TAILS ACROSS MISSOURI

FALL, 2019

From the Editors’ Desk

We hope that you will find this edition of Tails both informative and enjoyable. As always, you all are encouraged to send articles to us to include in future editions of Tails. In this issue we continue to read about Deanna Noriega’s experiences with her guide dogs. Amanda (Mandy) Dovin has contributed a fun story about her guide, Sonja and the pool … and other interesting articles. So sit back, read and enjoy.

For those atending the October, 2019 MCB convention, you will find the below information helpful. Thanks to Sarah Calhoun for submitting this information.

The annual MGDU meeting will be held on Friday, October 4, 2019 in the room called, Board Room during the McB convention in Kansas City, Missouri. The meeting will begin at 7:00 a.m. with the breakfast being served at 7:15 a.m.

Directions to Board Room and Relief Area are as follows.

Navigating to the Board Room:

As you enter the hotel using the front doors, you will be facing the front desk. Turn right and walk down to the end of the hallway. The MGDU meeting room called the Board Room is directly at the end of the hallway, straight in front of you. If the door is open, you will walk directly into the room. Jesuita and/or Wanda will be there to help assist people to the meeting room.

Navigating to the guide dog relief area:

As you enter the hotel using the front doors, you will be facing the front desk. Turn left and Walk down the hallway until you come to an acending ramp. Walk up the ramp, then turn right. Walk straight down the hallway until you reach a glass door. Exit the glass door. There you will cross the hotel parking lot. There might be a curb coming out of the door or possibly a ramp, so please be careful. Walk straight across the parking lot to a grassy area which is the relief area.

The grassy relief area is approximately 12 feet across and runs the length of the hotel, so there is plenty of room!

There will be a trash can and pickup bags by the glass doors. As you walk outside, they will be on your left side. As you walk inside, they will be on your right side.

You will need your hotel room card to exit and enter the doors at all times.

Please be kind to the grass and pick up after your dog! Enjoy the MCB 2019 Convention!

Guide Dogs and Conventions

By DeAnna Quietwater Noriega

Some handlers choose to leave their guide dogs at home because their dogs are elderly or have health issues. Conventions are stressful for a number of reasons. Usually, the handler is not familiar with the site at which the convention is being held. Activities can mean early rising and late nights. Elevators and halls can be crowded with other blind people, exposing your dog to an environment unlike any she has worked in before. For one thing, blind people don’t step aside at sight of a guide dog the way sighted people do. They may step on a dog at rest if he is not neatly tucked under furniture or placed parallel to a wall with his handler standing between him and the traffic flow. Instead of a few hours in harness per day, the work day may run virtually all day. Here are some things that might help make a state or national convention easier on your dog.

If you allow your dog to relieve off leash in her own fenced backyard, practice relieving on leash. Use different surfaces, such as bark, grass, and pavement. If you have trouble picking up after your dog due to balance or joint issues, or because your dog moves a lot, leaving a trail of droppings in her wake, there is a toileting harness that you can get which makes picking up unnecessary. For female dogs, granules can be purchased to catch urine in the same toileting catch bag which solidifies the urine and the whole thing can be tossed away.

I put a bell on my dog’s collar which warns cane users of his proximity. He gets hit less and is thus less stressed dodging through the crowds.

Carry extra high value treats to reward your dog for reaching the elevator, stairs, or your room and other places you wish to locate. These can also be crumbled over his kibble if your dog is not eating, due to stress. Don’t worry about weight gain, because you and your dog will be walking more than you normally do.

Bring a toy for unwind time when you get back to your room.

Take your dog out for relieving at least four times a day and more if you can. All of the walking and long hours can make them need to go out more often.

When you first arrive, get help locating the relief area and the way to your room. It helps to arrive a bit early if you can so you will have time to explore the area before it gets too crowded.

Carry a cleanup kit with you. This is easy to put together. You can use a zip lock bag to hold Swiffer cloths to wipe up dog hair off bathroom floors after grooming, folded paper towels, hand-sanitizer, and some pickup bags. These supplies make cleanup after an accident from either end of your dog a snap.

Put together a first-aid kit for your dog. Things you might consider are, Imodium for diarrhea, low-dose aspirin for pain, vet wrap, ear cleaner, ointment to treat hot-spots or itching.

Finally don’t get impatient! Your dog doesn’t know his way around this new space any better than you do. If she is getting confused or overwhelmed, find a quiet corner and spend some snuggle time to reassure her that she is still your best friend and you understand that she is doing her best. If you must correct, follow the correction with some task that she can do easily and praise for that. Don’t leave her feeling as if she is a bad dog, just a dog that has done a thing you object too.

Happy convention attendance!

From Judy Burch:

Below find important information for those of us who fly and live in Missouri. The state ID we have been using for years will no longer be valid for the airlines as of October, 2020. You will need two proofs of residency (i.e., bills, rent notices, etc.), your birthcertificate, Social Security card, etc. I would advise everyone to call their license bureau location before going there to be sure you have all the documents you need to get your new state ID.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  Contact: TSAMedia@tsa.dhs.gov  August 22, 2019

TSA begins verbal advisements of REAL ID requirementsRollout of new signage begins at document checking station

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration announced today that it has begun verbally advising travelers who present non-compliant licenses of the upcoming REAL ID requirement and enforcement date. Beginning October 1, 2020, each traveler must present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of identification, to fly within the United States. Individuals who are unable to

verify their identity will not be permitted to enter the TSA checkpoint and will not be allowed to fly.

“The security requirements of the REAL ID Act are an important step in enhancing commercial aviation security,” said TSA Acting Deputy Administrator Patricia Cogswell. “REAL ID implementation is a little more than a year away – now is the time to prepare.”

Since April, TSA has displayed signs at airports to remind travelers that REAL ID-compliant licenses or other acceptable forms of ID, such as a state-issued enhanced driver’s license, a valid passport, or U.S. military ID, will be mandatory for air travel beginning on October 1, 2020. REAL ID-compliant licenses are marked by a star on the top of the card. Michigan, Vermont, Minnesota and New York states issue REAL ID and state-issued enhanced driver’s licenses, both of which are acceptable. Washington state issues enhanced driver’s licenses only. These documents will be accepted at the airport security checkpoint when the REAL ID enforcement goes into effect. Travelers who are not sure if their state-issued ID is compliant should check with their state driver’s license agency.

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act complies with the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies from accepting licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards for official purposes, such as at airport security checkpoints. The regulations established the deadline of October 1, 2020, to ensure full enforcement of the REAL ID Act. States have made considerable progress in meeting this key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.

For more information about flying with a REAL ID and to download and print informational materials, visit tsa.gov/real-id.

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POOL PARTY

By Amanda Dovin

Pool Party

When I was matched with my current Seeing Eye dog, a Golden retriever named Sonja, I had no idea what I was getting myself into with her. She was bouncy, energetic, and a bit crazy. I loved her spirit and her heart. But there was one thing about her I did not know yet, and was about to find out the hard way.

I was attending graduate school at Missouri State University. While I was there, I decided to join the rec center on campus and work out. Jess, my personal trainer, and I decided to start with pool

exercises, to get my body used to the strain of working out again. The head of the aquatics department had told me that we could put Sonja in her portable crate in his office while we worked out, so I did not have to be concerned about her wile I was occupied in the pool.

One day, Jess and I went into the changing room. We both changed into our suits, and I took off Sonja’s harness in order to take her to the crate. We went through the door into the pool area.

While we were walking across the pool deck toward the director’s office, Sonja took her fate into her own paws. Unknown to me, there was a basketball floating in the middle of the pool. She decided she wanted it, desperately! The next thing I knew, she folded both her front and back right legs under her body and rolled over like a log right into the pool with a resounding splash.

“Sonja Grace! Get out of the pool!” I called as I attempted to grab her leash from the edge of the pool.

She pulled away, and the next thing I heard was my dog swimming off away from me. I jumped in and went after her. She led me a merry dance through the pool lanes, the lazy river, and the pool center where the basketball happened to be still floating.

