An Edmonton soldier battling PTSD is speaking out after his service dog was banned from facilities at the Edmonton Garrison.

Sgt. Jeffrey Yetman says he and his four-year-old service dog Diego have been visiting recreation facilities and mess halls at the Edmonton Garrison for months but new standing orders dated Jan. 5 now prohibit service dogs from all kitchen, recreation, and training areas.

The orders also require soldiers with service dogs to notify facility staff 24 hours in advance of any visit as staff can refuse service dogs “where there is a health or safety risk to staff members”.

“I feel personally affronted and attacked. I feel discriminated against. I feel my human rights have been violated,” said Yetman on Tuesday.

“I’m a sergeant with 26 years’ service and they think they can bully me into capitulation on this asinine policy.”

Serving in Croatia and Bosnia in the 1990s before being diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2002, Yetman deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 and again in 2011 before the symptoms “really started to manifest themselves” and he was transferred to the Joint Personnel Support Unit to begin treatment and counselling.

When he was gifted Diego through the Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation in Aug. 2014, Yetman said the German Shepherd “pulled me out of this dark corner” and began to help him grapple with his PTSD-induced anxiety and anger.

“He’s able to pull me away from situations where I’m starting to get ramped up.”

Part of the problem, however, is Diego’s service dog certification was done in the United States.

Capt. Donna Riguidel with 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton said there are three members with “emotional support animals” that aren’t recognized service dogs in Alberta, including Diego, as they have not been trained and tested by Assistance Dogs International.

Riguidel said the base “recognizes the value of these animals” but their access will have to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

“We just can’t give them the same access as a certified service dog because they are not certified service dogs. They don’t come with that guarantee where we know how they’ll react in any situation,” explained Riguidel.

“We’re not saying the dog is not allowed. We just have members who have allergies and phobias so we have to do our best to balance everybody’s needs.”

Yetman argues the orders shouldn’t be interpreted on a case-by-case basis and he will rally against the changes until they are reversed.

matthew.dykstra@sunmedia.ca

Twitter.com/SUNMattDykstra