I recently had the pleasure of visiting with veteran military dog handler, Larry Chilcoat on Working Like Dogs at www.PetLifeRadio.com. Larry, a member of the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association, stopped by to visit with me about the ongoing efforts to build a Military Working Dogs National Monument.

It is amazing the amount of work and dedication that a group of individuals led by John Burnham and Larry have contributed to erect the Military Working Dogs National Monument. Through their efforts, they have designed and secured a space for this national monument at Fort Belvoir, Virginia that will honor the heroic past, present and future United States military dog handlers and their incredible working dogs.

Larry explained the difference between a national monument (a living representation that can honor military dogs both past, present and future which requires Senate, Congressional and Presidential approval) and a memorial (a tombstone for people or dogs that are deceased). Larry and his team members gained a Congressional Sponsor in Congressman Walter B. Jones of North Carolina. With his help, they have completed the approval process which was signed into law by President Bush in 2008. Now, the group has to raise the more than $900,000 to pay for the construction and placement.

I could still hear the love in Larry’s voice as he talked about his 85-pound German shepherd, Military Police Dog, Gisha. He served with Gisha for one year in Vietnam and the impact this dog had on his life could be felt in the way he reminisced about her.

As Larry so eloquently said, she has lived in his heart for over 40 years.

Larry believes that he and other fellow veterans are now in a position to make a difference, to have a something permanent to honor these dogs for all time and to make a united statement that they are an important part of the U.S. Military. Larry said passionately, “The memories don’t go away, which is why it is so exciting to do something that will benefit a lot of handlers that don’t have this opportunity… we’ll put something out there for the nation to know what role these dogs play and how long they have sacrificed for our country and how many lives they’ve saved.”

These military working dogs do so much to save and to protect our country and the lives of their military handlers. The men and women who serve bravely beside their canine partners are the unsung heroes that provide us with the freedom we too often take for granted. Tentatively, a dedication date has been scheduled for Veteran’s Day 2012. If you would like to contribute a tax deductible donation to the Military Working Dogs National Monument, please visit their web site at www.jbmf.us. To hear more about the efforts to build this worthy Military Working Dogs National Monument, tune in to Working Like Dogs’ Episode 46 – War Dogs Remembered at www.petliferadio.com.

As many of you may know, Franz and I had to say good-bye to our beloved Morgan on March 12, 2011. Morgan was a golden retriever who proudly served as my second assistance dog. He came to us 11 years ago and brought with him a silent, soulful, intense presence that changed our lives forever.

Today would have been Morgan’s 13th birthday. And although he is gone, the light he brought into our lives will continue to shine as long as Franz and I hold his memory in our hearts.

I have always heard of selfless love and devotion and putting someone or something’s needs above your own. But I can now say that I experienced that firsthand through my relationship with Morgan. He truly loved his job as an assistance dog and relished spending every moment at home with his family. Morgan taught us the meaning of the words loyalty, tolerance and patience.

Not many people knew Morgan. He never won any international prizes or reached the summit of Mount Everest. He never expected or demanded any accolades for his selfless acts. He just wanted to be by my side making sure I was safe and content.

Morgan ended his life doing just that. Although his body was failing him and his eyesight and hearing were almost completely gone and his immunity system had completely shut down, he still took pride in dressing in his backpack every day and taking his post beside my desk in my home office. Even as we prepared him for his final journey to the vet’s office that fateful Saturday morning, he donned his backpack and proudly assumed the heel position on the left side of my wheelchair.

Being a service dog was Morgan’s first priority. It was his career. It was all he knew and all he wanted to know. Even as he drew his final breath, in his mind, he was still working. As we gathered around him to express our love and heartfelt good-byes, Morgan lay by my wheelchair with dignity and pride.

Dignity was important to Morgan. And, I take comfort in the belief that Morgan knew he had completed his job to the best of his ability. He had given unconditional love and devotion and his job was finally done.

