1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:14,679 Speaker 1: This is Pet Life Radio. Let's talk pets. 2 00:00:22,519 --> 00:00:26,039 Speaker 2: Welcome to this week's episode of Loving Animals. But doctor 3 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,359 Robin Ganser, I'm your host, and I'm so thrilled that 4 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:33,520 you've tuned into this week's podcast featuring our favorite subject, 5 00:00:33,799 --> 00:00:36,679 Loving Animals. Well, today we're not only going to talk 6 00:00:36,719 --> 00:00:38,880 about our love for animals, but we're going to talk 7 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:43,880 about how animals can be one end of a healing leash. Yes, 8 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:47,560 we're talking about our service dog and a shelter program 9 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,159 which is quite stunning, and how it is able to 10 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,799 impact the lives of veterans, those who serve on the 11 00:00:53,799 --> 00:00:56,359 front lines of the war in Terror. And today I 12 00:00:56,399 --> 00:01:00,320 am so thrilled and really truly honored to interduce to 13 00:01:00,359 --> 00:01:04,079 you our guest. Our guest is Chris Ford. He serves 14 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,799 as the CEO of the National Association of Veterans Serving 15 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:14,000 Organizations in AVSO. His leadership, his passion, really his entrepreneurship 16 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,359 has moved in a VSO from really a concept to 17 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:21,159 a public launch just in twenty fourteen, and this group 18 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,000 is now really answering the long demanded call for a 19 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:30,400 national collaborative for the nation's forty thousand plus military and 20 00:01:30,519 --> 00:01:34,719 Veterans serving organizations. Chris has developed and implemented a strategic 21 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,519 direction of this organization in response to really the complex 22 00:01:38,599 --> 00:01:43,000 needs of veterans and military families. Chris is an amazing veteran, 23 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,000 a twenty year Air Force veteran, retiring in twenty fourteen 24 00:01:46,359 --> 00:01:48,760 from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he's served in 25 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,560 the Chairman's Office of Warrior and Family Support. Chris has 26 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:57,359 leveraged his incredible expertise and perspectives on veteran reintegration to 27 00:01:57,519 --> 00:02:01,280 assist and help communities across eighteen states seeking to improve 28 00:02:01,319 --> 00:02:05,239 their support from military families. He himself has served in 29 00:02:05,319 --> 00:02:10,120 nearly a dozen countries around the globe, supporting operations Southern Watch, 30 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:14,960 Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Chris holds a bachelor's degree 31 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,000 from the United States Air Force Academy and Academy grad 32 00:02:18,479 --> 00:02:21,520 two master's degree, one from the University of South Carolina 33 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,319 which I love USC and one from the Naval Postgraduate School. 34 00:02:25,479 --> 00:02:29,639 And additionally, his incredible pedigree includes being a graduate of 35 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,680 the Air Force Squadron Office for School, the FBI's National Academy, 36 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,840 Air Command and Staff College, on and on. This gentleman 37 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,680 is an incredible and incredible patriot, incredible hero, and I'm 38 00:02:41,719 --> 00:02:44,560 so delighted to introduce you to Chris Ford. Chris, Welcome 39 00:02:44,599 --> 00:02:45,120 to our show. 40 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 3: Thanks, doctor Ganzer. I'm really honored to be with you 41 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:49,919 today and I'm really honored to share with you some 42 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,439 of the things we're doing together to help veterans and 43 00:02:52,479 --> 00:02:53,360 military families. 44 00:02:53,599 --> 00:02:55,759 Speaker 2: Wow. Please do call me Robin and Chris. It is 45 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,360 amazing to meet you. And again I have to congratulate 46 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:03,120 you on the incredibly successful launch of in AVSO, the 47 00:03:03,199 --> 00:03:08,599 National Association of Veterans Serving Organizations, the Veterans Serving Community. 48 00:03:08,759 --> 00:03:13,280 I did not realize it was forty thousand plus organizations 49 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:17,639 serving veterans and military families. That's remarkable. Just goes to 50 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,840 show how America really does support those who are serving 51 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,520 in our country. It's remarkable. But to have a national 52 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:28,560 collaborative for this broad and complex group of entities is 53 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,879 truly needed, and I congratulate you on this effort. 