To provide professionally TASK TRAINED Service dogs, training and home set up at minimal cost to the eligible defence and warservice members. Including First Responders.
Founder: Hannah Richards. Head Trainer,
Honorary Consultants:
Dr John Hinwood
Dr Judy Hinwood
You have probably heard the term "service dog" or "assistance dog" before. Do you know what this truly means?
(We at Paws for Hope and Understanding INC prefer the term Service Dogs, because it relates to Service men and women)
A Service Dog is a working dog specially trained to help a person or group of people with a disability or specific needs. However, there is a bit more to the definition of a Service Dog, especially in the eyes of the law. A Service Dog is a type of working dog but is different from other working dogs (such as police dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, prison dogs and guide dogs etc.).
VISION
Our vision is to provide a TASKED TRAINED Service Dog for both young and older Ex Defence, First Responders as an aid to help members transition from high stress and/or combat environments to general society.
MISSION STATEMENT
Paws with Hope & Understanding Inc is a program by which we select and TASK TRAIN Service Dogs for veterans of all wars and Peace keeping Forces with a PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (traumatic brain injury). (Including First Responders)
PTSD diagnosis must be accepted by either DVA or a Psychiatrist.
We use an assortment of dogs, including White Swiss Shepherd, Border Collies, Poodles, Golden Retrievers, we will accept all medium to large breeds that meet the requirement to do the job, including good temperament, assessed by our trained handlers.
All dogs age group is to be 3 months old to 3 years
We provide dogs to former members of the Defence Force who meet the eligibility standards.
We do not accept pets for training for a Service/PTSD dog.
CORE OBJECTIVES
Paws for Hope & Understanding Inc will provide professionally TASK TRAINED Service Dogs, training and home set up at minimal cost to the eligible veterans and/or former ADF members, including First Responders.
MARKETING STRATEGY
Paws for Hope & Understanding Inc will utilize Facebook, Twitter, brochures, to introduce public awareness to its cause.
Service/PTSD Dogs CAN DO
1. Provide Companionship
2. Calm Their Handler
3. Assist in Medical Crisis
4. Provide treatment related assistance
5. Assist in coping with emotional overload
6. Perform security enhancement tasks
7. Assist with episodes of stress/trauma(PTSD)
8. Prevent people from crowding or rushing
9. Guide veteran through crowds
A Service/PTSD dog would be fully a companion for an individual veteran. Therapy, Delta dogs can be seen doing the rounds of hospitals or left with a person at work who is having trouble with day to day events after suffering a death in the family, etc. A Service dog is trained to work with incapacitated defence personnel, or members now confined to a wheelchair or suffering with balance issues, members who suffer with PTSD, TBI or service personnel who require trained dogs that couldrespond to their needs.
DOG BRIEF
Paws for Hope & Understanding Inc Service/PTSD dog program is a designed to take this concept to a new level.
• Training period for the dog and #veteran is Approx. 12 weeks in which that period covers area such as discipline, obedience and a Public Asset Test.• Training period for the #Veteran is a further twelve weeks to enable the Veteran and dog work as a team• A further period to obtain team work with both parties. PLUS further on going training with the Head K9 Trainer, and TASK work.
# Veteran and First Responders
For former Defence personnel, and First Responders PTSD is often triggered by being in combat or having a stressor or trauma.
PTSD is often triggered by life threatening experiences, such as being stuck in a burning building, being shot at, having to deal with a terrifying road side accident or domestic abuse situation. Basically, they are situations where people feel intense fear and or helplessness.
Within some groups of society, the incidence of PTSD must be expected to be much higher than one per cent. Within the armed forces, the incidence of PTSD can be as high as 15%. This does not include suicides David Kinchin, Author, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a form of anxiety disorder. Some people develop this condition after they have experienced a traumatic event.
This event might be a serious accident, physical or sexual assault, war or torture, or a natural disaster such as a bushfire or a flood.
Strong reactions such as fear, horror, anger, sadness and hopelessness are natural after events like these, of course. In most cases, these feelings will pass after the normal working-through of emotions and talking things over in your own time with family, friends or colleagues.
In the past PTSD was referred to as combat fatigue, shell shock,
Or in the early cowardice and mostly associated with those in the armed forces, in more recent years people have come to realise that those serving on the “front line” at home; in the police force, ambulance and fire service are also at increased risk of developing PTSD through what they face almost daily.
Appendix: DSM-V Criteria for PTSD diagnosis. (Part of…)
Criterion A: stressor
The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, as follows: (one required)
1. Direct exposure. 2. Witnessing, in person. 3. Indirectly, by learning that a close relative or close friend was exposed to trauma. If the event involved actual or threatened death, it must have been violent or accidental. 4. Repeated or extreme indirect exposure to aversive details of the event(s), usually during professional duties (e.g., first responders, collecting body parts; professionals repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse). This does not include indirect non-professional exposure through electronic media, television, movies, or pictures.