She continued her marathon swim around the pool, making several rounds of the lazy river, both against the current and with it. That whole time she was pushing the basketball with her nose. Jess and I finally caught her when she came to me since she was tired. I took her to the edge of the pool and put her out on the side. She paced along as I swam around the lazy river to get to the steps. The neat thing was as I came too close to the side, she jumped in and pushed me back into the center. There were low walls in the middle that she could climb back out onto and keep walking.

From that point on, I realized that I had a water dog. This was a polar opposite of my previous dog who hated water with a passion. I can happily say that she still loves a good pool party, even at 8 years old. The best benefit of this is that I know she is not afraid to work in the rain.

For those of you considering the possibility of getting a guide dog, or for those of you who may know someone who is thinking about getting a guide dog, the below will be of interest.

Now available through the National Library Service, and on BARD

A handbook for the prospective guide dog handler DB92557Guide Dog Users Inc. Reading time: 2 hours, 16 minutes. Read by Jill Ferris.

Animals and Wildlife

Fourth edition of a handbook for those considering working with a guide dog.

Sections include asking if a guide dog is for you, teaching old dogs new tricks, the path of independence, when things go wrong, and helpful resources. 2018.

As promised, below is the continuation of DeAnna’s story about her various guide dogs. Enjoy!

LESSONS MY GUIDE DOGS HAVE TAUGHT ME, PART II

By DeAnna Quietwater Noriega

Gentry was my fifth dog. He was 95 pounds, fast, strong and had no respect for women. He was also my best traffic dog. His speed and agility proved priceless when he needed to spin me into a hundred and eighty degree turn and back on to the curb to avoid being run down by a logging truck. He could easily walk the five miles from our home out along a county road with no sidewalks. When we arrived in the vicinity, he still had so much energy that he pretended not to see the turn into my restaurant and tried to sail on by hoping for another five miles of jogging. I called him my red-neck trucker dog because he always thought he knew best. If I decided to go left at a corner and he thought we should go right, he needed convincing. After several firm commands to turn in the direction I chose, he would move off slowly grumbling argumentatively under his breath. The translation was clear, “Darned woman is all turned around! The bank is over there! Women just have no sense of direction!”

Gentry had a softer side as well. His favorite toys were soft plush animals or a sock doll I made for him. He also loved kittens. He drove our family cats crazy trying to pick them up and carry them around. He ended up with a scratched nose more than once when he poked his large black Labrador face into the exposed belly of a sleeping cat. It never discouraged his belief that all cats were adorable. Eventually he adopted a black kitten that someone dropped off on our driveway. They often slept together. The kitten curled between Gentry’s large front paws serving as a pillow for his big buddy’s broad bear-like muzzle.

Gentry and I traveled many miles on Greyhound Buses and planes as I became more active in The American Council of the Blind and accepted a gubernatorial appointment on the Oregon State Library Board of Trustees. He did his best work when in unfamiliar areas. He was easily bored when we were traveling predictable routes. Boredom led to impulsive actions. For example, he jumped into an oily water filled drainage ditch because he was hot on the long walk to work. He also jumped up onto a drugstore counter to see where the chirping of a canary behind the counter was coming from. Although his exuberance and strength were a challenge to control, he had terrific initiative in problem solving.

One day I wanted to go to a meeting held in a room at the library. The front and side entrances were locked and of course if there was a sign posted anywhere, it wasn’t accessible to me. After we had circled the library twice with Gentry showing me locked doors, I gave up and started back to my restaurant. A block away, Gentry suddenly pulled me up the steps of a house. He spotted some people through a picture window and decided I needed help. Before I could turn him back to the street, the gentleman of the house came out to ask if I needed anything. After I explained that my dog thought I was lost because I was unable to find an entrance to attend a meeting at the library, the gentleman showed us where a back staircase led to an open door.

Gentry loved to travel. He dived under airline seats and curled up so tightly, that an airline stewardess once asked me if I wanted my bag put into the overhead storage locker. She mistook the handle of his harness for the handle of a rolling suitcase. When Gentry was nearly ten, he accompanied Curtis and me on a Caribbean cruise to celebrate our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. He got to leave his mark on seven different islands.

When Gentry began to limp on cold mornings and had trouble coming awake and alert after being down at rest, I knew it was time to start the process of looking for a retirement placement. He worked ten years. Although his exuberance and strength were a challenge to handle throughout our time together, he was a wonderful guide. I couldn't just work him when I knew he was in pain even though he would have continued to guide.

Scottie, my best friend at college, and I had kept in touch over the years. She and her husband and son now lived on the family farm. Her mother had recently lost a sweet yellow lab I had found for her as a companion. Mom Hagedorn still lived alone in her house on the farm. Scottie helped me convince her that Gentry would be a great security guard with his large size and deep authoritative bark. His house manners were excellent and he enjoyed children so Scottie’s son Jonathon joined the effort to convince grandma that they needed to adopt this big fellow. He died at fourteen. I saw him several times during his retirement and was glad he was having a good time in a warmer climate with a child to play with and other dogs to dominate. It seemed to me, that it was only fair to give him those three years of rest after the ten years he had given me. Gentry taught me to accept others for themselves. No one is perfect, but if we can learn to focus on the good qualities in their natures, we can live with those that aren't to our liking.

Griffin was my sixth canine partner. He was a lovely sensitive male German shepherd. He required a cheerleader to perform at his best. His pride in his work boosted by a lot of attention and praise enabled me to travel to Mexico twice, Hawaii twice, to visit the Caribbean and to represent various affiliates of the American Council of the Blind in legislative seminars in Washington D.C. He believed that he was a seventy-five pound lap dog. My Griffin unlike my three labs didn't like to curl up. He stretched full length whenever possible. So when I tried to place his rear-end under the airline seat in front of me, he insisted in resting his chin and forepaws on the retainer bar under my seat. When the

plane went into a steep climb, he slithered over the bar and into the row behind startling the teenaged girls sitting there. Needless to say, on a subsequent flight he dove under the seat in front of mine and allowed me to brace him with my feet!

Griffin was nearly as timid as was Teddy. He truly wanted to please and tried hard to understand what I wanted. I was once faced with a mountain of luggage in which my bag was stacked. I needed to meet my ride to the airport. There wasn't anyone around to lend me a hand in locating my suitcase. I exclaimed, "How will I ever find my bag!" Griffin stepped to my right and laid his head across a small familiar rolling suitcase. I had never taught him to locate my possessions, but he did understand the word find paired with things like an elevator, stairs, chair etc. He drew the conclusion I wanted him to find something and my suitcase containing his rug and toys was the only thing that seemed likely to him. Sometimes, Griffin got overwhelmed by the difficulties of finding our way in new and strange locales. When his confidence began to wane, I found he could be reassured if I sang to him as we walked. If you happened to be crossing the capitol mall in Washington D.C. and spotted a lady chanting Army cadence, "I don't know! But I've been told! Getting lost can sure grow old!" It was likely to have been me and my Griffin dog. Griffin has taught me that we can get better results from others if we are willing to give them credit for their accomplishments. A thank you well timed makes the day brighter for both the one giving the thanks and the one receiving them. Griffin was the only one of my dogs to die in harness. He loyally guided me until the day he died.

The Company We Keep

During the 2008 election campaign, I attended a town hall meeting staged in Columbia Missouri. The event was for vice presidential nominee Joe Biden.  I was able to take along threeco-workers from my office because my husband went to the ticket distribution centerin our small town of Fulton.  Tickets had all been distributed in Columbia on Sundaynight.  Only one politician spoke before the senator, Judy Baker who was running forthe 9th congressional district.

