Service Dogs for Active Duty Military?
Under a proposed pilot project, House Armed Services Committee member Congressman Walter B. Jones (R, NC) is pushing the Defense Department to provide service dogs to service members injured in the line of duty.
Certain injured service members with limited mobility would benefit from these extraordinary animals while they remain on active duty. He is proposing a two-year pilot program to test the concept.
What do you think?
Some background on dogs in the military:
There are already a few dogs who have been deployed to Iraq as therapy dogs:
Says Major Stacie Caswell, commander of the 85th Medical Detachment, “Dogs have been the unsung heroes of our war efforts. Bringing therapy dogs into Iraq will take dogs to the next level on the battlefield. The therapy dogs will be another method that our Combat Stress teams can use to break down mental health stigma and assist soldiers.”
You can read this entire story at http://www.vetdogs.org/.
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I think this is great. Dogs have always had a place in the military. This would be yet one more good use and would serve to keep trained and dedicated people in the military in a productive capacity. This sounds like a win win idea.
I returned from my third tour in Iraq with PTSD. I worked, slept, went on missions and was under fire several times- but I am not a VET- I am a DA civilian. When I returned I found that medication helped but only so far. I purchased a “PTSD Service Dog”. Since I got Leila (Service Dog)- I am begining to feel like I have my independence and my life back. During the weekends and eveinging Leila are never apart. I have requested permission from my employer US Army Coprs of Engineers for permission to have Leila be with at work. I am hoping that with your article on “Service Dogs” my dog will be allowed to be with me. Thank you VERY MUCH