Legislation will recognize mental health service dogs on the same level as traditional service dogs
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Chrissy Sommer hopes to provide additional assistance to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She pre-filed legislation (HB 1428) this week that would change Missouri law to recognize mental health service dogs on the same level as traditional service dogs.
Sommer said the change is necessary to provide additional support to the many combat veterans who returned home with PTSD or a traumatic brain injury. She noted that the global war on terror has created 2.7 million veterans with 20 percent of these individuals estimated to have post-traumatic stress disorder and more than 300,000 estimated to have a traumatic brain injury. Sommer said the use of a mental health services dog can make an enormously positive difference in the well-being of a veteran with a mental disorder or brain injury.
“Initial research has shown that service dogs can be extremely beneficial to veterans with PTSD or TBI,” said Sommer, R-St. Charles, who has worked on the issue with Puppies for Parole, COMTREA, the University of Missouri Veterans Law Clinic, and local adoption centers. “My goal is to help the many veterans who are struggling with mental health issues to have a higher quality of life that can be achieved through access to trained therapy animals.”
Sommer sponsored similar legislation during the 2015 session. The bill was approved by the House but did not receive Senate approval before session ended. Sommer noted that mental health service dogs are individually trained to perform tasks that mitigate the psychiatric disabilities of their disabled partners. These therapy dogs can guide a disoriented handler to safety, find a family member for assistance, and stop obsessive compulsive disorder actions. Despite their benefits, mental health service dogs have not been recognized and treated on the same level as traditional service dogs. Sommer said she hopes to change that with her legislation.
Bill pre-filing began in the Missouri House on Tuesday, Dec. 1. The 2016 legislative session begins Wednesday, Jan. 6.
