Assistance Dogs for invisible disabilities

Hi John, there are several assistance dog training organisations that train assistance dogs for people with invisible disabilities. I'm not sure what kind of issues you're having with applying for one of these dogs, but several organisations train and provide them, and the law provides public access rights to people with these assistance dogs. If you go to the 'Extra' link there are links to such organisations.

Veterans can receive service vets

This is a wonderful segment and I am pleased to know congress has passed a bill. However, Veterans themselves can and do get service dogs for PTSD, MST and other disabilities. It takes some work on the part of the Veteran but it can be done. I personally know of two people who suffer from PTSD who have service dogs. I too suffer from these internal injuries and have two dogs of my own that are the reason I stay connected and sought help for myself. The research and proof is out there go get one!

NO DOGS for invisible disabilities

Post Traumatic Stress (which I suffer from) is a hugely misunderstood condition, as are many invisible illnesses such as depression. There is no recognition by the dog people or state governments that dogs can be trainned to assist. The disability law here is good, but it's impossible to register a dog with most councils even with a doctors report. It's a nightmare.

Great but, there is more...

Your caption is flawed, this soldier did not stubb his toe he was wounded! But most importantly, can any of our politicians explain how USA and Brit Veterans have had assistance dogs for their wounded since the first Gulf War? Indeed, the USA congress has passed a joint sponsored Bill for their special funding and our Department of Veterans Affairs has them not on the landscape? In the attached, George gets it wrong in his concluding comments. But I do thank you for making it available.

giving back to those who give so much

What an amazing story! This organization is doing a wonderful job of giving back to these brave men who make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Kudos to E.C.A.D!

A double win

I was inspired and touched emotionally on watching Puppy Love. It was a wonderful scheme with immeasurable benefits for all involved : the veterans and the troubled youth and the dogs seemed to love their roles too!! Having trained as a Social Worker I am wondering how do we get such a scheme up and running here one that helps veterans at the same time helping troubled youth and/or those with mental health problems learn new skills, increase self esteem and a sense of purpose?

Australian Veterans

I am an ex career soldier and Detection Dog Handler. For nearly two years I have been trying to get our Defence Dept and Veterans Affairs bureaucracy to adopt these animals as an available tool for our wounded Veterans. Nothing. How does our oligarchy innovate? The Brits issued their first dog in 1992(?) to a Royal Navy Vet with traumatic brain injury. Google "Endal" - remarkable, almost as remarkable as our failures for two decades! Best Veterans Affairs System in the world, well...

DOGS, for vets

If only I had access to something like the vet with his dog, I might have been spared, 30 plus years of anguish, after returning from Vietnam. We were called "child murderers", we were victims, and shunned by society, please dont ever let this happen to our troops again, eaven Veterans Affairs didnt want to know us. I now live alone and shun society, just cant forgive or forget, its great to see vets finally getting support. War is not a game!