[nagdu] PTSD dogs (was Family Upset After Dog Removed From Eatery)

Sun Aug 25 14:22:21 UTC 2013

I read somewhere, possibly here, that some PTSD service dogs are trained to 
lead their person out of a situation that has triggered a stress attack. 
For example, if a person had an extreme anxiety attack in a store, the 
person could hold onto his dog, close his eyes, and the dog would lead him 
safely outside.  I think this is something the GDF vet dogs are trained to 
do.  I thought it was pretty cool.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2013 3:23 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Family Upset After Dog Removed From Eatery

> OK, that makes sense. I really wasn't completely sure what tasks 
> specifically were performed. Vets have been having a lot of trouble with 
> this. I had read about this in books more than anything else and thought 
> that this was pretty much what they do, but I really just needed to be 
> clear about it.
>
> CL
>
> On Aug 24, 2013, at 2:19 PM, "National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <blind411 at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Some of the tasks service dogs that assist with PTSD are trained to
>> perform include intentionally making physical contact with the person,
>> alerting a person to the presence of someone else the individual may not 
>> be
>> aware of, and standing between a person, object, or sound that triggers 
>> the
>> stress response. As mentioned, these are actual tasks the dog has been
>> trained to perform that mitigates the disability.
>>
>> On the other hand, it is rather rare that a person with depression
>> or an anxiety disorder would be considered disabled under the definition 
>> of
>> the ADA. Only disabled individuals are protected by the provisions of the
>> Act; therefore, the prime factor necessary for such protections is 
>> missing,
>> invalidating any other claim for protection. Should a person bring a 
>> claim
>> of disdcrimination under the ADA, the first element that would need to be
>> proven is that the individual is a person with a disability. If this 
>> cannot
>> be proven, the individual is not protected by the provisions of the Act.
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael 
>> Hingson
>> Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2013 2:11 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Family Upset After Dog Removed From Eatery
>>
>> The difference is that Vet Dogs are specially trained to perform a 
>> service
>> and "emotional support dogs" are not.
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>>
>> Michael Hingson
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray
>> Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2013 10:50 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Family Upset After Dog Removed From Eatery
>>
>> How are emotional support dogs different from dogs who help vets with 
>> post
>> traumatic stress syndrome? Is it because the dog can help such a person
>> refocus if they get into an episode. I am sure I am using all wrong
>> terminology here.
>>
>> CL
>>
>> On Aug 24, 2013, at 8:35 AM, "Ginger Kutsch" <GingerKutsch at yahoo.com> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Family Upset After Dog Removed From Eatery
>>>
>>> by Jeff Rusack,
>>>
>>> August 23, 2013 8:13 PM
>>>
>>> Source:
>>> http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29327&It
>>> emid=5
>>> 7
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> One Sioux Falls' family is crying foul after they say they were
>>> discriminated against for having an emotional support dog at a fast
>>> food restaurant, Thursday.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Mocha may have brown fur but she seems to be in a grey area.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thursday afternoon when Alan Steele and his mother Edwina decided to
>>> dine in at a Sioux Falls Taco Bell, they were told to do something
>>> that surprised them.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "We were asked if we were going to eat in. I said, 'yes, we are.' And
>>> he goes, 'I'm sorry. I can't allow you to do that,'" said Alan Steele.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The Americans with Disabilities Act allows any service animal into
>>> just about any business.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "On the back it says that she is a part of the American Disabled Act
>>> of 1990," pointed out Steele.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Mocha is titled as an emotional support dog. Mocha's owner, Edwina
>>> Steele suffers from depression and anxiety and can't take
>>> prescriptions due to a heart condition, as they tried to explain to
>>> the
>> Taco Bell staff.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "She is a service animal, emotional support. And he goes, 'that
>>> doesn't matter,'" added Steele.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Just because a dog has a vest on doesn't mean the dog is protected,"
>>> said Steve Slavik, the CEO of Big Paws Canine, a company that trains
>>> dogs for Veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "What a service dog is and how it is defined, is a dog that is trained
>>> to perform work or perform a task for an individual with a
>>> disability," quoted Slavik from the American with Disabilities Act.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> And the Steele's may be out of luck when trying to bring Mocha with
>>> them
>> to
>>> businesses with pet policies.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Dogs that wouldn't be protected are emotional support dogs and
>>> companion dogs. They are still considered pets and they are not
>>> defined in the protection of the ADA," added Slavik.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> But, asking someone about their dog, when it comes to determining if
>>> they are indeed a service animal, can be tricky.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Businesses are only allowed to ask two questions when it comes to
>>> service dogs.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Is the service animal required? And what work has the dog been trained
>>> to perform?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Businesses cannot ask what the owners disability is or for the owner
>>> to provide documentation.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "If the dog is barking or being destructive to merchandise or going to
>>> the restroom on the floor, those types of things, even if it's a
>>> full-fledged
>>> 1,000 of hours training service dog, a service dog can be denied 
>>> access,"
>>> added Slavik.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The Steeles say there was no indication of any misbehavior at the Taco
>>> Bell, Thursday and they still hope for an apology from the restaurant.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "I would like for people to ask and understand before they criticize
>>> or discriminate against her," added Steele.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> There's no doubt Mocha is a lovable pup. But, service dog experts say
>>> an emotional support dog has no protection when it comes to the
>>> Americans with Disabilities Act.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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