Ignorance and Awareness. Two things that I hope to bring about, the change in the perception of a Service Dog. Please help by sharing this story…..

More and more dogs are being used as Service Dogs for ‘invisible’ wounds: for Autism, to detect seizures, to sniff out levels of glucose for Diabetics, for anxiety/panic attacks for PTSD, and many more functions. In our realm, we are working to train a class called Psychiatric Service Dogs. Being a fairly new classification we are stepping above the lack of laws that define this and setting our new standards. Donna has been working very hard and I am proud of the success we have already achieved!

Upon many conversations with our Veterans, one single thread remains, the anxiety of going into public places. We hear this time and time again. Each veterans is also concerned with how they will be treated when going into these public places. We explain the ADA (American Disability Act), which gives them the right to be accompanied by their Service Dog anywhere the general public is allowed! Period. However, the ignorance of some people regarding this can make the difference between success and failure for our dogs and their Veterans.

Last night I received a call from our Veteran Ben. Stella and him were being rewarded for passing their CGC test and needed some one on one time away from The Barracks. We sent them to a local hotel for the night. I made the reservations and called ahead to make sure there were no problems. I received a call from Ben, sitting in his car, telling me they didn’t have a dog room available! I immediately made the call to the Hotel, talked to a young girl who completely didn’t understand, even when explained that this was a ‘Service Dog’. She put me on hold to talk to her manager, and immediately picked up full of apologies and rectified the situation. Causing some stress for Ben and Stella, but their night went great regardless!

The same time I was talking to Ben, my phone was clicking through with a call from Terran (our other Veteran paired with Hershey). Terran was visiting a friend at a local out patient Hospital. Terran was asked to leave, not by one person, but three different people who worked there. Terran explained, patiently at first, that she was his Service Dog. They then sent the friend he was visiting out to tell Terran that they HAD to leave. Terran was beyond upset and I tired to remain calm to help him. My blood was boiling…are you kidding me?

Terran and Hershey have grown so much together in their first few weeks of Deployment together. Terran had taken Hershey into more places than initially anticipated. Because he is working hard for a fundraiser we are having, Terran took it upon himself to take Hershey with him as he asked personally for donations. This is what we are all about, the progress Donna and I hope to see and the changes in Terran that were already taking place. Until now…until I received an email later than evening from Terran. His confidence shattered as he explained he couldn’t go through that again. It was humiliating and he is contemplating not taking Hershey into public places for that fear….

My heart stopped and a few swear words flew from my mouth. I will fight this battle for you, for all the Veterans and others who have a Service Dog. Public Awareness needs to be made, children need to be educated and the ignorance needs to stop! Yes, Donna was immediately at the facility to talk with their supervisor and Human Resources. Of course, everyone then had a different response and was very concerned for what they did wrong. To late, the damage was done for Terran and Hershey, but hopefully we paved the way for someone else….

I am happy to say Terran took the night to sleep on it. He is still nervous and hopes that it will be awhile before something like that ever happens again. I can not reassure him that it wont happen, but we are doing everything we can to try to limit this in the future. We ask for your support. Please pass this along, please spread the word, please help others who may have a Service Dog.

Terran and Hershey are driving across the country as I write!!!! Terran is helping a friend move, from Michigan to Arizona, a man and his dog on a road trip. My heart jumps with excitement for them and the time alone they will get together. My mind races with worry, that someone somewhere, might not fully understand, and I pray that they don’t have a repeat situation. I am filled with pride for Terran’s determination with Hershey, and this big step he is taking now. For them to get back home, they will be flying! Yes, Terran will be taking our first Stiggy’s Dogs in air, as they fly home with Delta! Bulk seating and priority boarding……..I called Delta, Sky Harbor Airport and almost every hotel form here to there!!!!

Best of luck on your adventure Terran and Hershey! We are all rallying around you for a safe and undisturbed trip. Thank you for being on the front lines for other Stiggy’s Dogs Veterans and a spoke man for Service Dogs!!!

I remember walking out of Terran‘s house from the first visit that Donna, our trainer, and I had.  I vividly recall saying to Donna, “I am so excited for Terran to go through this process because he really has no idea of the bond that he and his dog will create….”

Little did I know the transformation that was about to occur. It is even emotional for me to write about…

Terran Frye, a Veteran from the USMC. Very close guarded, was my initial observation. Terran did not want to talk specifically about any ‘events’, he told me on our first conversation. When we met in person, I immediately saw this that big man had a heart even bigger! Terran has a wonderful supportive family, his wife Michelle, and two cute children, Dakota 6 and Lily 2. This would be Terran’s first dog, he grew up around dogs, but never had one living in the house, side by side with him. Even as we explained the positive aspects of our Psychiatric Service Dogs, I know that living this would be the only way Terran would truly see what I was describing…..

Read the rest here…

“That which you manifest is before you”

My excitement for Professors Petre’s Semesters project continues to grow daily. So many things are starting to transpire. It is an exhilarating and comforting to know that important aspects of our organization are helped by a group of students that care.

A student in Professor Petre’s Class, Nina Dacey, was very interested by what she had heard in his initial lecture. Nina is also a member of the Bloomsburg University Student Veterans Association (BUSVA), so she went to the President of the association, Jake Kennedy and told him about our organization. They decided to hold a fundraiser in Striggy’s Dogs honor!  Seriously???? Really????? I had tears in my eyes when Jim called to tell me. This was no ordinary phone call from Jim, his excitement and happiness for this Bake Sale was sent a like surge through the phone. I could feel it, how this positive energy was starting to transform. It was great to see the impact that it was having on Professor Petre, even he didn’t realize the depth of what he was creating. Read the rest here…

I met Stig, then called ‘Mikey’, in August 2009. I was training him for a friend and living in Alpharetta, Georgia.

I remember telling Ben (”Doc Stiggy” who our organization is in honor of) about him on a call one night from Afghanistan  Ben never wanted to talk about things over there and he would only ask questions, wanting to talk just about us. I remember telling him about the ‘cool’ dog I was training. That every time I looked at this dog it reminded me of him, because the dogs markings were like his dessert ‘camo’.  I explained to Ben that the dog had really unusual eyes, and he looked almost wild.  I said I would take a picture and send it. I did, and it got returned to me two months later in the unopened care package …..

Stig permanently became part of our pack the same month Ben was killed. I remember the night that I asked Carrie, Ben’s mom, if I could name the Dog Sitggy. It was so soon after Ben’s death, and the pain was still so raw. It took a while to form the words and actually call him that myself at first. Carrie was so supportive and loved the idea.  That day Mikey became Stiggy.

Stig: a.k.a.: ‘Teufel Hunden’ , ‘Devil Dog’, ‘Dingo ’,‘Twig Stig’, ‘Stiggly-Puff’

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Stiggy’s Dogs were taking Bella, Stig, Gibbs and Hershey through the test.  Because there is such a gray area for Service Dogs, it is an even grayer area for Psychiatric Services Dogs(PSD).  Our Director of Training, Donna Fournier , has set  a pathway of guidelines for us to pioneer these standards: Canine Good Citizen Test, 120 total training hours:-90 hours Basic obedience plus  30 socialization and task training, Psychiatric Service Dogs Access Test before Deployment. Then ongoing weekly training with Veteran for first 6 months and lifetime training after.

Canine Good Citizen is an industry standard set from the American Kennel Club(AKC). This test shows your dog is ready to be in public. Your dog can walk well on a loose leash through a crowd, can be a neutral dog when meeting a stranger, then a stranger with another dog, be left alone for a stranger while you leave the room for three (long) minutes! Your dog can ‘stay’,’ come’ and ‘lay down’, (all on command) and while the owner walks away and back.

Hershey was being taken through with his Veteran, Terran Frye. Terran has spent every day here, at The barracks, working with Hershey, not just preparing her for this test, but working with Hershey on tasks, Socializing her, and even a trip to his Dr, appointment. They both have grown leaps and bounds in these past weeks. I have been so proud to be a part of this transition. Hershey and Terran walked through the entire test with ease, Hershey following Terran side by side. When it came to the “down” command for Terran and Hershey, she wouldn’t do it. Terran asked the allowed twice, she would not lay down.  Of course for the hardest part of the test, the separation, Hershey lay right down and even crossed her paws! You are allowed to retest on part of the test, they tried. Hershey will lie down in the housing area, but not in the testing area. The disappointment and frustration worn on Terran’s face, was felt by us all. We have been so proud of them, and to not pass seemed wrong. I secretly wanted Donna to pass them anyway, knowing Hershey knew the command and have done it dozens of times. However, integrity with our organization is foremost, and knowing they have done this, is knowing that they will do this again when tested next time! (This week)

Stig and Gibbs passed with flying colors. Both loving to work. Stig and Gibbs both were neutral dogs for others testing, which for Stig is a huge deal. This was his downfall in the past, now he was a superstar! Gibbs was so good, he even fell asleep on the floor during the 3 minute separation test!

Bella passed also, she did have to retake one part, listening to the ‘come’ command. There were a lot of distractions in the front of the house, people coming in, another dog coming to test. All making is difficulty for Bella. However, with her Bella goodness, she overcame all the distractions, and passed!

Thank you Pat Kaye and Jennifer Haggen for volunteering your time to help be our ‘strangers’ for the test. Thank you Jen Guthrie, ProK-9 trainer for Bella, for all the work you have done to get Bella ready for a Service Dog!

This is only the beginning for these dogs, one small tail wag towards a Stiggy’s Psychiatric Service Dog!

Ooorrah!