(Editor's Note: The following announcement by Change.org is a petition by Hannah Karnes of Cedar Park, TX. We reprint it here in observance of Veterans Day and to encourage our readers to sign the petition and contribute to this effort.)
Our military veterans are heroes. They face struggles that we couldn't imagine, and they do it selflessly to protect our great country. However, their transition home can often be just as difficult because of mental and physical ailments from their service.
The waitlist for the VA is far too long to quickly handle the care of every returning veteran, but their medical needs are urgent. Some of these needs can only be treated through direct medical care, but other needs can be met through a service dog. Service dogs can be trained to care for people with PTSD, visual impairments, hearing impairments, mobility impairments, and many other conditions. Furthermore, these dogs can ensure that the veteran is never alone while dealing with these conditions. Currently, the VA offers service dogs to those with hearing/sight loss and mobility impairments. However, they do not offer dogs to veterans with psychological issues, such as PTSD. I am advocating that, as part of the VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) evaluation process, the VA offer dogs to all veterans diagnosed with psychological or physical conditions. This small step would make a massive difference in the lives of these men and women. They've given everything for us. Let's give back to them.
Support Dog Training for Warriors
Meanwhile, there is a great organization that is dedicated to helping wounded vets -- including those with PTSD -- obtain service dogs. It's called TADSAW (Train a Dog, Save a Warrior) and it provides trained Medical Alert Service Dogs for these heroes.
My sister-in-law, Crissy Mancini, is a certified dog trainer who works with TADSAW, training service dogs that are then paired with returning warriors who need help, both in body and mind. She is dedicated to the men and women -- and the animals -- that she works with. It is her passion.
TADSAW explains its mission:
The TADSAW, INC. mission is to provide for the training of a Medical Alert Service Dog, as designated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990/2010 guidelines, for any wounded Veteran Service Member (Active Duty. Retired, Discharged) surviving with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), in order to restore and improve the Veteran’s Quality of Life with a canine ‘Battle Buddy’, at no charge to the Veteran or the family.
TADSAW, INC. oversees a second program, ‘Train A Dog – Save A Family’ (TADSAF), which also provides for the training of a Medical Alert Service Dog for any Veteran’s immediate family, spouse and/or children, surviving with compassion fatigue, secondary Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or any other mental health issue diagnosed while the Veteran was deployed or on Active Duty, in order to restore and improve the individuals Quality of Life with a canine ‘Buddy’, at no charge to the family.
In addition, TADSAW, INC. supports a third program, the ‘Train A DOG – Save A Responder’ (TADSAR), which provides for the training of a Medical Alert Service Dog for any First Responder, Local and State Police, Fire Fighters, and Hospital staff, surviving with the aftermath of treating individuals that are victims of catastrophic events or accidents.
TADSAW, INC. is committed to serving the United States Military men and women, their families and the First Responders, responsible with protecting our nation.
Please support TADSAW, INC. You can donate here.