54 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 3: Thanks so much. 55 00:03:33,319 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: Can you explain a little bit about the work you 56 00:03:35,719 --> 00:03:38,439 do it in a VSO and the mission certainly so. 57 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:40,919 Speaker 3: At NAVSO, as we like to call it for short, 58 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,680 we're squarely focused on transforming the veteran service marketplace into 59 00:03:45,919 --> 00:03:49,800 a much more effective mechanism where veterans and military families 60 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,400 can find quality supports to live productive lives. We do 61 00:03:53,479 --> 00:03:55,360 this in a couple of ways, but primarily we like 62 00:03:55,439 --> 00:03:59,000 to scan the marketplace for leading challenges that plague these 63 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,240 families from thrive being looking for opportunities where we might 64 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,319 be able to help, and then when we find certain opportunities, 65 00:04:05,319 --> 00:04:09,080 we focus on those by delivering innovations that might act 66 00:04:09,159 --> 00:04:13,800 as accelerators for impact for veterans and military families. As 67 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:17,240 you described, it's a really broad marketplace with thousands of 68 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:21,480 private organizations plus government agencies at the local, state, and 69 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,680 federal level, and so it's a very complex web that 70 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,360 we try to help scan through and make things a 71 00:04:27,399 --> 00:04:30,079 little bit easier for those families to find the supports 72 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,680 they need when they fall into crisis, so that those 73 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,000 crises are rare, short and non reoccurring. 74 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 2: So very important because it is so complex. I think 75 00:04:39,399 --> 00:04:44,120 if I was sitting at home as a military spouse 76 00:04:44,399 --> 00:04:47,279 wondering how to get my partner at service doll that 77 00:04:47,319 --> 00:04:50,560 would be challenging as well, and so having an incredible 78 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:54,600 entity such as yours really helping veterans find their support 79 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,759 has to make such a big difference. It's such a 80 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,759 noble cause. Chris, with such a broad focus, what are 81 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:03,519 some some of the challenges that veterans face after serving 82 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:04,160 our country? 83 00:05:04,319 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 3: Well, great question, Robin. I mean, there are many, ranging 84 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:11,519 from unemployment to homelessness or financial crises to mental health 85 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,639 concerns such as depression. But the majority of these issues 86 00:05:15,639 --> 00:05:19,319 at their core really relate to the psychology of their 87 00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:23,040 transition from leaving the military to becoming a veteran. And 88 00:05:23,079 --> 00:05:25,600 it's not just a veteran, it's their whole family that's 89 00:05:25,639 --> 00:05:28,759 been with them on this military service journey. Let me 90 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,399 explain that a little bit more clearly. Most veterans undergoing 91 00:05:32,399 --> 00:05:35,600 separation from the military are taught to view this military 92 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,600 to civilian transition really as a basket of economic choices. 93 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,519 One has to secure a job, pursue perhaps additional education 94 00:05:43,639 --> 00:05:48,639 or vocational training, maybe relocate, secure housing, access new healthcare 95 00:05:48,639 --> 00:05:51,639 and benefits, all with the intent of assuming some new 96 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:56,480 role as a satisfied, productive and purposeful civilian. But recent leaders, 97 00:05:56,519 --> 00:05:59,600 myself included, have been proposing a different concept that this 98 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,399 seria to civilian transition is less about a basket of 99 00:06:03,439 --> 00:06:07,680 economic choices. It's more about a psychology and cultural evolution 100 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,199 in which the veteran needs to find a path of 101 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:16,000 re orientation and self redefinition, sometimes