Iraq Veteran told to leave class because of his PTSD service dog

Student Turned Away From DMACC Class Because of Service Dog

Emily Price, KCCI.com
November 14, 2011



ANKENY, Iowa -- Des Moines Area Community College administrators issued a public apology Monday after a two-time Iraq war veteran was turned away from his class on the Ankeny campus because he had a service dog with him. The dog helps him cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and is, by law, allowed in class.

“Right now, based on interviews we've done so far, it appears it was a misunderstanding,” said DMACC Executive Dean of Student Services Laurie Wolf.

Last Friday, which was Veterans Day, the former soldier walked into DMACC building 6 with his service dog. He was prepared to watch a production in the auditorium in order to write a paper on it over the weekend. The student’s instructor told him that the dog could not come to class and they would have to leave.

Wolf said the instructor was concerned the dog might be a distraction.

“The professor told him the production was open to the public, but he was a little concerned about having a service dog. He didn't know if other people might be allergic or might be sensitive to having a dog there,” said Nicole Shumate, the executive director of Paws and Effect, a local nonprofit that trains dogs and teams them up with veterans who have PTSD.

More than anything, Shumate said, the dogs help with the psychological after-effects of war.
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