Re:Bad news for vets from Congress

[Ben Ezzell]

I have just contacted my House representative and both Senators from my state -- a task requiring only a few minutes -- to speak to them about the commercialization of Service Dogs (i.e., requiring training by commercial interests only and at great expense).  Remember, even though this specific measure is aimed at veterans -- and even if you feel that you owe nothing to a veteran -- it is a slippery slope to requiring all SD be provided by "accredited" organizations.

To find your House representative, go here: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/  (search by zip code)

To find your Senators, go here: http://www.senate.gov/ (select  your state at upper right)

Following is the text of my message.  Please feel free to adapt any portions you wish or use this as a guide -- if desired -- to write your own message.

Tip: prepare your message using a word processor (any word processor) then simply copy the text and past into the email forms for your House and Senate representatives.  Very fast, very easy ... and very effective.

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USC Title 38 Sec. 901 includes the wording:

"(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.

(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered service dog is a service dog that has been trained by an entity that is by an appropriate accrediting body that evaluates and accredits organizations which train guide or service dogs.'."

Section 2 specifically is a blatant attempt to violate the ADA and to provide an artificial market for commercial service dog trainers. Since obtaining an SD from such organizations generally involves a 3 to 5 year wait period and may cost -- despite subsidies -- $15-20 THOUSAND ... or more, this is blatantly prohibitive and would limit thousands to hundreds of thousands of disabled from having SD to assist them.

By the nature of our conditions, we often can not afford such out-of-pocket expenses and, more relevant, can not afford such wait periods when our alternative is to perform our own training -- often with assistance, granted -- without having to depend on a very limited group of commercial trainers. Please either block this idiocy or, alternatively, provide immediate and adequate funding to ensure that all disabled have immediate access to commercially trained SDs.

Specifically, as a disabled Vet, I'll require a Medic Alert SD ... despite the fact that I have been quite adequately supported by my present SD for the past four years ... and at no expense to the taxpayers!

Incidentally, you might like to refer to http://www.owner-trained-service-dogs.com/ and to http://www.proboneoprogram.com/ for a different view of your constituency.

Thank you,

(your name here)

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[Melanie Sinclair]

Emailed Senators and Congresswoman, give me a week or two and I can do it again in WA!! 8))

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Best,

Melanie Sinclair, M.F.A.
www.melaniesinclair.com