while acclimatizing to new 102 00:06:16,199 --> 00:06:19,879 definitions of wellness. But it's really about them moving quite 103 00:06:19,879 --> 00:06:24,959 abruptly from a collectivist community to an individualist one. And 104 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,839 life transitions are some of the most challenging and most 105 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:32,360 impactful and often misunderstood experiences in the human condition. And 106 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,439 the key difference is that transition at its core is 107 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:39,959 a psychological process. These families and the veterans themselves lose 108 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,000 a lot of their identity by taking that military uniform off, 109 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,600 where they were part of a bigger team around one mission, 110 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,480 all wearing the same jersey, if you will, week after 111 00:06:48,519 --> 00:06:52,199 weekday after day, working for a higher purpose. And when 112 00:06:52,199 --> 00:06:56,120 they take that off, it's really hard sometimes to deal 113 00:06:56,199 --> 00:06:59,720 with that psychological and cultural change. 114 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: That has to be an unbelievable feeling. You know, I 115 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,040 think about our first responders at American You may as well, 116 00:07:06,079 --> 00:07:10,040 when they have spent that time serving after Hurricane Irma 117 00:07:10,079 --> 00:07:12,639 and Harvey. I know that it was tough when they 118 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,879 went back home and again you take off that uniform. 119 00:07:16,079 --> 00:07:19,240 It makes such sense. Why you put it? Assuming that 120 00:07:19,439 --> 00:07:22,240 you know, some of our veterans really struggle to overcome 121 00:07:22,279 --> 00:07:26,480 these psychological challenges which have to be so significant. What 122 00:07:26,519 --> 00:07:29,360 are the causes and the symptoms? 123 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, not all veterans are created equal, and 124 00:07:32,959 --> 00:07:36,319 not all veterans go through the same transition challenges. So 125 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:40,399 while most veterans successfully navigate their transition, some in a 126 00:07:40,399 --> 00:07:42,560 matter of weeks, some in a matter of months with 127 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,800 little or no supports required, there are some veterans, especially 128 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:51,319 those suffering from trauma or post traumatic stress or traumatic 129 00:07:51,399 --> 00:07:55,920 brain injury, that need additional helps such as therapy, medication, 130 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,480 or even service dogs. And so it's the causes from 131 00:07:59,519 --> 00:08:02,839 their military experiences that lead to some of these mental 132 00:08:02,839 --> 00:08:06,920 health challenges and those symptoms. Like anyone else who's experienced 133 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:11,480 non combat related trauma or exposure to certain incidents has 134 00:08:11,519 --> 00:08:14,120 those same types of symptoms, which may include, you know, 135 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,240 as I mentioned, depression, or traumatic stress, or even a 136 00:08:17,279 --> 00:08:20,680 brain injury. So they vary. And one thing I want 137 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,000 to caution here is that while the circumstances leading to 138 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:29,319 those symptoms may be different than non US military veterans, 139 00:08:29,519 --> 00:08:33,159 the modalities of treatment for those are almost universally the same. 140 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,799 So whether your post traumatic stress comes from a car 141 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,639 accident or from combat exposure, the modalities of treatment are 142 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,480 usually the same, and it's really important that we recognize that. 143 00:08:42,519 --> 00:08:45,000 So we don't do a disservice to the veteran community 144 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,679 to think that the causes of our challenges means that 145 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,279 their treatments have to be so unique. We can all 146 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:52,559 do this together by applying a lot of the same 147 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,159 methodologies we use for any person suffering from a mental 148 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:57,000 health disorder. 149 00:08:57,519 --> 00:09:01,519 Speaker 2: That's impactful. That's so impactful. Thanks for tuning into this 150 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,120 week's episode of Loving Animals, We'll be right back. 151 00:09:09,759 --> 00:09:13,159 Speaker 4: Tired of wasting money on giant bags, boxes and jugs 152 00:09:13,159 --> 00:09:16,399 of litter that don't last, switch to World's Best Cat Litter, 153 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:19,080 the only litter that lets you use less and get more. 154 00:09:19,279 --> 00:09:22,440 World's Best Cat Litter uses the concentrated power of corn 155 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:26,360 to deliver outstanding odor control and easy cleanup. 