Food Assistance Program For Service Dogs in Florida,?

Question

I have a Question About Food Assistance Program For Service Dogs in Florida, state keeps giving me the run around"?
i cant get a strait answer from the state about Question About Food Assistance Program For Service Dogs in Florida, state keeps giving me the run around" congresswomen says food-stamps helps, but food stamps refuse , then i get a call from the state saying its totally separate but i have to prove what i spend in vet bills etc... I and my service dog are squeaking by,,, free shot and tag clinics and out of country heartworm preventatives, and home made dog kibble and stews are how i am caring for my service animal off my food stamps.
how do i get them to pony up if the help is their but no one is willing to do anything..... apparently the state does help if help is needed for service animals food, meds, preventative care, flea and animals cleanliness.

most people who use service animals live under or at poverty level... the bills of what a pet has are higher only because the owners have the means to spend it and not use home remedies or go with out or substitute other things.

Service animal vest, harnesses, handles can cost close to $100.00 or more , patches to keep peoples hands from petting or distracting or reminders of admittance to a store for the working animal are not free they are $10 each or more and shampoo for baths more often are not free , All of this is very costly .

Where is the help? Who is in charge

Answer 1

Few states have stipends for service animals. I can think of 2-3, and Florida isn't one of those. In California I think the stipend is about $50 which is still not enough to cover all expenses associated with keeping a service dog. The simple fact is that service animals cost money to keep. It's one of the factors to consider and budget when considering getting a service animal.



What the state worker is talking about is claiming the expenses for your service animal as unreimbursed medical expenses. If you can provide documentation that you have these costs and they are caused by a provable medical condition, you can receive some additional food stamps to offset this somewhat. I wouldn't expect much. One of my clients got $10 per month.



So you'll need to look for help in the private sector. That's where I've gotten help for disabled clients with animals in the past (both SDs and ESAs). Look for small local charities interested in animals and animal welfare. Some vets (particularly veterinary teaching hospitals) will give discounted care for service animals if you ask for it. The IAADP keeps a list of these hospitals. http://iaadp.org



You can try Karl's Kids Program, Inc. In Hawthorne, FL, but they have limited resources and will probably want some proof of disability and proof the dog is a service dog in order to make sure those resources go where they are intended. They don't give out money for dog food, but they do disburse dog food when they have it available. Sometimes they have $7 Purina coupons.

Answer 2

Here is a link to look through Florida law http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/9



I looked through and did not find any reference to a stipend for service dogs. One thing you have to keep in mind, is that they often ask for proof that the dog is a service dog. Since you owner-trained, I'm assuming you kept a training log?



Vests, harnesses, etc are really only 1 time expenses. You should not be going through those items rapidly enough to warrant frequent replacement. Have you applied for IAADP benefits? For a low membership fee ($30/year) you are able to get free flea and tick preventative, Cosequin, etc directly from you vet.



Have you applied for SSDI? What about temporary cash assistance? At the very least, your dog should be getting the exercise it needs to stay healthy. I do not recommend training a dog to pull a walker when it is not being adequately exercised. You can do serious damage to the dog's joints and cause muscle strain. Most places that train and place service dogs these days refuse to teach such a task.



One thing to consider is that you might not be able to provide a sufficient home for your service dog. Owning a service dog is not a right due to disability and is not something every disabled person should do. If the dog is not being cared for properly, he will be unable to assist you.

Answer 3

What a great job you are trying to do for these animals who have given so much.

You might try bringing this subject up at the next City Council meeting, or write to your State Representative, even the Governor.

http://www.flgov.com/2008_sos - Cached

Thank you and sincere best of luck.....K