Service Dog Battle Over VA Hospital Denial Of Access
Service Dog Battle Over VA Hospital Denial Of Access.
WHAT DOES MY SERVICE DOG DO WHEN I PASS OUT?
WHAT AN ANXIETY ATTACK LOOKS LIKE WITH A SERVICE DOG
WARNING THIS VIDEO IS A SIMULATED ANXIETY ATTACK. if this will trigger you or you simply dont want to see what an anxiety attack looks like dont watch!!! i know this a very vulnerable thing for me to post on the internet but i am all about being real and showing what mental illness is like. yes my attacks are usually 10x worse than this but i simulated a short calmer one for the sake of training and filming. this is to educate people on how service dogs can help with anxiety attacks. i do not care about the hate i will get because this will help atleast one person. the angles are pretty bad and you could not see alot of what brantley is trained to do but you get the idea! he is trained to not leave me alone, prevent me from hurting myself, sooth me, and stop unwanted behaviors. that is why he uses his paws to stop me from hurting myself, performs dpt, tactile simulation, and interupts behaviors. if you see this happening in public to anyone leave them alone and let their service dog do their job:)
Service dog stabbed to death, allegedly by owner
Jacob Bushkin, 27, is accused of stabbing his 4-year-old golden retriever, Cub, more than 100 times.
Vietnam Veteran gets service dog
Vietnam Veteran gets service dog
Former Dallas Cowboy surprises girl with new dog after her service dog was killed
Best Western Hotel Stripped Of Brand Name After Rejecting Boy Who Uses Service Dog
A Louisiana Best Western hotel that rejected a family with a service dog may get permanently terminated from the brand it represents.
Beau Vaughn has a rare type of epilepsy that requires him to always be accompanied by his assistance dog, Chip, who can sense when the boy is about to have a seizure, WAFB reported on Tuesday. While the Vaughns are not required to alert a hotel when they are coming with the service animal, Beau’s mom, Karen, always does, just to be considerate.
But instead of getting an OK from the Baton Rouge establishment that is required by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the North Carolina mom got an email saying that their reservation had been canceled because the hotel isn’t “pet friendly.”
After WAFB reported the disheartening situation, the story went viral, leading advocates to call and complain and even threaten to riot.
The owner of the local Best Western told WAFB that it had made a “mistake,” but the corporate office didn’t take the situation lightly.
On Thursday, the news outlet reported that the corporate office decided to restrict the hotel from using the Best Western name and the hotel’s future association with the brand is still being determined.
“We provide extensive training to ensure our hotels understand and address the needs of guests with special needs,” the company said in a statement. “We deeply regret the matter and we will continue to proactively communicate ADA requirements and training to Best Western branded hotels to ensure all guests are treated with the utmost dignity and respect.”
This case is particularly concerning considering how critical of a role such dogs play in the lives of people who live with conditions similar to Beau’s.
Brianna Lynch also has epilepsy and has frequent seizures. She sometimes even forgets to breathe, which can send her into an episode.
While her family is vigilant about watching over their little girl, they’ve had to also elicit the help of Charlie, a Great Dane, who can detect when Brianna is about to have a seizure.
“Charlie is so sensitive to her needs — if the other dogs get boisterous, he will stand by her side to ensure she doesn’t get knocked over,” the girl’s mom, Arabella Scanlan, told the Irish Times. “We know, when he is acting strange, she is going to have a seizure.”
Girl, 13, wins Supreme Court case regarding service dog
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with a 13-year-old Michigan girl with cerebral palsy who spent years battling school officials for the right to bring her service dog — a goldendoodle named Wonder — to class.
The justices ruled unanimously that federal disability laws might allow Ehlena Fry to pursue her case in court without first having to wade through a lengthy administrative process.
The ruling is a win for advocacy groups that want to make it easier for disabled students to protect their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. School officials had argued that administrative remedies are an easier and less costly way to resolve educational disputes.