Now, Franz and I are left with the memories and photographs of this special being. There is a tremendous void in our hearts and home. We miss him terribly but we are so thankful that this golden boy graced our lives. We can only hope that we will be worthy of his service and devotion as we carry his memory with us forever.

Happy Birthday my precious golden boy and thank you for all that you did and continue to do for me. You were an angel who blessed us with your presence for a short time. Unfortunately, you could not stay with us forever. It was an unspoken agreement we made with nature from the moment you arrived. And unfortunately, nature came to reclaim her prize.

Good-bye my dear, sweet boy and thank you from the bottom of my heavy, but joy-filled heart.

As the Mexian poet Octavio Paz stated, “Love is an attempt at penetrating another being, but it can only succeed if the surrender is mutual.” For me and Morgan, there was never a question that it was mutual love from the moment our eyes met.

I saw a news item the other day in the New York Post about Hollywood celebrity Candy Spelling (mother of Tori and widow of TV producer Aaron) bringing her dog, Madison, a Wheaton Terrier, into a New York restaurant wearing a “service dog jacket.”

Is this dog really trained and certified as some type of assistance dog? I really have no way of knowing, but hearing about this incident just reminded me of how more and more I’ve been hearing about people trying to pass off pets as assistance animals.

I’ve even had friends ask to borrow my assistance dog’s backpack so they might be able to bring their pet to some event or into some business. I’ve always said, “Sorry, but no.”

It’s an image and reputation thing. If your pet has not gone through the rigorous training that “real” assistance dogs must obtain, he or she probably won’t be able to behave well enough in public. It’s hard for us who really rely on our assistance animals to condone your desire to have your pet with you everywhere. No matter how much you love them, you really don’t require them the way we do.

For over 75 years, Assistance Dogs have worked successfully in public and won the public’s acceptance by achieving high behavioral and training standards, which set them apart from pets and other animals. Assistance Dogs International, Inc. publishes minimum standards for assistance dog training programs to ensure the highest level of quality in assistance dog performance.

An ill-behaved “pretend” assistance dog gives all the real ones a bad reputation. If there are any incidents, it just makes people feel justified in denying access to a dog in the future, whether it is truly a trained assistance animal or not.

But it’s hard to know which dogs are “real” and which aren’t. If a business owner or someone else suspects that a dog is not really an assistance dog, but just a pet, what are they to do?

Not all people with disabilities are easy to visually identify. It’s not always people with guide dogs out there or those of us in wheelchairs these days. Think about the military veterans with PTSD and their dogs. Or those with hearing loss or autism. Can you tell if the man, woman or child with the dog is truly disabled and if their dog is truly an assistance animal?

What if a business owner confronts someone and they’re wrong? Or what if the customer makes a scene, even if their dog is really a pampered pet. Is the customer always right, no matter what?

People can train their own dogs, too, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, so who certifies or decides which assistance dogs are genuine and which are fakes?

Here’s my fear: Passing your pet off as an assistance dog not only gives the real ones a bad image, it might jeopardize the hard-won rights of people who really need assistance dogs. If there are enough bad incidents, will someone try to enact legislation changing the access laws?

I remember back in the early 90s, three years after the ADA was enacted, when I got my first service dog, Ramona. I was stopped a lot and told things like, “You can’t bring that dog in here.” Nowadays I feel more confident traveling in my state and across the US, but I don’t want things to revert back due to the issue of pseudo assistance dogs.

This is a very real issue that I feel really needs to be discussed. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Here’s an article on the topic that just came out on Disability Scoop and another article from the Wall St. Journal. We discuss assistance dog standards in our book Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting with veteran military dog handler, Larry Chilcoat on Working Like Dogs at www.PetLifeRadio.com. Larry stopped by to visit with me about the ongoing efforts to build a Military Working Dogs National Monument.

