topic Re: Service Dogs For Vets in Community Chat

Service Dogs For Vets

Noel7 — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:10:45 GMT

I watched a wonderful PBS documentary the other night about saving dogs from shelters and turning them into incredible service dogs for the disabled and for veterans.

An online group, K9s For Warriors reports that every 65 minutes a veteran commits suicide. Many suffer from head injuries and PTSD but many lives are being saved when they are matched with a service dog. The dogs are able to do amazing things, including butting themselves between their vet and someone else if there is trouble or an anger flash. The dogs are able to read human emotions.

The shelter dogs are also trained to aid physically disabled vets and non-vets. From turning on lights, opening drawers and cupboards to barking for help if needed.

They wear an identifying jacket on their back and accompany their people everywhere.

They are saving lives.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

QueenDanceALot — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:26:59 GMT

I've seen stories about K9s for Warriors.

Wonderful organization.

God Bless Them and the Vets and their Dogs.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

Noel7 — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:46:29 GMT

@QueenDanceALot

The dogs in the PBS documentary were rescue shelter dogs. The service men interviewed said they felt a bond with the dogs right away because no one wanted those dogs and no one wanted the vet.

It was hard to watch, I cried through a lot of it.

The trainers were volunteer women in prison, some lifers. Most had spent years training dogs in prison and living with them in their cell. They said it gave their life meaning.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

MickD — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:48:59 GMT

I must be in a fugue state right now....where did the posts go.....medic!

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

MickD — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:51:22 GMT

Oops....wrong thread.....I'm okay.....this iPad ......gurrr

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

Noel7 — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:51:55 GMT

Hi @MickD

This is a separate line from the complaint about dogs in grocery stores.

I thought about putting this up the other day, imo service dogs for vets and disabled others is a miracle that can happen and save lives.

I've been interested in the subject for years.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

QueenDanceALot — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:53:19 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
@QueenDanceALot

The dogs in the PBS documentary were rescue shelter dogs. The service men interviewed said they felt a bond with the dogs right away because no one wanted those dogs and no one wanted the vet.

It was hard to watch, I cried through a lot of it.

The trainers were volunteer women in prison, some lifers. Most had spent years training dogs in prison and living with them in their cell. They said it gave their life meaning.

Oh, Noel, I would have cried through it, too.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

RedTop — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:03:12 GMT

I see service dogs with several veterans at our local VA clinic. The last time my husband was in radiology for testing, a veteran came in with the largest, and most beautiful service dog I have ever seen. That dog was the size of a Shetland pony. Most of the service dogs I've seen with veterans in the past, are labs, German Shepherds, and retrievers, but I was pretty sure this dog was a Great Pyrenees. I wanted to pet that dog so bad! The dog was so focused on his owner and following commands, he/she acted like no one else was in that waiting area.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

Noel7 — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:11:20 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
I see service dogs with several veterans at our local VA clinic. The last time my husband was in radiology for testing, a veteran came in with the largest, and most beautiful service dog I have ever seen. That dog was the size of a Shetland pony. Most of the service dogs I've seen with veterans in the past, are labs, German Shepherds, and retrievers, but I was pretty sure this dog was a Great Pyrenees. I wanted to pet that dog so bad! The dog was so focused on his owner and following commands, he/she acted like no one else was in that waiting area.

*********************************

@RedTop

That's a wonderful story! I know one Great Pyrenees, they are truly a marvelous and beautiful dog.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

momtochloe — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:19:36 GMT

I am a huge fan of Service Dog Project which raises Great Danes to help those with mobility issues. They do a lot of work with veterans both with providing help for those that are physically challenged but also for those that may need some emotional support.

They have 24/7 cameras set up that you can watch their dogs throughout their day from work to play on their 6 or 7 (I've lost track) cameras: They just had a litter of puppies a few weeks ago:

http://explore.org/live-cams/player/great-dane-service-puppies-indoor-puppy-room

God bless these groups that help our vets!

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

drizzellla — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:19:41 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
I see service dogs with several veterans at our local VA clinic. The last time my husband was in radiology for testing, a veteran came in with the largest, and most beautiful service dog I have ever seen. That dog was the size of a Shetland pony. Most of the service dogs I've seen with veterans in the past, are labs, German Shepherds, and retrievers, but I was pretty sure this dog was a Great Pyrenees. I wanted to pet that dog so bad! The dog was so focused on his owner and following commands, he/she acted like no one else was in that waiting area.

It is amazing to watch the service dogs. And yes the dogs are following the clues of their owner. No one else.

It is so sad about all the suicides. And sadder still that it still takes such a long time for Vets to get appointments and treatment. My brother goes to a wonderful VA Hospital but he still has to wait for over a month for an appointment. .

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

Noel7 — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:28:32 GMT

Thank you for the information and link @momtochloe

I know some service dogs are trained to pull a person in a wheelchair. Amazing strength!

