[nagdu] Pennsylvania - Local Advocates Push For Expanded Service Dog Protection

[Ginger Kutsch]

Local Advocates Push For Expanded Service Dog Protection
Posted: 9:17 pm EDT June 10, 2010
Source:
http://www.wjactv.com/news/23864751/detail.html
 
HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- One woman in Huntingdon County is pushing
state lawmakers to enact legislation that would hold owners of
dogs that attack service animals financially responsible.
 
Jennifer Warsing told WJAC-TV that her service dog Hattie was
attacked by a neighbors dog in Huntingdon in February 2008.
 
Despite protecting the chocolate lab from serious physical
injury, Warsing said it took months of training for Hattie to
overcome emotional trauma from the attack.
 
A formal complaint was filed against the dog's owner, but a judge
later dropped the case.
 
Warsing said she'd be lost if something ever happened to Hattie.
 
"I would be immediately thrust back into a world of silence and
not know when my phone was ringing; sleepless nights or worrying
about the smoke detectors going off," said Warsing. "They deserve
to be protected against injury, against attack and interference
while they're working. They're irreplaceable."
 
Leslie Kelly works as a deaf and hard of hearing specialist with
the Center for Independent Living of South Central Pennsylvania
and said she worries about the gap of protection for her own
service dog.
 
"We all love animals and we don't want to see any animal get
injured, but for those of us that have service dogs, it's not as
easy," said Kelly. "If it dies, you're talking another 3-4 years
until they can find a dog to match you and train it again."
 
House Bill 123 was recently amended to include expanded
restitution to cover lost wages and training if a service dog is
maimed or killed in an attack.
 
The proposed legislation was included in last week's house of
representatives schedule, but there has not been a vote.