It is amazing the amount of work and dedication that a group of individuals have contributed to the Military Working Dogs National Monument. They have designed and secured a space for a national monument that will honor the heroic past and present United States military dog handlers and their incredible working dogs.

I could still hear Larry’s love for his military dog, Geisha, in his voice. He served in the Air Force in Vietnam as a Sentry Dog Handler, and the impact this dog had on his life could be felt in the way he reminisced about her.

These military working dogs do so much to save and to protect our country and the lives of their military handlers. The men and women who serve bravely beside their canine partners are the unsung heroes that provide us with the freedom we often take for granted.

If you would like to contribute to the Military Working Dogs National Monument, please visit the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument website donations page, where you can make a donation online or find information about mailing in your contribution.

Listen to the entire episode with Larry Chilcoat talking about the Military Working Dogs National Monument on Pet Life Radio.

As a member of an assistance dog team, I know I sometimes take for granted all of the policy and administrative decisions that are being discussed and implemented. These laws and policies are very important, as they can directly impact our ability to function in public as effective assistance dog teams. Recently I heard about two legislative proposals directly related to assistance dogs that I think are of interest.

Representative seeks to designate National Assistance Dog Week in Hawaii

The first is from Hawaii Representative Corinne Ching. Representative Ching has proposed House Bill 1596 which would formally designate the second week of August as National Assistance Dog Week in Hawaii.

Representative Ching needs your support for this assistance dog specific legislation. She encourages people from throughout the United States to email her at repching@capitol.hawaii.gov and weigh in on her endeavor to make Hawaii the first state to declare NADW (www.assistancedogweek.org) an official holiday! Even a short message saying you approve of this recognition and the public education opportunity it supports will be appreciated.

Penalties for owners of dogs that attack service animals

Secondly, Pennsylvania Representative John Evans has introduced House Bill 165 which creates civil and criminal penalties for dog owners if their pet kills or maims a service animal. This legislation allows for fines of up to $1,000 and jail time of up to two years, and would require those convicted to pay veterinary and replacement costs.

This legislation is now headed for the Pennsylvania House floor for consideration. I don’t know if you and/or your assistance dog have ever been attacked. I can tell you that my service dog, Ramona, and I were on business in Washington, D.C. and were attacked by a dog while approaching the elevator to the Metro. It was quite a shocking experience because this dog suddenly came from out of a local business located near the Metro elevator.

Luckily, my husband Franz was with me and his quick actions saved Ramona’s life. Ramona suffered post traumatic stress from that moment on. So from a personal perspective, I can really appreciate Representative Evans’ leadership to hold pet owners accountable in such unfortunate incidents. You can connect with Representative Evans’ office through Jennifer Keaton at jkeaton@pahousegop.com or through his Facebook page.

We are all so busy with our everyday lives but I think it is important that we try to pay attention to current legislation that will impact our ability to work and thrive in public as individuals with disabilities with our assistance dogs. Do you know of any other legislation that is currently being proposed in your state that we should be tuned into?

This past fall my husband, Franz, service dog, Whistle and I took a drive into the rural countryside of northern New Mexico. It was a beautiful fall Saturday morning, the leaves had changed colors to a vibrant red and orange and there was a crisp breeze in the air. We drove from Santa Fe, New Mexico north to Mora, New Mexico, to visit the Victory Ranch.

Victory Ranch (VR) owners boast that VR is the largest alpaca ranch in the Southwest United States. Over 200 alpacas freely roam the VR’s 1,100+ acres. And although the alpacas are adorable, we were going there to meet the Great Pyrenees, dogs who work on the ranch as guardians of the alpacas.

When we drove onto the ranch, we noticed several signs prohibiting dogs. I thought the “No Dogs Allowed” signs applied to pets and not to service animals. As we parked my van, an employee was heading into the main store area. I asked him about the signage and told him about my service dog, Whistle. He informed me that the reason no dogs were allowed on the premises was because of the overwhelmingly protective and territorial behavior of the Great Pyrenees. He said they were so protective of the herd that if they sensed another dog on the premises, they would not stop harassing them until they were removed. He said they had been known to seriously vandalize cars that had a dog inside.

