AMVETS LETTER TO N.Y. TIMES: HIGHLY-TRAINED ASSISTANCE DOGS MUST BENEFIT FULL SCOPE OF WOUNDED WARRIORS

The following letter by AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof was sent to New York Times last week in response to a story on assistance dogs for veterans suffering from combat-related mental health issues. This week, Roof will once again be on Capitol Hill alongside AMVET Luis Montalvan and his assistance dog, Tuesday, discussing the issue with Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.), two legislators who have offered critical voices on veterans’ issues.

“On Friday, April 2, the New York Times discussed the benefits of assistance animals for veterans suffering from PTSD. While veterans suffering mental wounds clearly benefit from service dogs or companion dogs adopted on their own, this is only half of the story.

“While the Times reported that many of today’s veterans receiving newly-trained service dogs were diagnosed with PTSD, the story failed to point out that many of those veterans who have received dogs from agencies accredited by Assistance Dogs International, or ADI, also suffer from physical injuries or traumatic brain injuries, affecting the veteran’s ability to complete everyday tasks without assistance.

“Assistance dogs are remarkable animals, highly trained in helping veterans regain their independence, which is why the full scope of benefits offered by assistance dogs can only be realized by looking into the physical benefits for veterans.

“Sen. Al Franken’s bill calling for a federal study into the benefits of assistance dogs is a monumental first step in realizing the benefits of these tremendous animals. However, it is not the only step that is needed.

“Today, neither VA nor any other federal agency provides or trains assistance dogs for wounded veterans. The federal government partners with ADI and the National Guide Dog Foundation through a referral system, should a medical professional believe that a veteran will benefit from use of a service dog into his or her overall treatment plan. While guide dogs for visually impaired veterans are considered a prosthetic by VA, entitling the veteran to certain cost reimbursements affecting the dog’s ability to function as a prosthetic device, the federal government neither provides nor advocates for the use of service dogs, even though certain entitlements are spelled out in veterans’ benefits public law—specifically section 1714 of Title 38, U.S. Code.

“Recently, AMVETS and our partner non-profit Paws With A Cause visited legislators on Capitol Hill in an effort to sustain Franken’s momentum. Accompanied by two of our member-veterans and their assistance dogs, AMVETS and Paws managed to stir interest in the issue beyond the scope of mental health and demonstrated the potential benefit for VA to properly implement a responsible assistance dog program which includes clearly-defined qualifications for eligible veterans in accordance with long-established assistance dog industry standards.

“Unfortunately, in the Times piece, Joan Esnayra’s assertions on assistance dogs missed a critical point. Assistance dogs should not be a reflection of a veterans’ emotional state, as Esnayra suggested, but rather a complimentary sensory aide that can recognize physical and emotional distress, helping the veteran to remedy the immediate situation.

“Finally, we must remember that not every veteran diagnosed with PTSD needs a professionally-trained service dog to reap the emotional and psychological benefits associated with our canine companions. Many dogs are readily adoptable at any local animal shelter and you just might be surprised what they can do too. Let’s stay focused on the mission at hand: Educating VA and the public on all viable treatment options for today’s wounded warriors, including assistance dogs.”

Christina Roof is the national deputy legislative director for AMVETS, advocating on behalf of veterans on Capitol Hill in Washington.