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Try super Omega fish oil by to 170 00:10:02,519 --> 00:10:04,679 get one free at dynamite dot com. 171 00:10:04,759 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 3: D I N O V I T E dot com. 172 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:14,399 Speaker 7: Let's talk past it, Let's pet at Life Radio Atline 173 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:26,039 Radio at Life Radio dot com. 174 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:30,279 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Loving Animals with your host Robin ganzart Well, 175 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,639 let's switch gears a little bit because I know one 176 00:10:32,639 --> 00:10:35,240 of the ways that you and I have have shared 177 00:10:35,279 --> 00:10:39,399 a passionate interest for is the alternative therapy, such as 178 00:10:39,519 --> 00:10:42,720 working with service dogs. Can you share with our listeners 179 00:10:42,759 --> 00:10:47,519 about American Humane and your incredible organization's joint effort relating 180 00:10:47,519 --> 00:10:48,919 to veterans and service dogs. 181 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, we're excited about this too. It's been a great 182 00:10:51,399 --> 00:10:54,159 partnership for us, as you know, but the audience may 183 00:10:54,159 --> 00:10:56,000 not know that. Dating back all the way to a 184 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:00,679 summit we helped American Humane facilitate in September of te sixteen. 185 00:11:01,039 --> 00:11:04,759 We've been walking alongside of you and your staff find 186 00:11:04,799 --> 00:11:09,320 opportunities to improve veteran access to quality service dogs so 187 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:12,600 at NAVSO as part of our innovations model, we use 188 00:11:13,039 --> 00:11:16,919 a human centered design methodology where we help partners develop 189 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:21,240 a roadmap of ways that organizations can really make positive change. 190 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,279 I think many of us who are trying to solve 191 00:11:23,639 --> 00:11:27,240 complex social issues go to the same convenience and meetings 192 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,240 and talking around the same issue, but really not making 193 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,840 much progress. Whereas our methodology, using this human centered design, 194 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:37,399 we handed back to American Humane and roadmap based on 195 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:42,080 stakeholder and thought leader feedback from that summit to say, here, 196 00:11:42,159 --> 00:11:45,039 American Humane, if you want to improve veteran access to 197 00:11:45,159 --> 00:11:48,639 quality service dogs supports, here are a few things that 198 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,440 you could do. And one of those recommendations and one 199 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,240 of those challenges that we're excited to partner with you 200 00:11:54,399 --> 00:11:58,879 on is what we've called Together Operations Service Dog Access 201 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,360 and this free service for veterans who suffer for mental 202 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,360 health issues that already have a service dog, we walk 203 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,960 them through an application process that leads to a third 204 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,480 party assessment and if they pass that assessment, they receive 205 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:15,159 a credential for the veteran and his or her dog 206 00:12:15,399 --> 00:12:18,639 to reflect that they are an ADA compliant team, and 207 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,720 once credentialed, this team is then added to our national 208 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,039 registry and as we expect, they will be able to 209 00:12:24,039 --> 00:12:27,039 move around the nation in public spaces such as restaurants 210 00:12:27,039 --> 00:12:30,799 and hotels, and even on airlines more confidently with this 211 00:12:30,919 --> 00:12:35,000 new gold standard ID that we expect industry to be 212 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,399 looking for to say, this is a legitimate service animal, 213 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,399 even if you don't see a physical disability in its owner, 214 00:12:41,919 --> 00:12:45,080 you should know that it is ADA compliant and should 215 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:48,240 be afforded the access offered by the ADA or even 216 00:12:48,279 --> 00:12:50,759 the ACAA if they're on an airline. 