Rejected For Service Animal

[combatgoldfish]

My suggestion is to do some research and maybe even do a search on the Dysfunctional Veteran's page on Facebook, they've had A LOT of questions about service dogs, training, locations, etc and branch out to a place that's more local to you. Where there's a will there's a way.

As Grizzly said patience and I would also add consistency and communication. My patience I will be the first to admit is f*cking horrible. My biggest issue have been communication, I don't like to talk, even to the damn dog. So, most of the training phase has been training myself and the dog picks up shit along the way.

FYI: Document all the hours spent training with the trainer(s) and you training the dog, also passing the good canine citizen as well as public access will all be beneficial if anything ever happens or someone attempts to call you out. For those who have to lease/rent, get a doctor's note from the VA doctor's to make the dog an ESA so that way you get around things such as pet rent and having a dog in a place your residence.

I got lucky. I ended up joining a local veteran's non profit group out of Oregon. One of the tasks we put forth was creating a service dog program. We work with a breeder out of California who is also a Veteran. So far we've matched up 8 veteran's with dogs from the breeder and three others including myself brought in our own dogs.

Also, to my knowledge, the VA stance has changed on service animals: http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/223...s-va-policy-on-service-dogs-at-va-facilities/

 

[Grizzly]

Good read on the new regs for VA @combatgoldfish[/USE

R]. Thanks for posting that link.

As [USER=603]@combatgoldfish stated "consistency and communication" are paramount. I too have a short fuse. But my exp. with SAR dogs helped out.

The steps combatgoldfish pointed out on the Canine Good Citizen and Public access will be needed. It also covers your ass.

My employer asked me for these as well as I provide the dog's training hours log.

It isn't easy, but it was a rewarding experience and still is. Training never stops, and gets me out of the house more.

After reading the latest blog information, it still looks like the VA will not recognize ESA's. But so long as the dog is "task trained" that should get you recognized.[/USER]

 

[Ace]

Very good information here and much appreciated. I wouldn't think a ESA would work for me anyways, I was trying for just the ADI alone and thanks to @combatgoldfish I can open my horizons up on where to look.

 

[BX_JarHed]

As of recently the VA has done a bit of research on the efficacy of PTSD Service Dogs, I am working with America's Vetdogs in Smithtown, NY (Long Island, NY) to hopefully be paired with a service dog they are working with some university on the study for the VA and so on and so forth. hopefully this helps some, i'm still getting my paperwork together. i will definitely post a reply once ive completed the paperwork

 

[Deleted member 33437]

forgive my paranoid side of telling where I am online. Mainly reason I need service animal is for nightmares wake me from them, keep people away from me or coming up behind me, help with my rage/ anxiety especially when in public and driving, help with my depression to get me out the house, help me remember take my meds and other things in that matter, help me get a sense of purpose again in life such as when down and out get moving again, help me get out the house,

Going through my second application as I got rejected on the first one, I have two dogs already. This time around, we are gonna look if we can do something with my younger one, he's 3 this year and he's a small mutt so the odds are I still have a good 12-15yrs left with him.
My reason are almost identical to yours, I'm no social butterfly and when I am in public or social environment, I freeze, I'm quiet and I'm the one you find in some corner minding my own damn business. I need a dog that can help me engage with folks while in a calmer demeanour.
My referral is being being filled as we speak by my shrink, the catch 22 for me is I cannot have one officially while in uniform. But nobody is stating that I cannot train a service dog, get where I'm going with this? He's already mine so it would be unofficially until he get his full SD certification. Anyway that's the attack plan we're going with for now, it might change, they might say my mutt is no good as a SD... who knows, I have enough to worry right now that the SD application is the least on my plate.
What's your status on one right now? Still going for one?
MTF

 

[Iceman]

i should think about looking into this. I'm the same way

My reason are almost identical to yours, I'm no social butterfly and when I am in public or social environment, I freeze, I'm quiet and I'm the one you find in some corner minding my own damn business.

only issue, is i am a cat person... wish you could easily train a cat to go out in public... mine already taps me on the leg, shoulder head etc, if i am zoning out at home