Posted on Jan 5, 2016
VA PTSD facility turns away veteran's service dog
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Former Army Spc. Kermit Scott was counting the days until Nov. 19, when he was to be admitted to a 30-day inpatient program run by the Veterans Affairs Department in Washington state.
Scott has experienced PTSD symptoms such as nightmares, social anxiety and anger since at least 2011 and felt the program, at the VA's American Lake facility near Seattle, carried the promise of "being like normal."
"I have friends who went through the program and it benefited them to the point where they could go out in public," the veteran said.
But 13 days short of leaving for the program, Scott received a phone call from American Lake saying his service dog, Cooper, was not invited to come along.
Scott has experienced PTSD symptoms such as nightmares, social anxiety and anger since at least 2011 and felt the program, at the VA's American Lake facility near Seattle, carried the promise of "being like normal."
"I have friends who went through the program and it benefited them to the point where they could go out in public," the veteran said.
But 13 days short of leaving for the program, Scott received a phone call from American Lake saying his service dog, Cooper, was not invited to come along.
VA PTSD facility turns away veteran's service dog
Posted from militarytimes.com
Service Dogs
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
PTSD
What Would You Do
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 9
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Another Forrest Gump moment for the VA Stupid is as stupid does. Why is there no one with common sense in these organizations? This is a no brainer, why don't we have a Veterans Council at each VA facility, to bring these problems up and fix them, sort of like a Community Police Councils. Let the Vets police the vets instead of bureaucrats!
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CW2 Ernest Krutzsch
I was thinking more of a commissioned council, where weekly people with frustrations could present their case, and have other vets decide, not the hospital administrators
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs, my mother lives in a high level assisted living facility. They welcome guests and visitors bringing their pets, recognizing the therapeutic value derived from association with animals.
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PFC David Ryba
Remember, Steve, we have not heard the VA's reason for this action. I'm a firm believer in getting ALL the facts before rushing to judgement.
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LTC Stephen C.
A good recommendation in any situation, PFC David Ryba, but I made no rushed comment judging the VA decision one way or the other. All I said was that animals were welcomed at my mother's assisted living facility as that facility recognized their therapeutic value.
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