Writing for the court, Justice Elena Kagan said exhausting the administrative process is not always required in such cases. But she said further fact-finding is needed to decide whether Fry can pursue her case in court.
Lower courts had ruled against Fry, saying she first had to try informally resolving her dispute with the school district.
“We’re thrilled that the Supreme Court has torn down unfair barriers faced by students who seek to vindicate their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Michael Steinberg, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Michigan.The ACLU represented Fry throughout her legal proceedings.
Fry’s family sought to use Wonder when Ehlena started kindergarten and suffered from severe mobility problems. Wonder was specially trained to help open doors, pick up items and give Ehlena a measure of independence.
But her school district 75 miles southwest of Detroit initially said Wonder could not accompany her and insisted adult aides could help Ehlena.
School officials later relented a bit, but placed so many restrictions on the dog that Ehlena’s parents decided to home-school her. She later transferred to a different public school that welcomed Wonder.
At issue is the interplay of two federal disability laws. The school district said it could bar the dog under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which allows a teacher’s aide to assist students instead. That law requires families that contest school decisions to first go through administrative proceedings.
But the family said it could sue for damages under a different law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, because the district refused to accommodate Wonder over a two-and-a-half year period.
In her opinion for the court, Kagan offered two examples. In one, a child who uses a wheelchair sues a school for discrimination because the building lacks access ramps. That case, she said, could just as easily be brought against a library or theater and hinges on equality of access to public facilities, not whether a school’s special education program is adequate.
In her other example, Kagan described a student with a learning disability who sues the school for failing to provide remedial math tutoring. She said the essence of that lawsuit is whether the school offers an adequate education.
Kagan said nothing in the Frys’ lawsuit suggests a focus on the adequacy of her education. Rather, the family is asserting Ehlena’s right to bring a service dog to school regardless of alternatives the school district provided.
But Kagan did not completely eliminate the possibility of a different outcome. She said the lower court must look more closely at the facts to decide.
Fry’s mobility and independence has improved since she was younger and she now attends school without Wonder.
Naomi Gittins, managing director of legal advocacy at National School Boards Association, said the court’s ruling may cause more confusion than help for lower courts trying to apply the law. Her group backed the Michigan school district in the case.
“Going right to court is never a good approach when you’re talking about educational issues,” she said. “It could result in court cases that run up bills rather than a parent talking about this with the school.”
Service Dog Receives College Diploma Alongside Owner | NBC Nightly News
Amazing’: Service dog helps 11-year-old girl with rare disorder walk
By A. Pawlowski
When Bella met George, something wonderful happened. Not long ago, the 11-year-old with a rare disorder was clinging to crutches, but now she’s walking with the help of the Great Dane, a 2-year-old service dog who has become her best friend and constant companion.
Bella Burton, 11, gets a kiss from George, her service dog.Courtesy Burton family
She’s made so much progress, the family was recently astonished to see her dash and frolic in the grass as her big furry protector looked on.
“I don’t remember the last time I watched my child run through the yard,” Rachel Burton, Bella’s mom, told TODAY. “Seeing her just run was amazing to us.”
The Burtons, who live in Woburn, Massachusetts, will travel to Orlando, Florida, next month where George will be honored by the American Kennel Club for his impact on the family.
Bella and George share a light moment.Courtesy Burton family
It’s been a long road for Bella and her loved ones.
When the girl was 2, her parents noticed she wasn’t keeping up on her growth curve. The problem stumped her doctor, who suggested genetic testing to find out what was wrong. The tests revealed she had Morquio syndrome, a progressive disorder in which the body doesn’t produce enough of a key enzyme. That leads to a buildup of sugar molecules, which can cause problems with bone development and growth.
It’s estimated the syndrome occurs in only 1 of every 200,000 births.
George accompanies Bella to her medical appointments.Courtesy Burton family
In her young life so far, Bella has had nine major surgeries, including reconstruction of her hips and feet. She’s also had problems with mobility, getting around on crutches but using them more to swing her legs rather than walking on them. Her parents worried she was losing muscle strength in her lower body, relying on her upper body instead to move.