A woman who had jokingly remarked to a friend after seeing Barak Obama speak at thedemocratic convention in 2004, that if that man ever runs for president, "Iwill have to get actively involved in getting him elected."  Four years later, shewas leading the introductions.  After a short speech and a question and answer session, it was time to work the rope line.  Olsen, in his usual manner, slithered through the crowd until we were up against the barrier.  Senator Bidenmoved up and down greeting and listening to people.  When he reached the spot whereI was standing, my dog was wedged between us against the curtains.  Senator Bidentook my right hand in his and greeted me warmly, I wished him a blessing on his journeyand safe travels.  He stepped close, leaned across the barrier to kiss my cheek andgive me a hug.  He leaned down to stroke Olsen on the top of his satiny headand commented that he once owned a Belgian shepherd and that my dog was beautiful.On the local news that evening, the camera caught Olsen and I moving through thecrowd. Once again my Seeing Eye trained dog got me where I wanted to go with graceand security. What's more, because of my handsome escort, we got noticed.  Mom wasright when she exhorted me to choose the company I keep wisely.No, I didn't tell the senator not to pet my dog; I figured they both deserved the privilege.

Everyone Needs a Little Dark Chocolate in There Day

My eighth guide dog was Reno, His coat was a rich dark chocolate and he had lovely amber golden eyes like Tammy. He was as gentle as Teddy, as sweet and cuddly as Griffin with a loving joyful personality. He only worked five years because he was extremely timid and eventually his tremors when frightened

and his

reluctance to be harnessed told me it was time to let him move in to a new career. He is now working with a friend who does respite and hospice care. His affectionate loving nature is much better suited to bringing comfort to the terminally ill than it was facing the challenges of complex traffic and the rolling thunder of summer storms. Even when he was cringing and shaking with fear, he never left me in the lurch. However, I could see how much it cost him to bravely soldier through. Because my dogs give me so much, it is my responsibility to return that gift by knowing when it is time to let them hang up that harness. My Little chocolate taught me to think of the needs of others even if it means toughing it through a difficult situation.

I am now newly matched with Enzo, a beautiful gentle German Shepherd who thinks he should be allowed to sit on car seats. He loves his crate as a place of his own to retire from the hurly burly of our home. As much as it hurts to lose a dog to illness or a need for a career change, Enzo has already begun to teach me that we must be ready to look forward and let the past stay in the past. We live in the now and that can be a pretty great place to be.

Since receiving my first guide dog Tammy in 1968, eight successor dogs have taken up their stations at my left side. Each dog shouldered the responsibility of guiding to the best of his or her ability. Each brought a savor and enjoyment to my life with their companionship. They walked beside me for a while, sharing my journey, helping me to meet and overcome the challenges inherent in being a blind woman. From each dog, I learned lessons that have enriched my life. They have been responsible for my being able to board planes early, occasionally even being moved from the economy seating I can afford to first class.  They have given me the opportunity of meeting likeminded people who alsolove dogs. They have kept me safe and made it possible for me to go where I want, when I want and added immeasurably to the quality of my journey by assuring I didn’t have to walk alone.

Meet Sarah Calhoun

Editor: Where do you live, and what is your affiliation with the Missouri Council of the Blind?

Sarah: I live in Imperial, Missouri, and I’m with Missouri Guide Dog Users, honored to be treasurer, and I’m also a member of Adaptive Technology. The way I was introduced to the Missouri council of the Blind is that I was a member of the St Louis council of the Blind with Bill Benson and others, but transportation got to be a little difficult. But I am still a member of MCB.

Editor: What is your current dog’s name, and what is its breed?

Sarah: My current dog is Lakota, a female yellow Labrador.,

Editor: How would you compare traveling with a dog to traveling with a cane?

Sarah: Oh my gosh … For me, it opened my life. I lost my vision suddenly in 2000, within a couple of weeks. It was hard to adjust. I learned cane skills through Missouri Rehabilitation, and then by 2004 I totally lost all of my vision. Then, through the Brentwood Lions Club, I heard about Leader Dogs in Michigan. So I went up there, and the first time I held the harness handle and took a walk, I felt so much freedom. I felt more independent. I felt … it just changed my world. Using a cane is great, but I was never a fan of it. I feel more confident as a blind woman with a dog. God willing, I will always have a guide dog in my life. … With my dog, I didn’t feel so confined. I was crying the whole time during that first walk. The trainer asked “Are you okay, Sarah?” and I said “I’m fine … I’m just so happy.”

Editor: Do you have any fun or interesting stories that you can share with us about traveling with your guide dogs?

Sarah: Well, true story. My first dog, Tico, was a male black Lab. He was 61 pounds. I was in school at Leader Dogs, and as the class got closer to going home, things were going well. I knew I still had lots to learn, but I was thinking, “Oh gosh, I can’t wait to get home and take a walk all by myself in the neighborhood.” So I got home, and Jeff took the day off. The next day we were going to go somewhere, maybe to the store. Jeff got up, and was going to take a shower, so I thought, “Tico and I are going to take our first walk.” Jeff didn’t know we had left.

Off we went, down the road, and in our subdivisionyou as you go down, there’s a small cul-de-sac on the left, then you go again, down a real long hill to another cul-de-sac and then another street to the left and then another one that goes out of the subdivision. So we were walking and I was coming back, and I knew we had turned down one of the cul de sacs. So we were walking and walking and walking downhill, and I thought this was the short one. So we were walking and walking and walking, and all of a sudden I got confused … I got turned around … I didn’t know where we were … I thought “Oh my gosh, are we walking out of the subdivision?” I was totally lost. So I happened to find some of those decorative rocks like the ones you put in your yard … I sat down there .. we had been gone for some time and I was totally lost. I thought, “Okay, I’m going to listen for traffic.” Nothing. I couldn’t hear any traffic or no noise. And then finally I hear this car, and I turn, and the car stops and Jeff says, “Are you okay?” And I burst into tears. “I’m lost.” Jeff said, “Wait a minute” and he turned the car around and

he jumped out of the car … and I said, “I’m lost … where am I?” He said, “you’re at the bottom of Castle Court,” and I said, “Where’s Castle Court?” That’s the second cul-de-sac.

Jeff said when he got out of the shower he noticed the door was unlocked. He went looking for us, going down all these other streets, and he came to Castle Court and he said he thought, “There’s no way she would have gone down Castle Court,” … so he went back, and then came back to Castle Court, and there we were! So that was our first walk.

There was another time when we went down to Arkansas to visit my mom and dad. We went to the hotel and dropped our stuff off, and were going over to my mom and dad’s for dinner, and it’s kind of a small town. We came up to the stop sign and Jeff said, “Oh, there’s nobody here,” … and we went through the stop sign and … well, there was, and we got pulled over to a church parking lot, the guy came up, asked for license, registration, walked back to his car, and then came back and said he wasn’t going to give Jeff a ticket because he loved our dog, and so he was just going to let us go. Tico was standing up and had his head on the back of the seat, looking out the back window. I said, “He’s my guide dog.” I told Jeff, “You owe Tico a new ball.” So Jeff went out and he bought two new balls for Tico!

Sometimes, when we’re in a shopping center, Walmart, or something, people will say, “Oh what’s your dog’s name? She’s so pretty,” and so out of the blue I’ll say, “Bella.” One time Jeff and I went back into Walmart and this lady said “Bella! Bella! Oh my gosh, it’s Bella! I haven’t seen Bella in so long!” At first it didn’t register with me that she was talking about Lakota!

Editor: What do you do for a living?

Sarah: I was in accounts receivable and payable for mainly construction companies, companies that would do work for either the state or city or federal governments. a couple companies worked with hazardous materials. We would have to order the suits and safety masks for the particular jobs that they would have to go to. I worked for a barge company in accounts receibable again. Basically Then my last two jobs were for a propane company in accounting, doing inventory and customer service. In January, 2000 I started having vision problems, and so I went to my eye doctor and did end up leaving my job because of my vision.

Editor: What activities do you enjoy in your spare time?

Sarah: Well, other than taking Lakota for walks, my grandkids and my family, I like going to a movie every once in a while. I like to travel for vacation or conventions. I like to crochet, and once a week I

watch my youngest grandson, and other times I will watch my other grandkids. I have seven grandchildren, three girls and four boys. The oldest Is 19 and the youngest is 2 ½.

Editor: What is your vision for the future of MGDU?