In the USA, the congress and UK government our now recognising the benefits of specifically trained dogs as part of the treatment for PTSD, extensive research is also being carried out in Canada.
In fact, there is new research was carried out in the USA in 2014, It’s been proven however, that dogs can draw out even the most isolated people, and through engaging with a dog a veteranis able to overcome emotional numbness (a symptom of PTSD), through training a dog, veterans develop new ways to communicate without anger or paranoia.
It has also been proven, through research that veterans were also able to sleep again knowing a dog was looking out for them. By bonding with a dog emotionally, veterans felt more able to engage themselves.
Additional research has also been conducted in to the relationship between a dog and veteran, the bond that develops and the result of that bond. Focus on this relationship proved that this bond released chemicals in the brain; oxytocin.
“Oxytocin improves trust, the ability to interpret facial expressions, the overcoming of paranoia and other pro-social effects – the opposite of PTSD symptoms”.
ALIGNMENT
Paws for Hope & Understanding Inc will be approachingorganisations to support us with donations or products, all of which we have provided positive feedback, some of these are as follows;
RAAF War Dog Handlers Association
USA War Dogs Assn
Dog Breeders (Swiss Shepherds)
State Government
Balance Life Dog Food
Lead on Leads
Best Friends
4 Aussie Heros
Best Friends Produce
FUNDING
Funding is needed to assist with the establishment of this project, and training of the dogs and handlers.
Areas of consideration would be, Sponsorship, Queensland Police, Australian War Animals Memorials (AWAMO), Local and Federal Government bodies and Grants, and the General Community.
Partnership from private Businesses.
SERVICE DOGS
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA), "service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities." The dog must not be a pet, but be specially trained to assist the handler with something directly related to his or her disability. Emotional support dogs are considered service animals.
In addition, therapy dogs are not considered service dogs in the eyes of the law.
The ADA also notes that their definition of a service dog "does not affect or limit the broader definition of 'assistance animal' under the Fair Housing Act or the broader definition of 'service animal' under the Air Carrier Access Act."
There is a very strict Public Access Test service dogs regarding assess to businesses (even food service establishments), Shopping Centres, State and local government facilities or non-profit organizations that serve the public.
However, service/assistance dogs must be under control always. This generally means they must be leashed or harnessed (unless these get in the way of the dog's duties, in which case the dog must still be under the handler's control).
The Queensland GHID Act 2009 mandates that a disabled person cannot be asked questions about his or her disability. Any harness must indicate a theme for the dog such as “service, assistance,” or whatever is agreeable by the client.
The staff of businesses can only ask two questions to the handler of a service dog:
1. Is the dog indeed a service animal and required to assist with a disability? 2. What specific task(s) has the dog been trained to do (in service to the handler)?
Handlers of service dogs cannot be charged more money because of their dogs, nor can they be denied the rights and access granted to those without service animals.
Disabled persons with service dogs can only be asked to leave the premises if the dog is out of control and this cannot be corrected by the handler, or they have no harness on, or if the dog is not house trained.
TYPES OF SERVICE DOGS
There are many types of service/assistance dogs, and some even serve multiple purposes. Potential service dogs go through rigorous training programs before they can team up with a handler. Here are just a few types of service dogs:
• Guide Dogs for the blind• Hearing Dogs for deaf or hearing-impaired persons• Mobility Assistance Dogs for wheelchair-bound persons or those with mobility limitations • Seizure Response Dogs to protect and help persons with seizure disorders when a seizure occurs• Diabetes Assistance Dogs to detect blood sugar highs and lows (dogs are scent-trained)• Mental Health Service Dogs or Psychiatric Service Dogs are task-trained to assist those with PTSD, panic disorders, anxiety disorders, major depression, Autism Spectrum Disorders and much more.
SERVICE DOGS ON THE JOBS
• Service dogs can be easily identified. By Law allwear special vests and/or harnesses. However, identification is required. • Never assume -- always be sure to ask before petting a dog • Service dogs should not be petted, fed or otherwise given attention while at work. Please be respectful and allow these dogs to do their jobs. They make a major difference in the lives of disabled persons.• Training period for the dog and Veteran/First Responders is 12 weeks in which that period covers area such as discipline, obedience and the Public Asset Test. (PAT)• Training period for the veteran is a further twelve weeks to enable the veteran and dog work as a team, including PAT• A further period of 6-12 weeks to obtain a team with both parties, including PAT• Our trainers are fluent under the GHAD 2009 Act plus the ADA(USA) particularly the PTSD Tasks required for veterans and Dog, affiliated with the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, Psychiatric Service Dog 411 (Training and Support USA)
NOTE: A guide dog is not a Service Dog under our definition as the training is different and the PAT is different as well
NOTE. All Applicants for the Service//PTSD dogs must have either accepted by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a Diagnosis from a Physiatrist (First Responders)
WE NEED SUPPORT IN OUR TASK OF ASSISTING THE WELLBEING OF OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN?
We are a Registered Charity Please Donate to assist in the task training of Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD
