Bark Radio

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),  Federal law, Fort Bliss and Assistance Dogs International make for a crazy mix of information – none of it good news for members of the military who have or need a service dog. First there is the issue of the VA refusing to pay for veterans’ psychiatric service dogs, commonly known as PTSD dogs. For pretty good understanding of this issue, read NBC’s article “VA won’t cover costs of service dogs assigned for PTSD treatment”. Next, Federal law. On August 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law the “Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012”. The two parts of this act referred to in its name are good news for the military and fairly well publicized. However, buried in the 45-page document is this: “SEC. 109. USE OF SERVICE DOGS ON PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.  Section 901 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: H. R. 1627—11. ‘(f)(1) The Secretary may not prohibit the use of a covered service dog in any facility or on any property of the Department or in any facility or on any property that receives funding from the Secretary.’ and ‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered service dog is a service dog that has been trained by an entity that is accredited by an appropriate accrediting body that evaluates and accredits organizations which train guide or service dogs.’’. Next, Fort Bliss. Read the Dog Law Reporter’s post called “Fort Bliss Adopts Draconian Measures to Enforce Army’s Service Dog Policy” to get a good feel for the sheer insanity of the Fort Bliss policy. And finally, Assistance Dogs International. Somewhere along the line, the military decided somebody has to accredit service dogs working alongside military personnel. Because there is no other option, they chose ADI. This episode of Bark Radio is about why that makes no sense. In all this mess there is one truth. The people who lose are those who have given the most: active duty and retired military who need service dogs to enhance the quality of their lives and help them through each and every day.

Dogs for Veterans. Help Terry make his dream come true. That dream is to train rescue dogs to become service dogs – for veterans with PTSD. He has the land. Now he needs the money to put up the buildings. Hear all about it in today’s episode of Bark Radio. We will be doing online fundraising for 36 hours next week. Come out and join us for fundraising events at Daylight Donuts, Quaker Steak and Lube or Richmond Harley Davidson.

September 15th
Richmond Harley Davidson Open House 12:00 – 5:00 PM

September 19th – 20th
The Amazing Raise. If you donate on the Amazing Raise website, we are listed under “ManyPaths Animal Rescue” which is the parent organization of Dogs for Veterans. Below are fundraiser location details or you can participate on-line. Click here to donate in support of Dogs for Veterans in the Amazing Raise!

Wednesday, September 19th

6:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Daylight Donuts, 10260 W. Broad St., Glen Allen, VA 23060

4:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Quaker Steak and Lube, 8000 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23294

Thursday, September 20th

4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Richmond Harley Davidson, 10441 Washington Hwy., Glen Allen, VA 23059
Raffle Prizes, Boka Tako Truck, Mister Softee, and the Slack Family Bluegrass Band!

In the United States, the rights of individuals and their service dogs are provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act via the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Apparently these rights are not made clear to employees of United Airlines. Recently, Jim Stanek and his service dog, Sarge, were accosted by employees of United at DC’s Dulles Airport. Stanek is a veteran. He did three tours in Iraq. He has Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and a Traumatic Brain Injury.  He is the co-founder with his wife, Lindsey, of Paws and Stripes, an organization created to help other veterans with PTSD (with or without Traumatic Brain Injury) partner with their own service dogs. His treatment while traveling back to his home through Dulles was unbelievable and must NEVER happen again to ANYONE traveling with a service dog. Bark Radio co-hosts Terry and Dee recently joined Sue Kindred, president of Service Dog 411, in starting a petition to be delivered to the top guy at United Airlines. Please help us gather 25,000 signatures in protest of this veteran’s treatment by United employees. Sign the petition here. Thank you!