Sarah: It would be great to contact other people in other parts of the state to let them know about MGDU. I would really like to see us do some outreach to other parts of the state. Of course, Top Dog will be a huge event. We are honored to be able to host it. It would be cool if we could have some kind of an event, even if it is in St. Louis or Kansas City, to do something to promote MGDU, such as having a fundraiser in our own towns to bring awareness to the public about MGDU. I would like to see MGDU grow and reach other people in different parts of the state.

Editor: Do you have any final words of wisdom that you would like to impart to our readers?

Sarah: We all get our dogs from different schools. We pick our schools based on our needs and we grow in our relationships with our dogs. We eventually will get successor dogs. It is important to have a good relationship with your dog, but also with your school, and we need to support each other.

Everyone,

The below message was recently posted by Melanie Brunson to the email list to which veterans with service/guide dogs subscribe. As there seems to be an increasing number of out-of-control pet and emotional support dogs that are accompanying their owners into public places, we all ought to be more cognizant of such and become more involved with education of the general public about the laws regarding guide and service dogs. Kudos to the VA central office for posting the memo, and kudos to the veterans who have advocated for this and who will continue to press forward.

FYI

Subject: [VA Signage About Service Dogs

Date: August 19, 2019 at 1:09:59 PM CDT

Hello all,

VA central office has recently issued a memo to all medical centers recommending that they post signs at various locations around their buildings explaining VA’s policies regarding the circumstances under which dogs are allowed on VA property. The memo is accompanied by the text and specifications for the sign to be used. I shared the wording with the group that met during the convention, and as promised, I also wanted to post it to this list. Please excuse any strange formatting that may result from my cut and paste efforts. The text reads as follows:

Melanie Brunson

SERVICE DOGS WELCOME

Please Remember:

Only trained Service Dogs are permitted on VA property. They must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered and under the handler’s control at all times. Service Dogs “in training” are not Service Dogs.

Pets, companions, emotional support dogs or other species of support animals are not permitted on VA property.

Animals registered in VA’s AT/AAA programs are permitted on VA property. Service Dogs must be trained to eliminate their waste outdoors. Handlers are responsible for any accidents and for removing waste.

Service Dogs are not permitted in operating/surgical rooms, acute in-patient care, or areas that would affect patient care, safety or infection control standards

Service Dogs not house broken, aggressive toward people or other Service Dogs, engaging in running, excessive barking, jumping on people or furniture, etc., may be removed from the property.

(Cute little image of a golden retriever)

During a meeting with the VHA staff responsible for this signage, I was told that it is a work in progress, but they wanted to get the word out and try to get VAMCs working under more consistent policies. It is my understanding that this is only the beginning of VA’s effort to take steps nationwide to deal with the increasing number of incidents arising from poorly trained and unruly animals on VA property. This is a good sign if true. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Did You Know?

Raymond Bishop

In the last issue of “Tales Across Missouri” in the (Did You Know?) feature; number 7 indicated that the word (dog) was mentioned 41 times in the Bible. I decided to look up those 41 verses and here is what I found …

(Note: All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) The link appears below to show where I got the actual Bible verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=dog&qs_version=NIV&limit=50

1. As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. Proverbs 26:11

2. But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Exodus 11:7

3. “You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs. Exodus 22:31

4. So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Judges 7:5

5. Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. Judges 7:6

6. He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 1 Samuel 17:43

7. “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 1 Samuel 24:14

8. Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! 2 Samuel 3:8

9. Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” 2 Samuel 9:8

10. Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.” 2 Samuel 16:9

11. Dogs will eat those belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country. The Lord has spoken!’ 1 Kings 14:11

12. Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds will feed on those who die in the country.” 1 Kings 16:4

13. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’” 1 Kings 21:19

14. “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ 1 Kings 21:23

15. “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.” 1 Kings 21:24

16. They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed), and the dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared. 1 Kings 22:38

17. Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog, accomplish such a feat?” “The Lord has shown me that you will become king of Aram,” answered Elisha. 2 Kings 8:13

18. As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’” Then he opened the door and ran. 2 Kings 9:10

19. They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. 2 Kings 9:36

20. Terrors startle him on every side and dog his every step. Job 18:11

21. “But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs. Job 30:1

22. Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. Psalm 22:16

23. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Psalm 22:20

24. They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. Psalm 59:6

25. They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. Psalm 59:14

26. that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.” Psalm 68:23

27. Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. Proverbs 26:17

28. Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion! Ecclesiastes 9:4

29. Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. Isaiah 56:10

30. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain. Isaiah 56:11

31. But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations; Isaiah 66:3

32. “I will send four kinds of destroyers against them,” declares the Lord, “the sword to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds and the wild animals to devour and destroy. Jeremiah 15:3

33. “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6

34. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Matthew 15:26

35. “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Matthew 15:27

36. “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Mark 7:27

37. “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Mark 7:28

38. and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. Luke 16:21

39. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. Philippians 3:2

40. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” 2 Peter 2:22

41. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Revelation 22:15

Still Scolding Your Dog for This? You're Hijacking One of Her Most Brilliant AbilitiesBy Dr. Karen Shaw Becker

If you have a dog, you know "the nose knows." Dogs have an excellent sense of smelland can be trained to quickly and accurately sniff out all kinds of things, such as live or dead bodies, drugs, disease and more. But while we all understand the power of

the average dog nose, we've been clueless about how dogs recognize or identify the things they smell.

Until now, that is. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and the department for general psychology and cognitive neuroscience at Friedrich Schiller University of Jena in Germany have recently published a study providing evidence that dogs create mental pictures of what they're searching for when they track a scent trail.1 Put another way, dogs expect to find a certain thing when they're sent sniffing.

Dogs Display Surprise/Hesitation When They Sniff Out an Object They Aren't Expecting to Find

The researchers tested a total of 48 dogs, 25 of which had either police K9 or search and rescue training. The remaining 23 were family dogs with no special training.

In the pretest, two favorite toys (toys they liked to retrieve) were identified for each dog. Then in the actual test, the dogs were put through four trials in which they followed the scent trail of one of their two favorite toys. At the end of the trail, the dogs found either the toy they were expecting to find (the normal condition), or the other one (the surprise condition or a "violation-of-expectation paradigm" as described by the researchers). 

Half the dogs were tested under the normal condition; the other half were given the surprise condition, and their behavior was videotaped during each trial. According to the researchers, in the first trial, the dogs who were given the surprise condition showed hesitation when they reached the unexpected toy, and continued to search with their noses, probably for the toy that had been used to lay the scent trail. 

However, in subsequent trials, the dogs showed no hesitation, perhaps because they were rewarded no matter which toy they found, or because the test area still smelled like the toys from previous trials (even though it had been cleaned). According to study director Dr. Juliane Bräuer, the results of the first trial suggest that dogs hold a mental picture of their target when they

track a scent, which means they have a solid expectation of what they will find. 

Bräuer also found comparisons between the working and family dogs interesting. The K9s and search and rescue dogs retrieved the toys faster than the family dogs in the first trial, which was expected. But by the fourth trial, the two groups were retrieving the toys equally quickly. 

Why It's so Important to Let Your Dog Sniff

Dogs are brilliant sniffers by design, and I often wonder if pet parents truly understand their dog's need to explore the world with their nose. Some dog owners seem in such a hurry to get their walks over with, they don't give their pets a chance to satisfy their urge to sniff their environment.

Here's some excellent insight from animal behaviorist Marc Bekoff, Ph.D. on the potential for sensory deprivation and stress in dogs who aren't allowed adequate sniffing opportunities:

"Being smell-blind can be aversive to dogs. My recommendation is to let dogs sniff; let's not hijack one of their vital connections to the world. Let them sniff to their nose's content when they're tethered on a leash, or when they're walking and hanging out with friends and others and running freely

As mentioned, not allowing dogs to exercise their nose and other senses could be a form of sensory deprivation that robs them of information they need to figure out what's happening in their world. Being smell-blind can indeed be stressful to dogs because they need odors and other information to assess what's happening around them."2

Not every walk you take with your dog has to be a leisurely sniff-fest. But at least once a day, let your canine BFF sniff to his heart's content and feel good that you're letting your dog be a dog! 