217 00:12:50,919 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 2: You know, I think that's absolutely such a brilliant, brilliant 218 00:12:54,759 --> 00:12:57,879 program operations service dog access. You know, you and I 219 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:02,080 both have seen and heard this arsonal stories of veterans 220 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:05,639 with service dogs being denied access to flights, denied access 221 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:10,879 to restaurants, embarrassed, you know, in public through various conversations 222 00:13:10,919 --> 00:13:14,120 with the service workers, not letting them have access, not 223 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,919 letting them be able to go about a more normal life, 224 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,080 which was the whole purpose of a service dog to 225 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,799 begin with. So this program is going to be so exciting. 226 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,279 I was reading over the weekend where Delta, one of 227 00:13:26,279 --> 00:13:30,399 the airlines, just really start to tighten their policies around 228 00:13:30,399 --> 00:13:33,120 service dogs. And a group like Delta, and a company 229 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,960 like Delta is going to so welcome operation service dog access. 230 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,799 I believe that so many people get service dogs emotional 231 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:44,799 support animals all confused, and I think something like this 232 00:13:44,879 --> 00:13:46,960 is going to help clear the confusion. Chris, I don't 233 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,240 know if he'd recalled, but there was even an emotional 234 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,960 support turkey on a plane on a Delta flight last year. 235 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:57,399 So some people have taken these and call them service 236 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,200 animals when you and I both know that turkeys not 237 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,799 gone through the rigorous training that a service dogs has 238 00:14:03,879 --> 00:14:06,960 to go through. And gosh, there was a turkey, there 239 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,759 was a duck, And of course it's funny on social 240 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:11,879 media to see those photos, but you and I both 241 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:16,240 know it's not funny when the reaction to such incidences 242 00:14:16,519 --> 00:14:20,320 causes a knee jerk reaction which denies a service dog 243 00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:24,200 with a legitimate service dog with a legitimate wounded warrior 244 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:29,080 access to public services. And that does sometimes become the 245 00:14:29,159 --> 00:14:31,519 knee jerk reaction. But I appaud Delta for putting more 246 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,519 rigor and saying it's only their systems only apply to 247 00:14:34,559 --> 00:14:37,080 service dog because I'm sure everyone's going to look forward 248 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,159 to Operations Service Dog Access. Where can veterans and service 249 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:45,279 dog providers learn more about Operation Service Dog Access in 250 00:14:45,279 --> 00:14:46,840 this exciting new partnership. 251 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 3: Well great, We're actually just this month launched our official 252 00:14:51,039 --> 00:14:56,799 website for this initiative, and it is wwwservicedogaccess dot org 253 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,559 and anyone who's interested in this innovative program can go 254 00:15:00,679 --> 00:15:03,720 there to learn more about it. Veterans who've served their 255 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:07,080 country who have a service dog as one of their 256 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,120 modalities for treatment can apply to go through our pilot 257 00:15:10,159 --> 00:15:13,279 phase of this project. Anyone who works around the country 258 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,200 in various industries from hotels or restaurants or even the 259 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:19,240 airlines as we've discussed, can also go here to learn 260 00:15:19,279 --> 00:15:22,039 more about the program and sign up for updates if 261 00:15:22,039 --> 00:15:24,960 they want to keep abreast of our progress. We're running 262 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,399 a pilot program between now and summer of twenty eighteen 263 00:15:28,519 --> 00:15:31,360 to test our theories for this system and how it's 264 00:15:31,399 --> 00:15:34,679 going to work and support veterans with their service dogs, 265 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:37,679 and we anticipate learning quite a bit through that pilot 266 00:15:37,679 --> 00:15:39,840 phase and once we're done with that, going into a 267 00:15:39,879 --> 00:15:43,399 full beta phase starting this summer, where we'll accept more 268 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:46,200 applicants to go through the process and try and get 269 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,720 more and more veterans through this just to make their 270 00:15:48,759 --> 00:15:53,320 lives easier and similarly the lives of those frontline employees easier, 271 00:15:53,399 --> 00:15:56,200 so that they don't feel that they need to challenge 272 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,480 people and they get that uncomfortable conversation over and over again. 