Wow, that was an intense thought. He suggested that we move my van and Whistle to a safe area under a tree just outside the ranch gate. Franz quickly moved my vehicle and more importantly, Whistle, to this safe, shaded area.

We proceeded into the store where we were greeted by ranch staff. We signed up for the opportunity to feed the baby alpacas. For a small fee, visitors can receive a tour of the grounds and the opportunity to hand feed the young alpacas. What a treat it was to get to meet these young animals. They were extremely interested in the oats that the staff had supplied as treats.

As we were swarmed by the hungry, adorable alpacas, I felt a heavy weight bear down on the left side of my power wheelchair. I looked over to see a gorgeous, large, white Great Pyrenees looking me straight in the eye. He was a gentle giant. He did not make a sound but believe me; he made his presence and his desire to be petted clearly known.

This is what we had come to see. This livestock guardian working dog was everything I had imagined. He appeared to be over 100 pounds and he seemed to have traces of light tan or lemon in his coat. The staff explained how these dogs guard the herd. And this particular dog had the scars from a recent battle with a local beaver. The Great Pyrenees won, but not until after suffering some battle wounds on his neck and chest. These dogs willingly sacrifice everything to protect their herd, even their lives.

As we visited with Darcy Weisner, VR Manager, she described how the seven Great Pyrenees at Victory Ranch instinctively work to protect the herd. She described how these gentle giants literally became part of the herd as they strategically place themselves in the pasture among the alpacas.

Darcy explained how the dogs change shifts every day. She said that when the Great Pyrenees out in the field get hungry, they bark to the dogs in the barn to come out and relieve them. She went on to say that the Great Pyrenees take their job very seriously, and when they identify a predator or potential danger, they aggressively pursue it. However, they always remain mindful to leave two dogs behind with the herd at all times.

Franz and I really enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the Great Pyrenees as another type of working dog. And, all I can say is that ALL working dogs rock!

Recently, an article in the American Association of People with Disabilities Newsletter (January 3, 2011) about a Northern Virginia elementary school denying 12-year-old Andrew Stevens the right to bring his seizure alert assistance dog to school caught my attention.

The newsletter gave a link to this article written by FOX 5 Reporter Stacey Cohan which reported that Andrew and his family waited two years and raised $20,000 to get his assistance dog. The family had hoped that Andrew’s assistance dog would provide an array of services to him, including reconnecting Andrew with his peers. Instead, Andrew had been denied the use of his assistance dog at school. The school had created yet another barrier for this young man and his family to overcome.

I do not know all of the details surrounding this situation. However, as an individual with a disability who grew up as a wheelchair user, it is all too familiar. It so disheartening to hear Andrew’s story and to imagine the struggles he and his family are enduring on a daily basis.

If you grew up with a disability then you know the endless number of barriers that can be placed in our way as we strive to gain an education and begin to make our way in this world. Being fortunate enough to receive an assistance dog can be a great opportunity to relieve some of the daily pitfalls and struggles.

Public schools are supposed to be a resource and a place of security for all children and youth. It is a place where our most valuable asset, our youth, learn valuable life lessons and gather the skills necessary to enable them to move forward into their adult lives. It is so sad to think that this elementary school is playing such a negative role in this young man’s life. Unfortunately, their bureaucratic actions are reinforcing inequality, vulnerability, and downright unfair treatment of children with disabilities.

What lifelong lesson are these public officials teaching Andrew, his family and perhaps more sadly, his peers? I hope Andrew’s parents have the stamina necessary to finish this fight. I hope they will be able to teach the school district administrators that they cannot discriminate against a student with a disability who needs an assistance dog. And more importantly, I hope it will teach Andrew that he is a valued as much as every other student at his school and he has the right to have his assistance dog by his side.

We must unite to dispel the myth that children with disabilities should not have the services and equipment necessary to make them as independent as they choose to be. We must clearly communicate that this school district’s staff response is not acceptable and there are consequences in Virginia and the United States for this archaic, discriminatory behavior.

I just found out that after Andrew and his mother appeared on the TODAY show yesterday (January 4), the school officials decided to let Andrew have his service dog with him at school, at least on a trial basis. My concern is that three to six weeks may not be long enough, and that they should allow more time for a fair test.

Andrew’s story has received nationwide media attention. My hope is that it will help educate more people about the benefits of highly trained service dogs.

I love learning about new technology that can help make my life easier, especially when it pertains to living with a disability. The December 2010 issue of New Mobility magazine published an article by Justin Moninger entitled, “5 Things to Make Life Easier.”

He based the list on the five essentials that helped him to get back to living an active life after his spinal cord injury. Would you believe that a service dog was the number one essential on his list? I sure would!

He attributes his service dog, Rocky, with getting him back into mainstream society and helping him with a host of tasks both inside and outside his home. Moninger talks about how he underestimated what a great emotional support Rocky would be to him.

It takes me back to my own experience when I received my first service dog, Ramona. I had been living with a disability since I was six years old. I thought I was independent. I had a wonderful husband and a job I loved. Life was great. But, I didn’t really understand all the things I had been missing until Ramona came into my life. Ramona gave me a higher level of independence that I didn’t even know existed.

As the year comes to an end and I think of all the things I am thankful for, my retired service dog, Morgan, and my current service dog, Whistle, are at the top of my list. Living side by side with a service dog is life changing. It is a partnership that enables people with disabilities to fulfill dreams and lifelong goals that were once thought to be unobtainable.

Service dogs are not perfect and they are not robots. It takes a great deal of work and commitment to fully engage in a working relationship with a service animal. I truly appreciate Anatole France’s statement that “until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” I would even take it one step further and say that until someone with a disability has been partnered with a service dog, a part of their life remains suppressed.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to the birth, growth, development, and success of assistance dogs throughout the world! Whistle and I wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Earlier this year I was invited to go to London in September to speak at the World Health Organization’s 2010 Safety Conference regarding violence against children with disabilities. I was SO excited because Whistle and I have never been to London and it was definitely on our list of places we wanted to visit.

My retired service dog, Morgan, my husband, Franz, and I had traveled to Hawaii in 2001 and I was familiar with some of the rabies test requirements that we had conducted in order for him to be admitted into Hawaii. I had heard that the United Kingdom had relieved some of their tight quarantine restrictions for service dogs and that the new procedures were very similar to Hawaii’s requirements.

I immediately contacted my veterinarian and made an appointment to get the paperwork started. Whistle’s vet, Murt and his vet manager, Lisa, immediately went to work obtaining a serum blood sample to test for antibodies to the rabies virus. It is called the Titer Test and can only be conducted at Kansas State University. I paid the hefty fee and Whistle’s test was conducted on May 16, 2010.

Simultaneously, I was working with my amazing travel agent, Joan Diamond of Nautilus Tours & Cruises. Joan specializes in disability travel and she immediately contacted the UK’s Animal Reception Department for information regarding Whistle’s entry into the UK. The Animal Reception Department informed Joan that I needed about two months lead time in order to provide them with (1) an EU certificate (a form that Murt and Lisa would have); (2) a letter from my doctor saying that I have and I need a service dog; and (3) a copy of a certification indicating that Whistle has been trained as a service animal.

These items should be a piece of cake. I gathered all of these required documents, scanned them into my computer, and emailed them on August 5 to the contact person at the Animal Reception Department. On August 9, I received an email from the Animal Reception Department stating:

“I am sorry to tell you that Whistle is not eligible to enter the UK until 15th November 2010 under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) as six months must pass after the blood draw date before an animal can enter the UK. Whistle’s blood draw was on the 16th May 2010 so therefore he is not eligible for entry until 15th November 2010.”

