Al Franken on his first Senate bill - service dogs for wounded Iraq/Afghanistan vets

[camera obscura]

In my first week as a U.S. senator, I had the privilege of participating in the Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

The hearing was historic -- but as I prepare to introduce my first piece of legislation, I've been thinking about an encounter I had away from the lights and cameras.

This January, I met Luis Carlos Montalvan and his service dog named Tuesday, a beautiful golden retriever, at an inaugural event in Washington.

Luis had been an intelligence officer in Iraq, rooting out corruption in Anbar Province. In 2005, Capt. Montalvan was the target of an assassination attempt. Now he walks with a cane and suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

Luis explained that he couldn't have made it to the inauguration if it weren't for his dog.

As someone who's spent time with our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on USO tours and met wounded warriors at Walter Reed and Bethesda, I feel a deep obligation to the men and women who have risked life and limb on our behalf.

After I met Luis, I did some research. Service dogs like Tuesday can be of immense benefit to vets suffering from physical and emotional wounds. Yes, they provide companionship. But they can also detect changes in a person's breathing, perspiration or scent to anticipate and ward off an impending panic attack with some well-timed nuzzling. They are trained to let their masters know when it's time to take their medication and to wake them from terrifying nightmares.

Service dogs raise their masters' sense of well-being. There is evidence to suggest that increasing their numbers would reduce the alarming suicide rate among veterans, decrease the number of hospitalizations, and lower the cost of medications and human care.

Veterans report that service dogs help break their isolation. People will often avert their eyes when they see a wounded veteran. But when the veteran has a dog, the same people will come up and say hi to pet the dog and then strike up a conversation.

More: http://tinyurl.com/oxx2p6

[Clio the Leo]

1. ((((Al))))) NT

[sakabatou]

2. I agree with Franken

Service dogs can help vets and help ease their emotions.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Franken supporting the troops. Love it!

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. Service dogs are just amazing

my son and daughter in law raise puppys for Paws For The Cause and it is so rewarding. This is a wonderful idea for wounded Vets!


I love Senator Al. I think he will do justice to Paul Wellstones senate seat.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Senator Franken has probably spent more time on the ground

in Iraq and Afghanistan than any other Senator, although he did so in his former capacity as an entertainer. He flew from the US on military transports, which he did not have to do, either. A visiting comic would get a view of the troop's reality that no sitting Senator would be privy to. I think his insights will continue to be of service to those who are in service to our country.

[LiberalAndProud]

6. A great beginning, Senator Franken.

[Fire1]

7. Of course that would only apply to the wounded, right?

No PTS people, I presume.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. Actually it is mostly for those whit PTSD

as the Senator's piece quoted above says.

[Fire1]

10. I don't know enough about the disorder to really give an

intelligent opinion but I certainly hope the owners would be screened.

[Occam Bandage]

13. "No PTS people, I presume."

Did you read the quoted article?

[Fire1]

14. Yeah, I did which gives rise to my concern. The dogs are

great, I know. Hope they can alert the vet to their own needs, as well.

[mzmolly]

8. This is very touching.

Thanks for sharing camera obscura.

K and R

[janx]

11. I love it...

although people aren't supposed to pet service dogs, and many dogs have signs that ask people not to. But the service dog situation really does get people to ask the disabled all about the dogs. I saw this just last week.

[question everything]

12. Tuesday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=6080663

[greenbriar]

15. we have therapy dogs at school

it is amazing what just petting a soft loving thing with no expectations can do for a kid who is wacked out

[tilsammans]

16. Wonderful story!

Thank you, Senator Franken. :patriot: