ARMY AL&T
DOGS M
ON
DUTY Helping the military on four legs. by Holly Comanse
ost people who own dogs will agree their pet has a positive impact on their mental and physical health. Dogs can help boost a person’s mood by being adorable and offering unconditional love
or by encouraging their owners to get more exercise on long walks or playing fetch. While those benefits sound like something kids tell their parents when lobbying for a puppy, there are studies that link dog ownership to better heart health. In addition, there are many life-saving jobs for which dogs are relied on—for mili- tary and civilians alike.
Claymore, owned by retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. Ladd Shepard, is one of the many service dogs fulfilling that duty. Te now two-year-old German shepherd was donated to Shepard when she was eight weeks old. “We picked her out [and] it saved my life,” said Shepard, who served in the Marines for almost 30 years and has been retired for four.
For fellow veterans considering a service dog, Shepard gave the following advice: “First, yes, do it! Second, there are a lot of great organizations out there that provide this service, many for free to veterans,” he explained, also cautioning that it may be a long process, though that is not always the case. “It starts with reach- ing out to make contact and explaining your circumstances,” he added. “Tird and finally, it is one of the best investments in your health and wellbeing that you can make, but it is an investment.”
Shepard expressed the importance of understanding the extent of the work and time associated with any animal, including service animals prior to obtaining one. Making an informed decision is essential for any dog owner and there aremany U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs resources available with more information to ensure the right animal ends up in the right home.
When encountering service animals in public, Shepard also advised: “When you approach a service animal team (dog and handler) it is generally okay to say something to the handler but best to ignore the service animal; even if the dog is break- ing protocol and reaching out for affection, please don’t return it.” Service animals who are still in training may not be able to handle outside interaction or distractions as well as others who may have more experience in public. Just like humans, animals can also have bad or off days.
GET TO WORK Not all dogs with jobs are the same. Te Americans with Disabili- ties Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any breed or size of dog trained to perform a task directly related to a person’s disability. While many service animals wear vests and complete professional training, the ADA states that it is not a requirement. Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), or comfort dogs, are not service dogs, meaning they are not permitted in restaurants or places of busi- ness where service animals are accepted.
https://asc.ar my.mil 55
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