I couldn’t believe it! I was in shock and disbelief. Here I am in the midst of celebrating National Assistance Dog Week only to be told that I have been denied access and am not allowed to travel to London with Whistle. Honestly, I am still in shock.

I contacted Joan and Lisa right away and they began trying everything they could think of but everyone they contacted said it’s the law in the UK and I have no recourse. Why didn’t they tell us that before I put Whistle through the blood test and paid the expensive costs to have the Titer Test conducted?

I responded to the individual that delivered this devastating email and am awaiting a response. I am also trying to contact the USDA Veterinarian in Albuquerque. However, I’ve been trying for days now and the telephone in their office just rings and rings but no one has answered as of yet.

I am at a loss as to what my recourse might be at this point. I was so excited to get the chance to go to London. As you know, it is so difficult to travel with a disability. Going to London was a dream come true for me and Franz but now it is bitter sweet because it looks Whistle and I won’t be able to travel together. We will be denied access.

How can this be happening in 2010 in a modern urban country like the United Kingdom? It is baffling and distressing to me. Unfortunately, I am constantly reminded that we still have a lot of work to do to advocate for individuals with disabilities AND the assistance dogs that contribute so much to their lives.

I thought London was calling (flashback to the old song by the Clash) but now, I’m not so sure.

Who would have thought that in six weeks we could create a new web site (assistancedogweek.org), develop a tool box of free informational materials, AND get events planned in nine states which include three Governors signing proclamations declaring August 8-14, 2010 as National Assistance Dog Week? It just goes to show you what a few people can accomplish when they put their minds and energy into it!

I am so excited and humbled to be a part of National Assistance Dog Week! This is our chance to stop and reflect on all of the amazing animals that give so selflessly to individuals with disabilities each and every day. Another big part of this celebratory week is not only recognizing the animals, but also giving credit to the people who enable these dogs to do their life-changing work.

I’m referring to the service dog recipients, volunteer puppyraisers, professional trainers, veterinarians, groomers, prison program participants, funders, administrators, animal welfare researchers and advocates, and all of the other countless individuals who contribute to the training, maintenance, and well-being of these highly trained animals.

I would also like to acknowledge the family members, friends, and caregivers who live with, or spend time with individuals with disabilities who utilize an assistance dog. They know firsthand the impact these animals have on our lives. And, I want to thank them for the support and care they provide to both individuals with disabilities and their assistance dogs.

Who better than Betty White to help celebrate NADW? She took time out of her extremely busy schedule to stop by Working Like Dogs on Pet Life Radio this week in honor of NADW. This woman has truly dedicated her life and her resources to animal welfare. She really understands the unique bond between an individual and their assistance dog.

We are also grateful that Ali MacGraw visited with us on Working Like Dogs this week.  She told us about her animals, her support for Assistance Dogs of the West, and how she got involved in fundraising for animal organizations. Ali also performed a delightful reading of all three of Judith Newton’s children’s books about Nito the service dog.

NADW is an opportunity for us to join together to recognize the hard work and ongoing commitment that assistance dogs require and to educate the public about how assistance dogs impact the quality of life and independence for individuals with disabilities. As much as I am dedicated to honoring these dogs and the people that support them, I am just as committed to paving the way for future dogs and the individuals that they will serve.

We must be vigilant in our efforts to educate the public, preserve our public access rights, and protect our civil right to utilize a service animal in and outside of these United States. Thank you to everyone who have and who continue to support NADW and these amazing working animals! Together, we can ensure equal access and equal rights for all individuals with disabilities.

I can’t wait to hear how you are celebrating NADW in your communities, both this year and as we look forward to August 2011! Let’s spread the word about assistance dogs and all of their life-changing abilities!