I’m about two-thirds of the way through Bob Goff’s book, Love Does… It’s Bob Goff’s memoir, with anecdotes about his life and how they relate to his understanding of his faith – Christianity. He’s a great storyteller. As a reader, I’m enjoying it, and as a writer, picking up some tips.

In my previous post I also listed Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him. It’s a powerful autobiography about the importance of his service dog, Tuesday, in dealing with the physical and emotional wounds suffered by Luis Carlos Montalván. While some of the details of the story have since been questioned, the book made me look into the training of service dogs for veterans. This particular author’s tale is the one that was published, but there are many others whose stories have not been told who need the support of a service dog.

August 5-11, 2012, is International Assistance Dog Week, which recognizes and celebrates assistance dogs around the world. It was started by a woman who has dealt with paraplegia for decades, according to International Assistance Dog Week‘s website. They provide a link to Assistance Dogs International, which establishes standards for assistance dogs, programs, and trainers, and provides education and information.

People dealing with disabilities who use service dogs have rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Getting a dog can be a long process, though.

Dogs are used in the field for combat stress relief, in military and veterans’ hospitals as facility therapy dogs, and as guide dogs and hearing dogs. These dogs can be trained to perform specific tasks that are difficult or impossible for the human, as well as to respond appropriately to his psychological needs. The author’s dog, Tuesday, was specially trained to perform the services Luis Carlos Montalv. 

The VA provides information about, and links for, service dogs for the military. VA Service and Guide Dogs I found a few other links as well. There’s the program Puppies Behind Bars, featured on Extreme Makeover Home Edition, that provided a service dog to a veteran in addition to the home rehab. These organizations need volunteers, and foster families for early raising and training. They also don’t turn down donations.

I found this organization near my home; it’s based in Brookeville, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. Hero Dogs

Hmmm 🙂