That all changed when she met George.
The Burtons weren’t looking for a service animal, but about two years ago, they heard about the Service Dog Project in Ipswich, Massachusetts, which trains and donates Great Danes for people with balance and mobility issues.
Standing tall, with George’s support.Courtesy Burton family
With its impressive height and heft, a good temperament and easygoing lifestyle, the breed is perfect for the job, the non-profit explains.
Most dogs are paired with adults, but when the family began visiting, it was clear the girl was ready for a canine companion.
“Once we saw Bella being around those dogs, how she was always in such a great mood and she loved going there, we thought, ‘What are we waiting for?’” Burton recalled.
“When she was visiting George and he didn’t want her to leave his kennel, they were like, let’s try them.”
George is now 2 years old and weighs 131 pounds.Courtesy Burton family
The Burtons brought him home just for the weekend over several weeks at first, then permanently added George to the family in January. They’re grateful the fully trained animal was donated by the Service Dog Project.
Bella weighs 44 pounds and stands 43 inches tall. Soon, she put away the crutches and began to walk, with the help of her furry 131-pound friend. With her height, the dog’s back is right by her armpit, providing lots of stability.
Bella leans on George for support.Courtesy Burton family
“She leans on him for support like she would if she used one crutch. But it’s much more exciting when it’s a dog than a crutch,” Burton said.
George now goes everywhere Bella goes. He spends the day with her at school, where he walks her from class to class and patiently lies in a bed right next to her desk. He doesn’t bark or demand to go outside, Burton said. The other kids are used to his presence and know they can’t pet him because he’s there to work.
George is also a comfort during Bella’s medical appointments, including a weekly six-hour infusion of a medicine that gives her more energy.
“At first, he did not like it when she would get her IV put in. He would want to get up and protect her. But then he realized it had to be done,” Burton said.
At night, he climbs into bed with the little girl, often sleeping beside her.
Bedtime for Bella and George.Courtesy Burton family
Bella’s prognosis is hard to predict, her mom said. Some people with Morquio syndrome have lived to 20, others are in their 40s and still fine. Bella continues to see specialists who monitor her for issues related to the disorder.
Each time, George is there.
“He’s totally a member of the family now,” Burton said.
SERVICE DOG SULLY HAS A NEW JOB WITH NAVY
Former President George H.W. Bush’s service dog made headlines a when President Bush passed last year. Once again Sully is in the news with his new job at the U.S. Navy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington.
Sully’s new appointment is the rank of hospital corpsman second class. Sully’s swearing in;
“Your appointment as a petty officer in the United States Navy makes you heir to a long and proud tradition of naval leadership,” said a Navy spokesman at the Bethesda, Maryland, ceremony. The dog then was outfitted with a new “military uniform” — a service dog vest representing the medical center’s dog team.
“Do you affirm or pant as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy that you will support, comfort and cure warriors and their families, active duty and retired? That you embrace our staff and bear unconditional love and solace, especially on busy days? That you take this obligation freely, without any promise of treats or tummy rubs and that you will faithfully discharge the duties to provide joy, love and nurturing for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and sailors and their families?”
Sully joins the medical center’s facility emotional support animal dog program. His duties will include reducing stress and increasing well-being among patients and staff. Sully captured hearts last year after a photo went viral of Sully resting near President Bush’s casket at the US Capitol.
Trained by America’s VetDogs — a nonprofit organization that trains service dogs for disabled military veterans and first responders — to be a service dog, therapy dog and guide dog, Sully is capable of doing a number of tasks, from answering phones to turning lights on and off.
“Not only is he good at retrieving things, he helped the President by opening doors, knew when to get assistance from someone else, and knew when Bush needed comfort, so he would place his head on his lap,” Hibbard said.
The service dogs at Walter Reed collectively work over 200 hours per month and average 2,500 contacts, according to a spokesperson for for the facility.