Making the Most of Your Dog's Talented Nose

Did you know you can channel your dog's keen sense of smell and love of sniffing into an activity you can do together? K9 nose work, also called nose work and scent work, is a sport for dogs and their owners that was created and sanctioned by the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW). The activity is an offshoot of the training professional scent detection dogs ("sniffer dogs") receive. Elements of the training are used in K9 nose work, but for recreational purposes only.

Nose work encourages your dog to use his natural hunting drive and unique talent for picking up scents and locating the source. The training teaches your dog to find one of three scents, wherever you decide to hide it. In nose work competitions, there are four locations involved in searching: interiors, exteriors, containers and vehicles.

K9 nose work isn't an obedience-based activity. Instead, it works with your dog's natural instinct to hunt and track scents. There are few commands given during the activity, and no attention to the owner is required while the dog is working. From the K9 Nose Work website:

"In K9 Nose Work, dogs learn how to search for a specific odor or odors and find the source. Dogs start by searching for their favorite food or toy reward hidden in a variety of environments, increasing the challenges and adding new search skills as the dog progresses. 

Most people will choose to have their dogs learn to find the target odors used in K9 Nose Work: birch, anise, and clove; those looking to keep it fun searching for food or toy can still have fun and progress in the activity. Once target odors are introduced to the dog, he will search for the odor only and find its source, then get rewarded by his handler with his favorite food or toy reward."

K9 Nose Work Can Be a Great Bonding Experience for You and Your Dog

Some of the benefits of K9 nose work:3

Dogs easily burn lots of mental & physical energy doing searches

Searches can be done anywhere you can take your dog

No prior training is required and no obedience is needed

In classes, dogs work one at a time and rest crated or safely in a vehicle between searches, so reactive dogs can enjoy the activity, too

Shy or fearful dogs build confidence and overactive dogs put their energy into fun searches

Stronger bond between dog and handler as handler learns to observe, understand and rely upon his dog 

Best of all, any dog with a nose can participate in nose work, so you don't have to have a typical sniffer dog (e.g., a Retriever, German Shepherd, or Bloodhound) to get your pet involved in the sport.

Some dog owners have found nose work to be a great supplement to a behavior modification program. Focusing on scent detection can help reactive dogs learn to tolerate the presence of other dogs. It can help shy dogs grow more comfortable with their surroundings, and it encourages distracted dogs to stay on task.

Nose work is also beneficial for senior dogs, dogs recovering from surgery or an injury, dogs with hearing loss or eyesight problems, and retired service, working or competition dogs. It can also provide a great outlet for hyperactive dogs. 

For more information, you can visit K9 Nose Work or the NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work). You can also search YouTube for K9 nose work videos and see lots of dogs and trainers/owners in action, plus a wide range of training techniques and uses for nose work.

Thanks to Sarah for posting this on the GDUI chat list.

Hello everyone,

Assistance Dogs International North America (ADINA) has published a position paper and course of action with the  goal of easing the burden of air travel for service dog teams.

I have attached the report of the North American Airline Access for Assistance Dog Teams to this email.

Below is additional information posted by Leader Dogs.

Best,

SarahAir travel for service dog teams

Hello Sarah,

In response to complications that service dog handlers and their dogs experience when traveling by plane, Assistance Dogs International North America (ADINA) has published a position paper and course of action with the goal of easing this burden of air travel for service dog teams. ADINA advocates 1) changing the Air Carrier Access Act to align with the ADA’s definition of a service animal and 2) providing education to airlines to understand the type of training and behavior to expect from a service animal.

Leader Dogs for the Blind is an accredited member of ADINA, which represents 17,504 active working service dog teams in North America.

Leader Dog supports the position of ADINA and will be contacting Michigan members of the Senate and House transportation committees to advocate on behalf of our 1,500 active guide dog teams in North America, and we urge you to do the same.

How to Get Involved

1. Find a member of the House or Senate transportation committee in your state.

2. Make an appointment to meet with them or a member of their staff to discuss your position as a working Leader Dog handler, or;

3. Send an email or call your representative and/or senator to state your position.

We’ve created talking points and a simple email template that you can use to talk to your government official and help them understand why change is needed. Get started here: leaderdog.org/adina.

There’s strength in numbers. If all our Leader Dog teams and other service dog teams reach out to their representatives and senators on the transportation committees, our voices will be heard. Together we can make flying with service dogs better for everyone.

Report: North American Airline Access for Assistance Dog Teams Meeting with US Government Officials.pdf

FROM: Assistance Dogs International, North America

TO: U.S. Elected Officials

RE: Traveling by Air with Service Animals

Table of Contents

Introduction

Assistance Dogs International 2

Assistance Dogs International, North America 3

Topics and Positions

Emotional Support Animals 4

Species Limitations 4

Number of Service Animals Per Passenger 5

Psychiatric Service Animals 5

Documentation for Psychiatric Service Animals 6

Advance Notice 8

Emotional Support Animals – Containment 9

Documentation of ESAs 10

Containment of Emotional Support Animals 10

Species Limitations - Dogs Only 11

Public Behavior Training 12

Alternatives to requiring documentation to assess the service animal’s behavior 13

Control of the Service Animal 16

Large Service Animals 17

Veterinary Forms 18

Code Share Flights 19

FROM: Assistance Dogs International, North America

TO: U.S. Elected Officials

RE: Traveling by Air with Service Animals

Assistance Dogs International

Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a worldwide coalition of non-profit programs that train and place Assistance Dogs. Founded in 1986, ADI is the leading

authority in the Assistance Dog industry.

The objectives of ADI are to:

list of 4 items

• Establish and promote standards of excellence in all areas of assistance dog acquisition, training and partnership

• Facilitate communication and learning among member programs

• Educate the public to the benefits of

Assistance Dogs and ADI membership.

list end

President George H.W. Bush and his Service Dog Sully with President Bill Clinton America’s Vet Dogs, St. Smithtown, NY

ADI organizations that pass ADI’s accreditation process become ADI Accredited Member programs. They are regularly assessed to ensure they meet the highest

standards in the industry.

Terminology: Assistance Dog = Service Dog

The training industry defines Assistance Dogs the same way that the Americans

with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines Service Dogs – as dogs specially trained to perform

a task or tasks to mitigate an individual’s disability. ADI organizations are required to

also train their dogs in public behavior in places such as restaurants, stores, trains and

airplanes.

ADI North America

ADI North America (ADI, NA) consists of 73 Assistance Dog training organizations:

United States – 65

Canada – 8

ADI, NA Service Dogs teams currently active in North America – 17,504

ADI, NA member clients comprise the majority of individuals using service dogs including those using air carriers. ADI, NA appreciates this opportunity

to share its expertise regulations pertaining to air travel by animals in the airplane cabin.

Amending the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)

Hearing Dog team, Megan and Sherlock

Service Dogs, Inc., Dripping Springs, TX

ADI, NA agrees with the transportation industry and individuals with disabilities contacting Department of Transportation (DOT) that the Air Carrier Access

Act (ACAA) regulation on the transportation of service animals should be amended to:

list of 3 items

• Ensure nondiscriminatory access for individuals with disabilities,

• Prevent instances of fraud

• Ensure consistency with other Federal regulations, specifically, the Americans With Disabilities Act.

list end

ADI, NA agrees with the DOT of the importance of:

list of 3 items

• Ensuring individuals with disabilities can continue using their service animals

• Deterring the fraudulent use of other animals not qualified as service animals

• Not accepting animals not trained to behave properly in public for transport as service animals.

list end

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)

ADI, NA agrees with the airlines in opposing recognition of Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) in the ACAA context because ESAs are not required to have

training of any kind. Specifically, ESAs do not have training in public behavior. Because of this:

list of 2 items

• ESAs pose a potential threat of disruption or harm to passengers, crew and legitimate service animals

• ESAs can suffer stress from being in the

environment of air travel stemming from:

list of 3 items nesting level 1

o Exposure to crowds at airports

o Confinement to a carrier for an extended period of time

o Changes in air pressure, altitude, vibrations and noise associated with air travel

list end nesting level 1

list end

Service Dogs remain calm in proximity to strangers and in a variety of situations. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport

Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS), Columbia, SC

ADI, NA agrees with the proposal of air carriers of eliminating access for ESAs.

