URGING THE VA TO END HOLD ON GUARDIAN ANGELS MEDICAL SERVICE DOGS

WASHINGTON, APRIL 17, 2012 – Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Sixth) visited Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. in Williston, FL last week.  Guardian Angles provides service dogs to veterans afflicted with physical or mental injuries, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a serious condition for servicemembers returning home from combat.  “There are veteran here suffering from PTSD who could be helped with a service dog – which would not only benefit the veterans but their families as well,” said Stearns.  “The Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. has had an impressive 100 percent success rate in helping veterans manage their symptoms where drugs and therapy have been inadequate.”

Congress authorized a pilot program at the Veterans Administration (VA) to use service dogs for the treatment and rehabilitation of veterans with physical and/or mental injuries.   Recently, the VA suspended the program indefinitely due to issues with the other two service dog organizations participating in the pilot program.  Said Stearns, “What do we owe our veterans?  We owe them the freedoms we enjoy every day.  After seeing the real difference these service dogs make in helping veterans and their loved ones cope, I’m committed to restoring this program.  As a senior member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I am writing to VA Secretary Shinseki urging him lift the hold so that deserving veterans receive the service dogs they need.  In addition, I’m considering legislation to make access to service dogs a permanent program in the VA.”