Molly
11-09-2008, 08:02 AM
Indianapolis - Man's best friend was turned away recently at a local hospital. But it was no ordinary dog, but one has the power to save his owner's life if he had to.
Robin Davis says he suffers from seizures associated with post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the United States Air Force.
"I don't remember the seizures. I don't hear anything. I don't have any memory of them at all," said Davis.
Last year Davis got "Doc", a 5-year-old lab who can alert Davis a seizure is coming and help bring him out once they begin.
"When I come out, he's on top of me most of the time licking my face," explained Davis.
Davis says a few weeks ago, he went to the VA Medical Center downtown to have his meds adjusted because he was feeling sick.
"I went to check in and they said, 'Well, your dog will have to go home with your wife'," said Davis.
"I was so sick at the time that I didn't. I just didn't have the energy to really argue about it, because I knew it was wrong to turn him away."
A VA spokesperson told Eyewitness News that according to policy, service animals are allowed in the facility, but with the stipulation that the owner is able to care for the animal at all times.
The spokesperson said she couldn't discuss if that was the case with Robin Davis and Doc without discussing medical information that needed to stay private. Davis completely denies that he was too sick to care for Doc had the dog been able to stay with him.
"I was very capable of taking care of the dog. I could get out and take him out up to four times a day if I needed to," said Davis. "It just doesn't jive. It just doesn't make any sense."
Under Indiana Law, service dogs are allowed in any place the public has access to.
Davis says he doesn't know where to go from here. He knows he'll have to go back to the VA for other medical needs in the future, but doesn't know what he'll do if Doc is turned away again.
"I don't have any indication that they wouldn't do the same thing if I went back," he said.
WTHR-TV
------------------------------
Robin Davis says he suffers from seizures associated with post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the United States Air Force.
"I don't remember the seizures. I don't hear anything. I don't have any memory of them at all," said Davis.
Last year Davis got "Doc", a 5-year-old lab who can alert Davis a seizure is coming and help bring him out once they begin.
"When I come out, he's on top of me most of the time licking my face," explained Davis.
Davis says a few weeks ago, he went to the VA Medical Center downtown to have his meds adjusted because he was feeling sick.
"I went to check in and they said, 'Well, your dog will have to go home with your wife'," said Davis.
"I was so sick at the time that I didn't. I just didn't have the energy to really argue about it, because I knew it was wrong to turn him away."
A VA spokesperson told Eyewitness News that according to policy, service animals are allowed in the facility, but with the stipulation that the owner is able to care for the animal at all times.
The spokesperson said she couldn't discuss if that was the case with Robin Davis and Doc without discussing medical information that needed to stay private. Davis completely denies that he was too sick to care for Doc had the dog been able to stay with him.
"I was very capable of taking care of the dog. I could get out and take him out up to four times a day if I needed to," said Davis. "It just doesn't jive. It just doesn't make any sense."
Under Indiana Law, service dogs are allowed in any place the public has access to.
Davis says he doesn't know where to go from here. He knows he'll have to go back to the VA for other medical needs in the future, but doesn't know what he'll do if Doc is turned away again.
"I don't have any indication that they wouldn't do the same thing if I went back," he said.
WTHR-TV
------------------------------