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

momtochloe — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:35:36 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
Thank you for the information and link @momtochloe

I know some service dogs are trained to pull a person in a wheelchair. Amazing strength!

Thanks @Noel7 they are just a wonderful organization. Because of the size of Great Danes, they are great for helping larger people as you can use them as a "brace" should you lose your balance (they are trained to "brace" if their human has lost their balance and understand how to get them back on their feet).

But they also help those that are smaller that also need a helping hand:

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0LEViuYedBXf.EAo65jmolQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBsa3ZzMnBvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkAw--?p=bella+and+george+abc+news&tnr=21&vid=426a5d2b498f5d1d1b2ec6b0b41c108d&l=79&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOVP.V8f4038a9a0f33963a761c1b17493da99%26pid%3D15.1&sigi=12bqtd6ff&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FWNT%2Fvideo%2Fyoung-girls-special-bond-service-dog-george-36089769&sigr=12ks6kt6i&tt=b&******=Young+Girl%26%2339%3Bs+Special+Bond+With+Her+Service+Dog+George&sigt=11potdnrf&back=http%3A%2F%2Fus.yhs4.search.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dbella%2Band%2Bgeorge%2Babc%2Bnews%26fr%3Dgoodsearch-yhsif%26param1%3D944497864%26ei%3DUTF-8&sigb=13kft55uk

I'm not sure if this is included in this clip but George was named Service Dog of the Year last year . . .

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

Noel7 — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:45:06 GMT

What a wonderful video @momtochloe I love it

I hope others watch it, too.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

momtochloe — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:00:54 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
What a wonderful video @momtochloe I love it

I hope others watch it, too.

Thanks so much @Noel7! Bella had been a volunteer at SDP for a while and most of their dogs didn't pay her much attention until George found her (please know at SDP the dog picks their human . . . ). They decided to see if George would be a good match for Bella and God bless and clearly he was! He has given this little, incredibly fabulous girl her mobility back and she more than deserves it as she has worked very hard for it.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

Kachina624 — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:01:53 GMT

It's strange...the organizations that raise guide dogs for the blind spend years selectively breeding their dogs to get just the right service dog temperament. Many are rejected. The training for both dog and it's user is rigorous and long term.

Yet these organizations claim they walk into a shelter, pick a dog and make it a "service dog". I'd say what the vets are getting is an obedience trained, well-behaved companion. That's not necessarily a bad thing if it fulfills their needs but calling them "service dogs" does a disservice to the exquisitely trained animals that serve those with severe physical handicaps like blindness.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

momtochloe — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:10:17 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
It's strange...the organizations that raise guide dogs for the blind spend years selectively breeding their dogs to get just the right service dog temperament. Many are rejected. The training for both dog and it's user is rigorous and long term.

Yet these organizations claim they walk into a shelter, pick a dog and make it a "service dog". I'd say what the vets are getting is an obedience trained, well-behaved companion. That's not necessarily a bad thing if it fulfills their needs but calling them "service dogs" does a disservice to the exquisitely trained animals that serve those with severe physical handicaps like blindness.

@Kachina624 I smell what you're cooking but I think a Service Dog can be found among dogs that may have not been necessarily bred for it.

As you can see, I am a big supporter of SDP but even they have dogs that are deemed not good matches for their main purpose which is physically supporting a human throughout their day. With those that may not be suited they are either adopted out to friends and volunteers but sometimes there are those that help vets with PTSD.

For me, I think it takes a keen eye and great trainers to find and then train those dogs to help with a specific, given purpose. Often shelter dogs are so thrilled to have a human they are more than willing to help wherever they can with proper training.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

Noel7 — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:15:52 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
It's strange...the organizations that raise guide dogs for the blind spend years selectively breeding their dogs to get just the right service dog temperament. Many are rejected. The training for both dog and it's user is rigorous and long term.

Yet these organizations claim they walk into a shelter, pick a dog and make it a "service dog". I'd say what the vets are getting is an obedience trained, well-behaved companion. That's not necessarily a bad thing if it fulfills their needs but calling them "service dogs" does a disservice to the exquisitely trained animals that serve those with severe physical handicaps like blindness.

******************************

@Kachina624

They are not merely calling them a service dog, they are a service dog. They are trained day and night for ten months and must pass numerous tests and learned commands.

You might want to watch the documentary on PBS if you see it on your channel.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

butterfly123 — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 00:32:44 GMT

@Noel7

I re-read the posts and I was wondering what the title of the documentary is?

Thank you, and @momtochloe for posting this information.

I knew about the rescue/shelter dog program and I would like to watch the documentary.

Thank you both!

The survice dogs are saving lives for the people who help keep us safe and alive.

Very inspiring.

Re: Service Dogs For Vets

Lila Belle — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 01:27:04 GMT

I've seen these dogs in action and they've been a blessing for our walking wounded.

I've nothing but XOXO.