Guidelines For The Accommodation Of Service Dogs

There are between 45 to 55 million dogs per household in America (American Humane Association 2012). Furthermore, according to a national survey, the majority of dog owners chose to get a dog for the companionship as the major reason for having a dog (American Animal Hospital Association, 2004). After all, dogs are nonjudgmental, give unconditional love, can be trusted with our most intimate feelings and emotions, and are highly intelligent. These dog characteristics can significantly enhance the lives of thousands of youth and adults, especially those with disabilities and/or those who live in continuing care facilities. There are approximately 20,000 service dogs in the U.S., which includes 10,000 guide dogs (American Humane Association 2012)

After a dog is selected as being a potential service dog, it leaves its mother and goes to a family for training. During this time, the puppy is exposed to as many environments and situations as possible, such as cars, children and restaurants, since it will be going everywhere with its owner. Service dogs attend obedience school and learn simple commands, such as stay, sit, and walk.

Dogs have helped humans in various medical fields for a long time. There are dogs that get experimental cancer treatments to see if they would be safe for humans. There are dogs that are trained to sniff out cancer in a human and according to the article by D. Becker, “there are even service dogs who alert their owners when their blood sugar is dropping dangerously low.” (p.1). Some people think that service dogs should not be allowed in schools because they are afraid. However they are wrong because service dogs are so well trained they will not harm the students or other people in a

Work animals, including dogs and horses, have been around for centuries, used for working on the farm or for transportation. In Mark Ostermeier’s article he explains that after World War I, people started training animals, specifically dogs, to escort veterans with disabilities. The 1960’s, is when the first formalized dog training schools started to emerge in America. As service dogs became more prevalent in public places, the public did not understand the training involved for these dogs to do their job. Due to the lack of knowledge of the purpose of a service animal, business owners, corporations and airlines prevented Americans with service dogs from gaining access to public places.

Not all service dogs are allowed in all public places. This paper explains all the reasons

The law of only dogs as service animals in public protects other people from getting sick or injured or having to clean up their messes.”service animal laws”.The law is supposed to help people but what about the other animals trained to become service animals?Does it become it pointless to train those other animals?If it is only in public places

These illnesses can make it hard to do actions needed in everyday life when they return home from the battlefield. Since these illnesses are often more mental rather than physical, one of the best ways to help soldiers who suffer with PTSD or TBI is to provide a service dog to help their needs. A service dog is “any dog that is individually trained to work or perform a task for the benefit of an individual with a disability” (“Service Animals”). It may be hard to train a service dog or even find a dog to train. Approximately 3.9 million dogs enter shelters nationwide each year and of those 3.9 million, about 2.7 million are euthanized each year (“Pet Statistics”). Many of these dogs that are in shelters are strays as a result of improper care from their previous owners. Much of the nation’s animal cruelty is a result of conflicts between their owners. A 2011 survey states that about 10.2 million men and women are physically assaulted by their partner in the United States every year, and 62 percent of the nation's households have at least one pet ("Animal Cruelty Facts and Statistics”). Animals are just the victims of the prejudice that is going on around

For years the dogs have to practise to help also it can take them a while to find a person to take care of. Service dogs are to help people, who have got hurt and who need help.

For many years, people have used dogs as service animals. Today, there are many different animals used to help people with different needs. Whether someone has a disability or someone needs a guide, there is a service animal for almost anyone in need. Wouldn’t it be incredible if someone walked into school or work with a potbelly pig? From miniature horses to monkeys to potbelly pigs, service animals can help people in many ways.

Service dogs catch you when you fall, they help you when you have trouble seeing pull wheelchairs and pull off clothes. Only 40 percent of the dogs are raised by canine companions successfully complete the nine-month training program. The dogs that make it to Texas are the best of the best. The service dogs learn at least 40 commands!

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 opened the gateway to service animals being used. The ADA helps the individuals with

The cost of a service dog can be very expensive, if not obtained by an organization that receives donations and helps the family out. The average annual cost to maintain a dog was $1307, with a range of $195-$5134 (Davis 134). The daily routine changes in some of the families affected the dogs negatively. The dog would have bathroom accidents in the home, which were frowned upon by the family. The stress of the day to day activities with the child would be too much for the dog to handle at times, fatigue and attitude changes were apparent. The majority of problems faced with a service dog can be eliminated, with a set routine and normal breaks given to the dog.

I am not to familiar with the laws at this time. I only know that the training, if any, is not the same as a service dog for a companion dog. I feel there needs to be a law that if the companion dog is to go in public places like the service dog it needs the same training, as well as, a credentials card should be shown if asked by an employee at the establishment. To me, this is important for the safety of people and other service animals. If you were to take a untrained animal into a restaurant and a service dog comes in, the untrained animal has not been taught to ignore other animals or aggressive animals. Service have this training.

The program offered by Bergins university encompasses all the behavioral and emotional aspects of a dog that can be trained as a service dog. There are separate certification and training levels depending on the previous education and training a candidate has and the knowledge regarding the dog training essentials.

They must also be trained to ignore distractions in busy fields, as they may be working in populated areas. The official certification by FEMA also states that dogs must allow themselves to be lifted into the air by a harness, be unafraid of helicopters, and ride in carts and boats without trying to jump