273 00:15:59,519 --> 00:16:01,960 They can look for this new credential and feel more 274 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,879 confident that that's a legitimate service animal with their owner. 275 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 2: Bravo and Bravo. Well, Chris, you know, helping veterans with 276 00:16:09,279 --> 00:16:13,039 this assessment and credentialing makes so much sense. But how 277 00:16:13,039 --> 00:16:15,879 effective it'll be that people don't really know about it. 278 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,200 Our research has found that sixty nine percent almost seventy 279 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:23,159 percent of retail employees so they've never received any training 280 00:16:23,279 --> 00:16:26,799 from their employer on the questions they are legally allowed 281 00:16:26,799 --> 00:16:29,879 to ask customers to verify in animal as a service dog. 282 00:16:30,279 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 3: You're right, Robin, this this effort is really most helpful 283 00:16:33,279 --> 00:16:36,840 if we do two things in concert with this program. 284 00:16:36,919 --> 00:16:40,399 One is Educate America, and we're really lucky that, as 285 00:16:40,399 --> 00:16:43,320 you know, we've secured a support from Mars PetCare, who 286 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:46,559 helped sponsor our initial summit along with the Chultz Family Foundation. 287 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:50,279 While Mars Pretcare has decided to help us going forward 288 00:16:50,279 --> 00:16:54,639 with by creating two short public service announcement videos that 289 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:58,039 we plan to use to educate employees about the dues 290 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:00,480 and don'ts as it relates to service dog So that's 291 00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:02,960 going to be a very helpful tool set for us 292 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,519 to share widely with industry employees so they learn more 293 00:17:06,799 --> 00:17:10,599 about how to be a service dog friendly business. And secondarily, 294 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:15,519 we believe that adopting and enforcing a national standard around 295 00:17:15,799 --> 00:17:19,160 the training and certification of service dogs for persons with 296 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,240 these disorders is a key step as well, and we've 297 00:17:22,279 --> 00:17:25,160 been excited that we've been working alongside with your team 298 00:17:25,559 --> 00:17:28,720 on a change dot org petition will actually go live 299 00:17:28,799 --> 00:17:32,240 this week where we're asking Congress, who's already introduced those 300 00:17:32,319 --> 00:17:37,000 national standards that American Humane Scientific Advisory Committee helped create 301 00:17:37,039 --> 00:17:39,759 into one bill on the Hill, So we're applauding Congress 302 00:17:39,799 --> 00:17:41,480 for doing that, but we're also asking them to make 303 00:17:41,519 --> 00:17:44,400 sure that that same national standard applies to all the 304 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,200 bills that are currently in Congress. I believe to date 305 00:17:47,319 --> 00:17:50,759 there are five separate bills relating to service dogs and veterans, 306 00:17:51,039 --> 00:17:53,920 and you know, as organizations were kind of agnostic about 307 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,240 which one of those gets across the finish line and 308 00:17:56,279 --> 00:17:59,160 the next congressional session. We just hope that whichever one 309 00:17:59,279 --> 00:18:03,920 does take into account the Scientific Advisory Committee recommendations for 310 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,759 a national standard. So again, that petition will go live 311 00:18:06,759 --> 00:18:09,279 this week. I'm changed at org. If people search for 312 00:18:09,319 --> 00:18:12,799 the National Association of Veterans Serving Organizations, they should sign 313 00:18:12,839 --> 00:18:15,240 that petition later this week and they can sign it 314 00:18:15,279 --> 00:18:18,720 and tell Congress that they support veterans getting access to 315 00:18:18,799 --> 00:18:20,359 high quality service dogs. 316 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 2: Bramo, that's wonderful. I know the back to the website 317 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:29,119 that's going to launch www dot service Dogaccess dot org, 318 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,599 and of course also search for NABSO on change dot 319 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:37,160 org to find that petition. Is that right, Chris? That's right, wonderful. 