Health Care for Service Animals

By Gary C. Norman, Esq., CEO & President, Maryland Area Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Assistance dogs deserve our earnest respect and commitment in assuring their longevity and welfare. Several issues confronting assistance dogs in which we can be in collaboration are the premium cost of providing medical and medical related services, and the extent to which uncontrolled pets, which are ever increasing in the general public, interfere with a team working in the field. Innovative collaboration by members of the veterinarian community and organizations representing the interests of assistance dogs, such as the Maryland Area Guide Dog Users, Inc. (MAGDUI), can include the following: establishing a central charitable fund from which veterinarians can draw to defray the cost of providing free or discount services, an understanding of the importance of furnishing free or discounted services to service animals, and a joint educational campaign.

Mahatma Gandhi stated, “You must be the change you wish to see….”

There are approximately 10,000 guide dog teams in the field. While providers of guide dogs typically place these specially bred and trained animals at no expense to the individual person with a sight disability, they typically do not provide for the cost of veterinarian services. And if provided for, the annual stipend for routine veterinarian care does not range above $250.00 on average. This amount of reimbursement is quickly exhausted by one temporary illness or annual physical with accompanying vaccinations.

Maryland provides for a tax deduction equaling approximately 15% for costs incurred in relation to a disability. Deductions are far worst tax incentives than credits. This reduction in total taxable income constitutes a de minimis recovery tool in any given year in light of the additional expenses incurred by persons with disabilities, particularly, should a service animal befall a serious illness or be attacked by an uncontrolled animal.

The benefits that will redound from collaboration among veterinarians and the assistance dog movement, include, but are not limited to: creative strategies and mechanisms for resolving issues of common concern, such as the cost of health care, enhanced education and dialogue among veterinarians, the handlers of service animals and the public as a whole, engaging the public in addressing problems that are detrimental to the longevity of service animal, such as the crisis of uncontrolled pets, and an overall ability of the veterinarian and service animal community to assure the sustainable welfare of a special class of our furry companions.

Economic, including enhanced reputation, supports furnishing services at a reduced charge. According to statistics captured by the Humane Society of the United States, 39% of U.S. households include at least one dog, and 35% have two or more. Furnishing reduced services to beloved furry assistants will therefore influence handlers to communicate positive experiences to their network of family and friends. This potentially but likely means an increased numbers of pet owners bringing their non-service animal pet to the office for for-pay medical care.

The notion that veterinarians, as members of a learned class, owe an ethical duty to perform public service supports reduced or pro bono services. Whether one believes in Utilitarianism, the virtue-based ethics of Aristotle, or the duty-based system of Kant, one who is able ought to provide such services.

A survey entitled, Veterinary Teaching Hospital Fee Structure for Disabled Clients Partnered with Guide, Hearing and Service Dogs, prepared by Ed Eames, Ph.D., who serves as President of the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, reports there are 26 animal veterinary teaching hospitals that provide free or discounted services to the service animal community. The Animal Medical Center of New York, an animal teaching hospital, has instituted a no charge policy for guide dogs. The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine provides a 20% reduction in all fees for guide dogs.

In addition to collaborating with MAGDUI in serving as the presenting hospital for a pilot ambulance service for injured or ill guide dogs in Baltimore County, the Pet E.R. of Towson, Maryland, reduces fees to guide and police dogs.

Concerning reduced veterinarian fee structures, the veterinarian and service animal communities can collaborate to establish a central fund from which veterinarians and organizations providing services to or conferences about service animals can draw to defray costs and reduce or eliminate charges to handlers.

Established in 2003, the Guide Dog Assistance Fund, operated under the auspices of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, pays for “extraordinary veterinary expenses,” including, euthanizing a working guide dog, and financially supports special events pertaining to guide dogs. Extraordinary veterinary expenses, include, emergency or unexpected expenses that are not routine care, such as, surgical procedures, treatment for infections, and on-going medications. Guide dogs are eligible when they have been trained at a recognized school and they are in active service. Like in Canada, cross-assistance dog advocacy organizations should continue forward with the work of the Eames in the establishment of public policy to ensure reduced costs for veterinarian services. It is also critical that such organizations collaborate with the veterinarian community to contain costs.

It is equally true that medical associations representing the veterinarian community are considered to be conservative. Resistance or reluctance to explore innovative reimbursement mechanisms can be addressed through, among others, recognizing the proactive dedication that has been demonstrated by veterinarians who have arisen above parochial and financial interests to ensure unrivaled care to assistance dogs. MAGDUI will establish a new annual award honoring veterinarians who have performed extraordinary services to the service animal community.