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

Cindy Ray cindyray at gmail.com
Sun Aug 25 22:36:59 UTC 2013


I really haven't heard much real life discussion of what these dogs do, so I find this very interesting. I am glad I asked the question.

Cindy

On Aug 25, 2013, at 5:29 PM, "National Association of Guide Dog Users" <blind411 at verizon.net> wrote:

> 	It was very synchronistic that I listened to a public service
> program this morning on the radio about a service animal training program in
> Florida that specializes in PTSD dogs. During the program, one of the
> participants was talking about his PTSD and became very anxious. The dog
> jumped up and started licking his face to ground him. One of the things he
> said was that he had a stress-induced panic attack once in a Target store
> and, after getting grounded, gave the "Out!" command and the dog led him out
> of the store. These are examples of task training that defines the dog as a
> service dog.
> 
> Marion
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
> Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2013 10:22 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] PTSD dogs (was Family Upset After Dog Removed From Eatery)
> 
> 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.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nagdu:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.co
>>>> m
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>> nagdu:
>>> 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/info%40michaelhingson.com
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>> nagdu:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.net
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>> nagdu:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.net
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com





More information about the NAGDU mailing list