320 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,160 Any final words or thoughts for our listeners. Chris has 321 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,680 been such an informative time together. Learned so much about 322 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,720 what your organization does and certainly the commitment for for 323 00:18:46,839 --> 00:18:49,960 service dogs. Any other thoughts for our listeners. 324 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:51,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, this has been great. We're just so grateful for 325 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:54,160 the opportunity to share the exciting work we've been doing 326 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,920 with the American Humane around the cause that we're very 327 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,319 passionate about, and that's vetter and mental health. You know, 328 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:03,880 the caution I would have or listeners is don't fall 329 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:07,200 to a lot of the media or film or movie 330 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:11,680 or television portrayal that every veteran is broken or a hero. 331 00:19:12,279 --> 00:19:14,640 Far too often these media portrayals make it look like 332 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,440 either we're all Metal of Honor recipients or we're all 333 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:21,160 suffering from PTSD and we're unstable. Well, the reality is 334 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:25,359 the bell curve of veterans are job ready citizens who 335 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:29,200 are actively serving in their communities, living very productive lives. 336 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,359 But we know that some still struggle with some barriers 337 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:34,599 as a result of their military experience. This is where 338 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,799 service dogs can help them and other treatments can help them. 339 00:19:38,079 --> 00:19:39,960 But I think it's just a little unfair to cast 340 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,759 everybody is either broken or a hero. We certainly have 341 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:45,839 people who suffer in those who have done amazing things, 342 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,920 but all in all, give veterans a chance to be 343 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,119 individuals and meet them where they're at because they're all 344 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,759 at different phases of their life, and we hope by 345 00:19:54,839 --> 00:19:57,839 this particular project we're doing with you as American Humane 346 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,799 and we can move more people who been exposed to 347 00:20:00,839 --> 00:20:04,079 combat traumas to more productive lives. So we're just really 348 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:07,279 excited about this initiative going into twenty eighteen and grateful 349 00:20:07,319 --> 00:20:08,880 for our time today to be able to share that 350 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:09,759 with your listeners. 351 00:20:10,079 --> 00:20:13,799 Speaker 2: Well, listeners, you've been sharing this time today with the 352 00:20:14,039 --> 00:20:18,599 most impressive Chris Ford, the CEO of NAVSO, which is 353 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:23,839 the National Association of Veteran Serving Organizations, an incredible opportunity 354 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:28,039 to engage and this cause by visiting the change dot 355 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:32,160 org petition later this week and also visiting Service Dogaccess 356 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,000 dot org to learn more. Chris, thanks so much for 357 00:20:35,079 --> 00:20:37,000 being with us and being Unloving Animals. 358 00:20:37,279 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 3: Thank you, Robin, It's been my pleasure. 359 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:40,319 Speaker 1: Thank you well. 360 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:44,759 Speaker 2: Friends, what an amazing week learning about this national training 361 00:20:44,839 --> 00:20:48,799 standard for service dogs, learning about operations service Dog access, 362 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:50,880 so much that we can do in terms of the 363 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:53,920 healing power of the human animal bond. Thanks so much 364 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,839 for joining us for this week's episode of Loving Animals 365 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,720 with Robin Ganzard. I'm your host and I want to 366 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,960 Thank you again for what you do in your hometown 367 00:21:03,039 --> 00:21:05,559 to build a more humane world. Remember this week and 368 00:21:05,599 --> 00:21:08,160 every week, we're loving animals and I know you do too. 369 00:21:08,799 --> 00:21:13,880 Speaker 7: Let's Talk pets every week on demand only on petlifradio 370 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:35,319 dot com.