Letter to Eric K. Shineski, Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Letter

Dear Secretary Shinseki:

We are writing with regard to the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Guide and Service Dog Program. Public Law 107-135, passed in 2002, authorized the Secretary of VA to provide service dogs to deaf or hard of hearing veterans, along with those with spinal cord injuries or other chronic disabling conditions that substantially limit mobility. In 2010, Congress passed legislation directing VA to immediately begin the process of assisting veterans with mental illnesses, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), who would benefit from having a service dog, and separate legislation mandated a study on the subject. We respectfully request a full progress report on VA's efforts to pair veterans with service dogs.

As you likely know, service dogs are highly skilled animals that help their human companions live independent and productive lives. Whether it be helping a wounded veteran turn on a light, bringing a ringing telephone to the veteran's wheelchair, or calming an incipient panic attack, everyday tasks that seem impossible can become achievable with a service dog.

As directed by Congress, the VA's Inspector General conducted an audit of the Guide and Service Dog Program, completed in July 2010. The audit confirmed that VA only began implementation of the service dog program in 2008 -- six years after the authorizing legislation was enacted. Furthermore, it found that since then only eight veterans had been awarded financial support in the form of veterinary care and medication for their service dogs. Our understanding is that VA itself has not funded the provision of a single service dog to a wounded veteran.

We commend VA for the progress made since July to implement a more robust Guide and Service Dog Program. For example, we understand progress has been made toward finalizing formal regulations exercising VHA's authority under 38 U.S.C §1714(c). We also understand that VA recently held a conference to educate VA clinicians about the service and assistance dog industry, the role of accreditation, and how the dogs are trained.

Although there have been significant steps forward since July, much remains to be done. In an effort to better understand VA's progress in implementing the service dog program since last year's audit, we ask you to supply detailed responses to the following questions:

1. Please detail the programs in place to increase the number of veterans receiving service dogs. How many veterans with hearing or mobility impairments have been provided funding by the VA for veterinary care and equipment since July 2010?

2. The conference agreement for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 provided $2 million in Medical Services for the Guide and Service Dog Program, and additional funds for necessary studies and the IG's review. Please detail the level of funds that have been provided, and for which specific purposes, to pair service dogs with veterans. Is it true that zero dollars have been provided to veterans by VA to obtain service dogs? If so, why?

3. The audit found that knowledge of service dogs at VA medical centers was incomplete and inconsistent. What is VA doing to remedy that situation?

4. According to the audit, VA personnel have stated that the actual demand for service dogs is unknown. What is VA doing to remedy that situation?

5. The conference agreement for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 recognized the importance of VA's effort to advance its partnerships with accredited nonprofit organizations with expertise in the training of service dogs and education in the use of service dogs. What is VA doing to advance those partnerships?

6. Please describe what steps you have taken to implement the study, mandated in Public Law 111-84, to assess benefits, feasibility, and advisability of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries. What is the projected timetable for providing service dogs to enough veterans in order to carry out the study?

Given the invaluable support that service dogs can provide to our wounded veterans, we strongly encourage the Department to work quickly to more fully and successfully implement the service dog program.

Source