ADI, NA agrees with airlines and flight attendants that should ESAs continue to have cabin access, ESA species should be limited to dogs and cats because

it is difficult to enforce a rule that ESAs be allowed to be outside of their carriers when providing disability mitigation because that would require

a subjective assessment by flight attendants.

ADI, NA feels that should ESAs continue to have access, that they should be required to fit into pet carriers and remain contained inside of them for the

duration of the flight.

Service Animals – Species Limitation to Dogs

ADI, NA agrees with airline representatives and the disability organizations cited in the DOT’s Docket No. DOT-OST-2018-0068, RIN No. 2105-AE63 that coverage

of service animals should be limited to dogs.

Number of Service Animals Per Passenger - Limit to 1 (One)

ADI, NA feels that passengers should be limited to one (1) service animal on an air carrier. In the Assistance Dog industry, training organizations provide

only a single service dog for a client. When an individual has multiple disabilities, agencies will train a single service dog as a “dual purpose” dog.

The dual purpose dog, for example, might work for an individual who is blind and also uses a wheelchair, both guiding the person and retrieving objects.

Or a deaf person who also has seizures would use a dual purpose dog that alerts her to sounds, such as the door knock and telephone and also alerts her

to seizures so she can gather herself, sit down and hug a pillow or take other helpful action to prepare for the seizure. The Assistance Dog industry trains

only one dog per client, preferring to train that dog to mitigate the client’s disabilities instead of expecting a client to be able to care for and keep

two dogs under control. At times, when a dog is retiring or near the end of its life, an agency may place the successor service dog with the client; however,

the overlap would be in the home only. The agency would instruct the client to only take the successor service dog out into public.

Service Dogs training at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International

Airport.

Can Do Canines, New Hope, MN

ADI, NA supports the ACAA limiting passengers to transporting one service animal.

Psychiatric Service Animals

ADI, NA holds that Psychiatric Service Animals (PSAs) should be classified under “Service Animals” because they perform one or more tasks to mitigate their

partners’ disability. PSAs also receive training on behaving properly in public.

ADI, NA holds that PSAs differ from ESAs because ESAs are not required to have any training to mitigate their partners’ disability nor are they required

to have any training on how to behave in public.

The same questions allowed by ADA to regarding someone claiming their animal is a service animal would apply to a PSA:

list of 2 items

- Is that a service animal? (dog)

- What does it do for you?

list end

The answers should be – yes and secondly, a description of a physical task or tasks the animal performs such as “wakes me up from a nightmare”. Answers

such as “offers comfort”, “helps calm me down” do not constitute tasks. The latter are what ESAs do. As one trainer said, “If a Teddy Bear can do it, it’s

not a service dog”.

Service Dogs and their partners going through security at Denver International Airport.

Freedom Service Dogs, Denver, CO

ADI, NA member organizations include Psychiatric Service Dog providers. They must train their dogs in public behavior as well as assistive tasks. Their

training in public behavior equips them to behave appropriately in air travel. This training also conditions them to accept air travel without undue stress

to the animal itself.

Documentation for Psychiatric Service Animals

ADI, NA holds that DOT should revise its service animal regulation under the

ACAA to match the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) ADA service animal regulation, and

prohibit airlines from requiring PSA users to provide a letter from a licensed mental

health professional as a condition for air travel. The effective alternative methods to

prevent fraud are those already used to prevent fraud for traditional service animals.

Asking the two questions, cited above and observation of the animal’s behavior. If any

service animal behaves inappropriately e.g. barking excessively, growling, snapping,

toileting indoors, stealing food from tables, other passengers or the floor, the airport and

airline personnel may ask the service

animal users to remove the dog

regardless of its status as a service

animal.

ADI, NA holds that airline personnel can use the two questions cited above to distinguish PSAs from ESAs. Strict penalties for fraud should discourage

people from falsely claiming their animal is a PSA to the same extent they discourage passengers from claiming their animal is a traditional service animal.

Service Dogs focus on their handler even when being touched by third parties. Note the dog’s eye contact and relaxed body language. Savannah/Hilton Head

International Airport

Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS), Columbia, SC

Again, the main test is the animal’s behavior. The animal, in ADI, NA’s case, dog, should be calm, responsive to its partner’s cues (commands) for behaviors

and not barking, excessively sniffing, growling, eating food from the floor or any source other than that offered by the dog’s handler, toileting indoors

or displaying other disruptive behavior. The dog does not have to be 100% perfect; however, it should be under the control of the handler. The dog should

always be leashed or harnessed. These characteristics are easily observed by airline personnel.

ADI, NA agrees that there can be a cost for PSA and other service animal users to obtain medical documentation. ADI, NA also points out that:

list of 3 items

• There can be a significant time delay in obtaining medical documentation

• A passenger’s doctor may not be involved in the passenger’s decision to obtain a PSA; therefore, the doctor may not be aware of it or prepared to comment

on it

• “Parentalism” is a term used by the disability community to mean others treating

disabled individuals as children, not capable of making their own decisions. Requiring a

third party to sign off on a disabled individual’s need for or decision to acquire a PSA can

be seen as parentalism. Disabled individuals, like everyone else, seek to make their own

decisions regarding the solutions to mitigate

their challenges. They should not be

required to “have an adult’s permission” or

“parent’s note” justifying their choice to

utitlize a PSA.

list end

Advance Notice

ADI, NA holds that passengers traveling with PSAs should not be required to give advance notice prior to travel. This is because PSAs are trained to task

and also for public outings at the same level as traditional service dogs. They perform tasks such as waking up their partner from a nightmare. The distinction

is that ESAs provide comfort just by being there and are not required to have any training including for public outings. As one trainer says, “If a Teddy

Bear can do it, it is not a service dog”.

Service Dog Vancouver, Atascocita, Texas, flying from George Bush International Airport, Houston to Washington, D.C. Note the relaxed body language.

Service Dogs, Inc., Dripping Springs, TX

Passengers with Service Animals and Psychiatric Service Animals should be treated the same under both ADA and ACAA.

ADI, NA holds that there is no reason to retain the 48 hours’ advance notice requirement of PSAs. This would not apply to ESAs because ADI, NA holds that

ESAs should not be allowed to travel in the cabin outside of a carrier, if at all. The impact of the 48 hours’ notice requirement can reasonably be seen

as imposing discriminatory restrictions on passengers traveling with PSAs who need to fly at the spur of the moment for funerals, hospitalizations or other

emergencies, or who seek to fly within 48 hours for non-emergency matters.

Emotional Support Animals - Containment

Should emotional support animals be required to travel in pet carriers for the duration of the flight?

Answer: Yes, in the event the DOT decides to continue to allow them to travel in the cabin.

Should the DOT continue to include ESAs in its definition of a service animal under the ACAA?

Answer: No.

Unlike service animals, as defined, trained and recognized by Assistance Dogs International, ESAs are not trained to perform a “specific active function”

or task. Furthermore, ESAs are not trained for public work. ESAs are not equipped nor prepared to behave appropriately in public. Air travel is an even

more intense and complex environment than typical public facilities like stores and restaurants. ESAs will likely be highly stressed and fearful in the

air travel environment. This stress and fear can prompt aggression, vocalizing, toileting and other harm, destruction or disturbances to passengers and

crew. It can also harm the animal itself.

A Service Dog tucked neatly and calmly under a seat flying out of Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu

Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs, Kahuku, Hawaii

Other Federal Laws, ADA and Fair Housing Act

The ADA does not classify ESAs as service animals, nor do most state statutes.

Although the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the Fair Housing Act considers animals that provide emotional support to persons

with disabilities to be assistance animals, this policy applies to a home environment only. A home is not comparable to public air travel. Obviously, air

travel involves the actions and needs of many people and is a more crowded and complex environment.

ADI, NA feels that the amended definition of service animals should not include emotional support animals.

Documentation of ESAs

Should the DOT continue to allow ESAs to fly in cabin, ADI, NA feels that a letter from a licensed mental health professional stating that the passenger

under his or her care for the condition requiring the ESA and specifying that the passenger needs the animal for an accommodation in air travel or at the

passenger’s destination is insufficient to ensure that the ESA is fit to travel because the licensed mental health professional does not have any knowledge

of the animal, its training or behavior. Furthermore, the licensed mental health professional is not qualified to address the ESA’s level of training or

potential behavior in the air travel environment.

Service Dog training organizations instruct their clients how to prepare their dogs for long flights. This includes learning how to tuck into a small space,

calmness and arranging the dog’s feeding and water schedule so it is “empty” for the flight. Denver International Airport

Freedom Service Dogs, Denver, CO

Because ESAs are not required to have any training, any documentation of a passenger’s need for an ESA fails to address the issue that causes problems

in air travel, the ESA’s training and behavior. An animal that is behaving poorly or is itself stressed would presumably decline in its benefit to its

partner as emotional support because it is in distress itself and/or is distressing others.

Other types of proof for carriage of ESAs in the passenger cabin and advance notice do not address the issue of non-training, poor behavior and stress

to the ESA itself either.

Containment of Emotional Support Animals

If DOT adopts a rule that continues to require that ESAs be accepted for transport in the aircraft cabin, should DOT allow airlines to require that ESAs

be in carriers for the duration of the flight?

Answer: Yes

As stated above, ESAs are not required to have any training. Therefore, for the

maximum safety for airline crew, passengers, service animals and the ESAs themselves,

ESAs should remain in their carrier for the duration of their flights. The carrier itself may

be stored under the ESAs passenger’s seat space or be held on the passenger’s lap.

If the emotional support animal is too big to fit in a pet carrier, it should not be allowed on the plane for the same reasons stated above – the dangers

posed by lack of training.

Species Limitations – Dogs Only

ADI, NA feels that species of service animals should be limited to dogs. Dogs are the most common species of service animals trained worldwide. Allowances

can be made for miniature horses already in use for guiding people who are blind; however, these should only be grandfathered in for miniature horses currently

in service, or in service as of some previous date.

Service Dogs are trained to behave calmly in the hectic environment of the airport, as well as in the confined space of the airplane cabin.

Can Do Canines, New Hope, MN

As stated in the summary ADI, NA consists of 73 assistance dog/service dog training organizations. These are comprised of 64 American assistance dogs training

organizations and 8 Canadian assistance dog training organizations. The ADI, NA organizations have trained a total of 17,504 service dog teams that are

currently active in North America. Limiting the species of recognized service animals to dogs would not cause harm to individuals with disabilities.

ADI, NA feels that the DOT should not designate capuchin monkeys or miniature horses as service animals. Capuchin monkeys are not domesticated animals.

Aversive techniques such as pulling their teeth or the use of electronic shock collars are used to force them to perform behaviors. Not only is this unethical,

it can increase aggression. Subjecting these animals to further stress in the air travel environment increases the chance of them behaving aggressively

or at least disruptively during air travel. It is also an endorsement of inhume treatment of these wild animals.

Miniature horses are not commonly used as service animals. Restricting the

definition of service animals to dogs will not impact a great number of individuals, if any.

This is the case for other species of animals, as well. The training industry trains dogs to

assist individuals with disabilities. Dogs have both the temperament and the capability of

assisting people with disabilities to mitigate their disabilities through the performance of

tasks, well beyond merely comforting the individual. Over 100 years of training dogs to

assist individuals who are blind or who have other disabilities attests to the fact that the

vast majority of travelers using trained service animals use dogs.

If the Department were to adopt a rule that continues to require airlines to accept ESAs for transport, ADI, NA recommends that dogs or cats that can travel

in carriers be the only animals accepted. That way, they can travel with the least amount of chance of injuring airline personnel or passengers; although,

they will still be subject to stress themselves. Anyone can claim emotional support from any species of animals; however, this does not mean that the animal

can safely travel by air. Air travel can be stressful for any animal. It is all but guaranteed to be stressful for an animal with no training in public

work.

Public Behavior Training

Should the DOT amend its service animal regulation to allow airlines to require that all service animal users attest that their animal can behave properly

in a public setting?

Answer: Yes.

ADI, NA agrees that passengers should not bring animals onboard that do not behave properly in a public setting. ADI, NA agrees that disruptive behavior

includes running around freely in the aircraft or airport, barking or growling repeatedly at people, biting, jumping on people, urinating or defecating

in the cabin or gate area and also stealing food from the floor or from people. ADI, NA can understand that airline employees are challenged to observe

animal prior to flight given lack of staffing and the hectic and time-sensitive nature of air travel.

ADI, NA supports the Department amending its service animal regulation to allow airlines to require that all service animal users attest that their animal

can behave properly in a public setting. This attestation seems to require a mere addition to the reservation process, such as a check box.

ADI, NA anticipates that there is capacity for fraud in this process. Passengers with untrained animals could simply attest that their animals can behave

properly in a public setting. In those cases, airlines are back where they started, with airline personnel unable to consistently gauge animals’ behavior

prior to board due to the circumstances above. If DOT includes a penalty for lying on the attestation, that inhibit fraud in the reservation process.

Hearing Dog Derby focusing on his trainer at Austin Bergstom International Airport’s baggage carousel

Service Dogs, Inc., Dripping Springs, TX

Alternatives to requiring documentation to assess the service animal’s behavior.

ADI, NA agrees that the need for assurance that the service animal can behave properly is greater in air travel, as air travel involves people being in

a limited space for a prolonged period of time without the ability to freely leave the aircraft.

ADI, NA feels that a provision requiring service animal users to attest that their animal has been successfully trained to function as a service animal

in a public setting would only marginally reduce the safety risk to passengers, airline staff, and other service animals face from untrained service animals

because of the potential for passengers with untrained service animals to fraudulently attest to their animal’s training. Perhaps, it would reduce the

number of poorly trained animals on planes; however, those determined to travel with untrained animals could attest to anything required in order to board

with their animals. Perhaps, as stated above, a strict federal penalty for misrepresenting the level of training in such an attestation would inhibit fraud.

It might take a trial period to assess.

ADI, NA feels the impact on passengers with disabilities with appropriately trained service animals of requiring attestation is increased inconvenience

and discrimination from other passengers. However, the degree of inconvenience and discrimination can be minimized by making the attestation a check box

on the reservation process. It could very well be justified because of the unique characteristics of air travel discussed above.

ADI, NA feels that if such a provision is allowed, the airlines should include the provision as a check box in the reservation process that can be completed

at the time of the reservation. Using a check box as part of the reservation process would not require any advance documentation requirement. Therefore,

any barrier associated with an advance documentation requirement would be avoided.

ADI, NA feels that the proper balance between ensuring passengers with disabilities do not encounter barriers to air travel and protecting the health and

safety of passengers and airline crew can be achieved in the same manner that a similar balance is achieved with public accommodations under the ADA –

by observation by the airport and airline staff of the animal’s behavior in the airport. No advance screening process can accurately predict an animal’s

behavior in an airport. Even if an animal behaves will in a screening process, it can still behave poorly in the airport environment. Additionally, such

screening processes pose the following problems:

Service Dogs are so well trained in air travel that they often fall asleep on the flight.

Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs, Kahuku, HI

list of 3 items

• Creates a financial burden to create and maintain, as in “unfunded mandate”

• Creates a time consuming, financially and logistically burdensome challenge for a disabled person to get his or her dog screened by a third party agency

• Unqualified screening personnel. The following organizations have been proposed

as screening bodies:

list of 3 items nesting level 1

o Retail chain pet supply stores

o TSA

o Animal rescue organizations

list end nesting level 1

list end

Trainers at retail pet supply chains lack the credentials, experience and skills to

assess service animals. Service animals, such a guide dogs, are trained by dog trainers at

the highest level of sophistication, experience, and theoretical and technical

understanding and competency.

