Bill Approved To Make VA Service-Dog Friendly

A House committee has approved legislation that would allow service dogs to be used on any VA property or in any VA facility, including any facility or property receiving VA funding.  Under current law and regulation, VA is required only to allow guide dogs for the blind onto its property and into its facilities because those are the only type of assistance animals specifically covered in federal law. Individual facilities directors can be more flexible, if they wish.  In addition to opening the buildings and grounds to service dogs, the bill would create a three-year pilot program in which veterans with post-traumatic stress or other post-deployment mental disorders would be involved in training service dogs for other veterans. The idea of the test is to see if being a dog trainer has any rehabilitation benefits for veterans. To read this article in its entirety, please go to: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/09/military-veterans-affairs-service-dogs-091211w/