What is a Service Dog?

                My pastor (retired), Art Gotjen, has probably had more influence on the person I’ve become than anyone else.  He quietly encourages me to be the best and most honest person I can be.  He has instilled the trait of which I am most proud: the willingness to accept full responsibility for my actions.  He has also instilled in me a trait which others must find annoying: I expect people to say what they mean and mean what they say.

                When asked if I am a dog trainer, I’m tempted to answer, “No, I train people to train their own dogs,” but I usually say, “Yes” instead, because I know what they mean.  When I am asked if I train service dogs, a whole different conversation begins.

                Most often, the term service dog is used when the intent is therapy dog.  A therapy dog and its handler work as a team to improve the lives of others.  Examples include visiting a nursing home, rehabilitation center, or school.  One of my favorite websites describing the work of therapy dogs is that of Therapy Dogs International (tdi-dog.org). 

                Other times, the inquirer is an elderly person moving into a retirement community who fears the loss of their best friend and greatest supporter, or a person struggling with mental illness that they cannot face life alone.  These folks mean to ask about an emotional support dog.  The organization I’ve found most helpful in explaining this role is Heeling Allies (mentalhealthdogs.org).

                A true service dog is one that has been trained to perform specific tasks that a person with disabilities cannot. The most common examples are guide dogs for the visually impaired or alert dogs for people with compromised hearing.  The work of a service dog is taken quite seriously and, as such, the Americans with Disabilities Act insures that it cannot be denied access to any public business.  In fact, in Pennsylvania, even the service dog in training is protected by this law.  The U.S. Department of Justice has prepared a list of the most common questions asked by business owners (ada.gov/qasrvc.htm).

                While a service dog requires specific training, there is no requirement that it must be trained by a certain organization or trainer.  Nor does a service dog need to be certified or registered.  There are many organizations to be found on the Internet that claim to do so but, the fact is, a certificate, a vest, and/or an identification badge does not a service dog make.  These items are commonly used to identify a service dog, but purchasing such documents and using them to pass off a pet as a working animal is an insult to those of us who legitimately require such assistance.

                Recently, I travelled to Tennessee and required the assistance of my dog, Daisy, more than is typical for me.  Her jobs are to brace me while rising, pull me from a sitting position, and to pick up objects when I lose these abilities to a flare of connective tissue disease and fibromyalgia.  While working, she wears a vest clearly marked with a patches reading “Service Dog – Do Not Distract.”  Rarely did people respect this request. 

                It’s certainly understandable.  She’s awfully cute and seeing a dog in a department store or a service plaza restroom is a novel experience.  Breaking for a visit doesn’t affect Daisy’s working ability and I was happy to have the opportunity to educate but, in general, a service dog should be treated with respect and not distracted from its duty. 

Please, always ask permission before approaching any dog (service or pet) and try not to be insulted if its handler declines.  Sometimes, the work of these animals is so intricate that they cannot afford to be distracted.

Rebecca is the President & Executive Director of The Ethel Fund Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to changing animals' lives by providing assistance in times of catastrophic veterinary need.  To learn more, please visit http://www.ethelfund.org or https://www.facebook.com/TheEthelFund.  You may contact Rebecca at rslindeman@ethelfund.org.

Phil Balko is the proprietor of Photography by Balko and donates his talents to the Ethel Fund Inc. as well as other community organizations.  To see more of his work, visit http://philipbalko.com/. You may contact Phil at inquiry@philipbalko.com.