The TSA obviously is not a dog behavior organization

. Animal rescue organizations deal with canine behavior on a very broad, rudimentary basis to assess rescued animals to become pets. They also do not have

the training or expertise to screen service dogs.

Reporting to any of these organizations imposes multiple discriminatory burdens on disabled individuals seeking to travel with service animals including:

list of 3 items

• Time and travel cost to report to the screening facility

• Availability of screening facilities to disabled individuals living in rural or remote areas

• Cost of screening, should the certifying organization decide to charge

list end

ADI, NA offers our expertise as an educational resource to train the airline industry to recognize appropriate dog behavior in the airport environment.

This can include video, printed and digital materials and webinar or in person training sessions.

ADI, NA holds that if the DOT allows airlines to require attestation that an animal has received public access training, that attestation should be limited

to certain types of service animals:

list of 2 items

• Species: dogs

• Types:

list of 5 items nesting level 1

o Guide Dogs – guide people with visual challenges

o Hearing Dogs – alert people with a significant loss of hearing to sounds

o Service / Mobility Assist Dogs – assist people with mobility challenges by performing a variety of tasks, e.g. retrieving, opening doors, nudging paralyzed

arms and legs into position

o Seizure Alert Dogs / Seizure Response Dogs – alert or respond to their partners’ seizures

o Psychiatric Service Dogs – assist people with PTSD and other

emotional challenges by performing tasks including waking them up

from a nightmare, turning on lights before the person enters the room,

positioning themselves between the person and other individuals

list end nesting level 1

list end

ADI, NA takes the position that service animals should be defined by the DOT and the ACAA in the same way that they are defined by the ADA.

Control of the Service Animal

ADI, NA feels that tethering or other similar restrictions should be a condition for permitting travel with a service animal. The ADA and most state statutes

state that the service animal must be properly leashed or harnessed in public unless being “off-leash” is necessary for it to do its job. Being off-leash

can be necessary for some Hearing Dogs to lead their deaf or hard of hearing partners to a sound; however, in environments that the dogs are in daily,

the Hearing Dog learns the locations of the sounds and soon does not need to be off leash to locate them. ADI, NA agrees that should a Service Dog, such

as a Hearing Dog, be off-leash for the purpose of fulfilling its job, it should still be under another form of control by its owner, such as voice control.

This is as much for the safety of the service dog as of other animals, passengers and staff in the airport or on the airplane. This is also the case when

the person with the disability is not able to physically hold a leash, tether or harness. The service animal should still be under that person’s control.

In some cases, the service animal is tethered to the person’s wheelchair. On an airplane, when the wheelchair is absent, the service animal can be tethered

to the arm of the passenger’s seat or remain laying down at the passenger’s feet under the passenger’s control. ADI, NA feels that this type of requirement

would absolutely minimize the likelihood of unwelcome or injurious behavior by a service animal to other passengers or airline staff.

Service Dog training organizations train their clients and dogs extensively in calm walking at the client’s side. The dog’s nose should be even with the

person’s knee, whether the handler is walking or in a wheelchair. Denver International Airport

Freedom Service Dogs, Denver, CO

Large Service Animals

Should the Department allow airlines to limit the size of emotional support animals or other service animals that travel in the cabin?

ADI, NA feels that emotional support animals do not have the training necessary to travel in the cabin regardless of their size.

Working with airline and airport personnel contributes to effective results and insight into each group’s needs. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport

Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS), Columbia, SC

ADI, NA feels that service animals, should be restricted to dogs. ADI, NA recognizes that occasionally larger dogs such as Great Danes and Mastiffs are

used as service animals. If larger dogs such as these possess sufficient training to behave in the airport and airline setting – namely remain calm and

responsive to their owner’s behavioral cues (commands), then the airlines should accept them for travel inside the cabin regardless of their size. Some

individuals use larger size dogs to physically support them in case of challenges in balance, (e.g. Parkinson’s Disease) or to pull a manual wheelchair

at times. ADI, NA recognizes that airlines have decreased leg space and foot space on airplanes, or now charge an additional fee for increased leg space

and foot space. ADI, NA agrees with the airlines’ current policy that a service animal’s reasonable use of a portion of an adjacent seat’s foot space does

not deny another passenger effective use of the space for his or her feet and is not an adequate reason for the carrier to refuse to permit the animal

to accompany it user at her or her seat. ADI, NA feels that if a passenger has concerns about a service animal using a portion of that passenger’s foot

space, then the airline can come to an agreement with the aggrieved passenger to change his or her seat, similar to what the airline does with a passenger

who does not wish to sit near a service animal because of allergies.

Veterinary Forms

What increase in animal misbehavior, if any, is sufficient to warrant a general requirement for a veterinary form regarding the health and behavior of

a service animal without an individualized assessment that a service animal or emotional support animal would pose a direct threat to the health or safety

or others or would cause a significant disruption in the aircraft cabin?

Veterinarians are medical practitioners, not animal trainers or behaviorists. Veterinarians’ expertise and practices do not include certifying anything

related to animals’ future behavior. This is especially true in the case of attesting that an animal will or will not maintain a certain standard of behavior

in a complex, hectic environment. Furthermore, such certifications or attestations would cause them to incur additional civil liability and thus, higher

malpractice insurance rates.

Therefore, ADI, NA feels strongly that veterinarians will not issue documentation regarding the future behavior of any animal including an emotional support

animal or a service animal. ADI, NA also strongly agrees that veterinarians are not qualified to do such. This includes a prediction of whether or not

the animal would pose a direct threat to the health or safety or others or would cause a significant disruption in the aircraft cabin.

ADI, NA feels that the Department should explicitly prohibit airlines from requiring veterinarian forms regarding the health of the service animal as a

condition for permitting travel with a service animal beyond those specifically allowed by the Department in its regulation unless there is an individualized

assessment that such documentation is necessary. ADI, NA agrees with the reasons for this policy cited by the DOT in its document Docket No. DOT-OST-2018-0068,

RIN No. 2105-AE63, Traveling by Air with Service Animals on page 37:

list of 2 items

• A requirement of a veterinarian form 48 hours in advance of scheduled travel

means persons with disabilities who use service animals are unable to fly should

there be an emergency.

• Policies that animals be visually verified at airport check-in would prevent

passengers with disabilities who use service animals to check-in online like other

passengers.

• Airlines establishing their own policies for air travel with a service animal could result in a patchwork of service animal requirements, making it difficult

for persons with disabilities to know what to expect and how to prepare for travel.

list end

ADI, NA also agrees with the American Council for the Blind, the National Federation for the Blind and other disability rights organizations that blind

people have used guide dogs safely for decades and should not have barriers placed on travel. ADI, NA also points out that other properly trained service

animals, besides guide dogs, have traveled safely for decades. ADI, NA holds that the issue is the level of training of the animal, not its health, that

poses the threat. Therefore, the Department should prohibit airlines from requiring veterinarian forms regarding the animals’ health, which is not the

cause of the issues the DOT is addressing and causes discrimination for disabled passengers; and, veterinarian forms regarding the animals’ behavior because

veterinarians are not qualified or willing to attest to their animal patients’ future behavior.

Code Share Flights

ADI, NA does not have a position on this issue.

And the below is so true! If only humans could be more like our trusted, faithful dogs!

If a dog were the teacher you

would learn stuff like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face

to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience!

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water

and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout ...

run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

Stop when u have had enough.

Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by

and nuzzle him/her gently.

I AM THANKFUL FOR E-MAIL BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS

WHO ARE THINKING OF ME!

MGDU Board

President: Paul Mimms

Vice-president: Kim Hallows

Secretary: Judy Burch

Treasurer: Sarah Calhoun

Member-at-large: Kay Malmquist

Tails Editors

Judy Burch

Basil05@sbcglobal.net

DeAnna Noriega

dqnoriega@gmail.com

We wish to thank Raymond and Donna Bishop for their ssistance with help in formatting, printing and otherwise helping out as needed with the publication of this Tails across Missouri. Thank you, Raymond and Donna!