Service Dogs

Weinmeyer said that, “In countering the claim of discrimination, the VA argued that not providing service dog benefits for those with mental illness did not violate the Rehabilitation Act quite the opposite, in fact” (2). “The VA stated that it provides benefits not for particular conditions but for particular purposes,” which is, “to help a veteran manage a visual impairment, a hearing impairment, or a chronic impairment that substantially limits mobility,” and that all veterans receive equal consideration for service dog benefits” (Weinmeyer 2).

There are 3 different types of service dogs people can have: Emotional Support Animals, Therapy Animals, and Service Animals. Emotional Support Animals have one task and that is to provide comfort and support, emotionally, to someone who needs it and has a documented health condition. Therapy Animals are registered through an agency and their purpose is to provide therapeutic value to those who need it. Service animals are trained to perform tasks the owner simply cannot do on their own, guiding blind people, detecting seizures, helping people who have lost legs or arms.

According to Florida Statute 413.08-2d, a service dog is, “an animal that is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.”

For most service dog programs, there are certain requirements to meet before you are eligible to receive the assistance you need. One of the main requirements is that you must be legally disabled. By providing a doctor’s note, it will list or show the many things you are not capable of doing on one’s own. Another sort of legal documentation stating your disability is also preferred. A type of requirement some programs look for is the daily use of independently using a walking cane or stick. You must also be willing to be responsible of the full time caring of your guide dog. Once you meet the criteria’s, you are ready to apply for the service that you need. If you are uncertain of your eligibility or have any questions or concerns,

To achieve the highest success rate should be an 8-week-old purebred puppy from a show breeder and the lowest probability of success happens when a rescue dog is used. If a rescue dog is used, professional guidance will be needed when selecting the dog, otherwise the dog will not be able to keep up with the very demanding service dog training. However that logic is flawed because it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. PETA also believes that service dogs do not receive the love that a normal pet received because they are working and because older dogs that are not cut out to do guide dog work anymore are given up for adoption. Figure one shows that 20% of service dogs are seven years and older. At age seven most dogs are halfway through

Before you travel with your service animal, it is pertinent to know and understand the different legislation in place to accommodate disability needs. U.S. federal law and the ADA grant service dogs near unrestricted access when you and your partner are on the ground. Separate legislation, the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA),

Many professionals recognize the benefits of assistive animals for people with physical disabilities. This includes seeing-eye dogs that are trained to alert owners to environmental hazards. Some policies may be hard to change, but are required if needed. One well known policy

At first sight, service dogs look like any other dog. They are furry. They walk on all fours. They have a tail. But they have many differences from other dogs. Service dogs are well behaved and are obedient. They wear clothing that no other dog wears such as a vest to make people aware that they are service dogs. Service dogs perform tasks that no other dogs can do, like paying for meals and carrying objects for their owners, sometimes in a vest compartment like a backpack. Service dogs are unlike other dogs because they are trained to do tasks that human beings normally do, but can’t because of some disability. Service dogs help their owners navigate the world they live in by assisting their owners in overcoming day to day

To segregate assisting animal to a particular area or the owner to a section of a room is prohibited and could cost several dollars in a court case. ADA prohibits service animals separate or removed from a facility based on their kind of breed. Except when animal’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health and safety of another guest. Authors, Wenthold, and Savage stated that dogs’ temperament and response to situation belied the dog’s choice( 2007). Example, barking in public places also they sometimes sniff around. People argue if that justify a threat to other guests, and should they and their owners be removed or put in a different

Seeing-eye dogs are necessary for the livelihood of some individuals who experience blindness. There are many requirements for both the dogs themselves as well as the handlers. There are many programs and associations available to those who need to utilize these services. Types of dogs and the training they require vary from organization to organization, all with the common goal of bettering the lives of those who are blind. Financing for seeing-eye dogs mainly comes primarily through private donors and business sponsors. Laws regarding seeing-eye dogs are enforced by the government under the American’s with Disabilities Act. Public education is important so it is made aware of the potential issues that may arise regarding these service

Therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, and dogs for the deaf and blind can be classified by what their job enables them to do. Although each of these dogs’ jobs differs in many ways, all of these jobs can be distinguished as being very helpful for people. Dogs can be needed to assist with daily life, to save lives with their senses of smell, sight, hearing, and touch, and to provide a trustworthy companion for us. Either way, most dogs are perfect companions for man, and help us to stay safe and save lives with their loyalty and determination. Therapy dogs can be classified by what their job enables them to do. They regularly help people in institutions

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)

Emotional support animals, on the other hand, are untrained animals that provide “comfort and support” to people.

Assistance Dogs are protected by the federal law the Americans with Disabilities Act. Guarantees all people with disabilities have legal rights to use their assistant animals in all area, that are open to the general public. The "no pet policy" does not apply to service dogs. Business cannot change extra fees towards the disable individual with the accompany service pet. Always ask before coming in contact with the service dog. Any form of distraction can cause problems. Trained to assist people with physical and mental impairments. 1000 fee for a fake service dog vest, up to jail time and confiscation of dog. Trained to be alert and on guard. Two to three years apprentice training program. Approximately 120 hours over 6 months of training

Service Dogs or Assistive dogs are the specifically trained dogs to assist people suffering from disabilities which limit them to perform the day-to-day tasks without assistance. They are highly trained companions which work as part of a team with their disabled partners. The main purpose of keeping a