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This entry is in the series The Road to Get Dougal to Work (Title 1)
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With taking on a new job comes with hoops, especially when having a service dog. While I will not disclose where I am now working I will say it is with the state government (Florida) within a secured facility though I do work from an office outside the facility and I am still working within the IT realm. :)

Previously, I was working from home and before that I helped to develop the policy for having a service dog at work, so I did not worry too much about how stringent Title 1 and the EEOC could be. About a month after getting into this position I sent the required form along with paperwork to show my disability and some doctor's notes about having Dougal.

My local VA, where I go for my PTSD, refuses to write any note(s) about service dogs for Vets stating that the policy states as much. So I do not have a current "doctor's note" for Dougal and I. Normally, I can go around this by providing VA paperwork showing my diagnosis and other paperwork I have stored over the years.

Well, after a month of waiting to hear something back from our accommodations department, I decided to reach out to see if it was still in process. It only took a few minutes before my phone began to ring. Seems my original email was sucked into the IT black hole. But now seems the application is on the fast track.

They had a couple of questions before taking it "up the chain". One problem that I knew would appear is that the "secured area" could be a problem with access with Dougal. Not a big problem as my individual office is outside of that area, where I can house him when I am required to go into the secured area. So she asked me about that and I reiterated the above to her. I was also asked about what my supervisor and the secure area boss thought about having a dog on the premises. I explained that was why I approached her department first as that would be the toughest hurdle and once that was accepted I would be able to approach the other two areas, but both knew I had a service dog. I have a huge "Service Dog On Board" decal on the back window of my car. :)

Now for the question that dumbfounded me! "You have been working in your position now, for 2 months. How have you done without your dog? I simply said that I have to do what I have to do, but I have been waiting on a response from you guys for over a month now..

I do not have a warm fuzzy feeling about the official response now. :(
Next entry in the series 'The Road to Get Dougal to Work (Title 1)': Waiting (Title 1)

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Author
Abhean
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