War Veteran Says VA Police Officer Kicked Out His Service Dog
KUTV News
July 19, 2014
(KUTV) Mike Humphries is a medically retired war veteran who said he was "betrayed" by a veterans administration police officer in Salt Lake on Friday when the officer separated him from his service dog.
Employees say Donovan, Humphries' dog growled at a client in the Disabled American Veterans' office at the VA campus.
Humphries served in the first Gulf War and in the most recent war in Iraq, serving multiple tours as a Marine. In the last six months, his received a new battle buddy named Donovan, a 90 lbs. German Shepherd.
Mike says Donovan is not a pet. Donovan is a service dog, which has been carefully trained to look after Mike who suffers from PTSD and other health issues as a result of trauma from combat. "His first and foremost duty is to take care of me," explained Humphries. He added that when he is stressed or anxious, Donovan will calm him. When he perceives a threat to Mike, he sometimes growls as a cue to him.
On Friday, as the two boarded an elevator, a woman with a small dog suddenly entered, startling Mike - who said he is "hyper vigilant" like most other war vets who have PTSD. The dog sensed his sudden anxiety and growled.
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