldiers on assignment.
I believe this to be a viable and great option for many veterans who survive with PTSD. Many of the VA Behavioral Health treatment professionals support Service Animals for assistance with PTSD. Some do not. There is empirical data in support of this treatment modality.
Thank you for your service and for this post,
SFC Joseph M. Finck SFC USA (Ret)
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