2/28/14 - A local veteranâs support organization is not only urging for passage of recently proposed legislation concerning service dogs, but also had a hand in drafting the language of the bill. Stiggyâs Dogs is a Howell Township-based group that rescues and trains shelter dogs to be psychiatric service dogs for military veterans at no cost to them. Founder and Director Jennifer Petre says a bill put forward by Dearborn Heights State Representative David Knezek would allow veterans who suffer from service-related psychiatric disabilities, such as post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injury, to be accompanied by service dogs in their daily lives. Petre says the legislation was much needed and she was honored to be contacted for the group's input on the proposal. House Bill 5374 inserts language into the Michigan Penal Code that will bring psychiatric service dogs under the same statute as other service dogs, standardize the style of vests and harnesses to be used by the service dog and require that a veteran carry a pictured identification card certifying that the dog was trained by a qualified organization or trainer. Petre says Representative Knezek, a Democrat who co-chairs the Veteransâ Services Task Force, has already received the support of many fellow legislators and she hopes the bill will see quick passage. (JK)
↧