Franken Offers Service Dog Legislation for Veterans

[tekisui]

Source: HometownSource.com

by Sen. Al Franken

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.

(snip)

Unfortunately, few of these service dogs are available to veterans like Luis. It costs on average about $20,000 to train a service dog and another $5,000 to place the dog with the veteran. It is my strong belief that a service dog will more than pay for itself over its life, and my bill is designed to determine the return on investment with a pilot program that provides service dogs to hundreds of veterans.

My bill will help train a statistically significant number of dogs to measure the benefits to veterans with physical and emotional wounds. The program would be monitored and refined over a three-year period to optimize its effectiveness.

Frankly, I believe it is enough simply to improve the lives of those of whom we asked so much. But this program isn't just the right thing to do. It's the smart thing to do. This is win, win, win, win.

more: http://hometownsource.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9963&Itemid=1

[Forkboy]

1. Good on AL!

:thumbsup:

[joeybee12]

2. I agree!

:thumbsup:

[madokie]

3. This man will be well worth the wait

You just wait and see :-)

[Mojambo]

7. Agreed. He's been underestimated.

He is going to end up being a VERY influential Senator.

[Vinca]

4. What an uplifting piece of legislation!

Wonder how long it will take the Republicans to trash it.

[glinda]

5. Good cause, Al. Problem is that the cost per dog is RIDICULOUSLY HIGH. This should be looked at

and resolved. I know dogs and have trained. The cost should come down by about half for training at least.

[femmocrat]

10. Wouldn't it be beneficial to all if they could have prisoners train the dogs?

I know there are dog training programs in US prisons now. Maybe they could take it a step further?

[roguevalley]

16. they do that already. some women's prisons train them.

[whathehell]

26. That is a terrific idea......Everyone wins!

[TokenQueer]

15. Not so expensive, really.

Most service dogs tend to be placed in foster homes with a trainer when they are only 8 weeks old. They are trained over the next 24 months while they mature and develop their skills.

Less than a thousand dollars a month for ongoing training, feeding and boarding is actually quite low. If I went out of town for a month and needed to simply kennel my dog while I was away, the bill would be somewhere north of $750.

Good for Senator Franken.

[glinda]

29. 24 months to train might not be needed. I have trained dogs and when you have a good dog,

that responds to working, it should take a little shorter time and not cost nearly as much. I am all for this Program 100% BUT I have also been around dog people and some of them think they should be payed way more than they should. Medical bills, food, training and upkeep are pricey but this cost is absurd IMHO. I think the cost could be cut down thereby allowing more of these wonderful four-legged workers to be placed.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

6. WONDERFUL!

I can't wait to hear how the 'nutters will spin this one...

[Danascot]

21. "Franken Unleashes Dogs on Wounded Veterans"

... coming soon to a Faux Noise Station in your area.

[femmocrat]

8. What a remarkable way to start his Senate career.

Now, Norm Coleman wouldn't have thought of that.....

God Bless Al! I have great hopes for him. :)

[Mnpaul]

18. With this bill

Al will be doing more for vets than Coleman did in his whole 6 years.

[obliviously]

9. I couldn't stand him as a

comedian. Personal preference i suppose. I'm going to like him as a senator with great ideas like this!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. What a guy!

And what a wonderful idea!

[question everything]

12. Tuesday

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

[Vidar]

13. Good for Al!

[Rosco T.]

14. Keep on top of this... we need to keep track ....

.. of the Re'Thugs that say NO! and try to kill/block this.

[izquierdista]

17. They hate puppies...and veterans

Al is baiting a BIG hook and trolling for Repubs on this one. Wanna bet he'll catch the limit?

[ColbertWatcher]

20. Oh, they won't vote no, they'll load up the bill with GOPfundy crap. n/t

[csziggy]

19. K&R

[SeattleGirl]

22. I love it!

My son-in-law's dad and step-mom do the initial socializing and training of service dogs before the move on to more specific training. I think that service dogs are a real gift for those who need them.

[dmr]

23. Outstanding! n/t

[rhett o rick]

24. Senator Al Franken. Been waiting to say that. nm

[SoCalDem]

25. Service dogs are the BEST.. We donated one of our pups to Guide Dogs of the Desert

and even though it broke my heart to leave the place without her, she lived a great life, and even made the local paper when she "saved" her person from being hit by a car (neither of them was hurt)..

[felinetta]

27. Franken: a Senator with heart and empathy. Can you imagine Coleman doing this? Just asking.

[felinetta]

28. How will hateful Fox spin this?