Page 977 - Total War on PTSD

TAGS for three and a half years now, and in addition to the hour of formal training, the Veteran needs to commit to training the dog at more for three or four short sessions a day to make the training work. Considering the trainers and staff all volunteer their time to assist the Veteran, it is not asking much in return. I am grateful for all of the help that I have received from Dog TAGS, even though I may have been frustrated at times when Kodiak and I hit a speed bump in our training.
I would also like to take the time to talk about the elephant in the room, fake Service Dogs. Kodiak and I have run into them on quite a few occasions. You can spot them immediately — they are the ones that are barking, in a shopping cart, or sitting on a chair at a restaurant. Every time Kodiak has been lunged at by a fake Service Dog (which the owners always think is cute, that their small dog is defending themselves against the bigger dog) costs Kodiak and I. The costs are loss of faith (Kodiak helps me, but in return I guarantee to her that I will keep her safe) and extra training (the Service Dog will be hesitant and need additional training to prevent the event from scarring them from being able to be worked). There are Service Dogs that had to retire early (think of the investment in time and money lost) because someone decided to buy a vest and fake credentials online to keep their pet with them. It’s the equivalent of breaking someone’s walker or wheelchair, and then they have to either spend $20,000 or invest three years of their time training and bonding with a new dog just to get back to where they were.
I do wish that people wouldn’t go crazy when they see a Service Dog in public. There are times that I want to ask with they coo over a wheelchair or a walker, which are also medical devices that assist people that are disabled lead a regular life. Yes, Kodiak is cute and I understand that,
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