Service Dogs
Service dogs have been a blessing to all those who have found it difficult to adapt to, or live with a particular health condition. These canines have become an important part of many lives, and rightfully so. It is also interesting to note that the crime rate against disabled victims has dipped sharply since service dogs programs became popular. As a result, many individuals and aid organizations are looking to these canines to help people with various health conditions cope with everyday life. Unlike most instances where dogs are barred from entering some public places, owners have a legal right to take their service dogs wherever they go. It is an offence in the USA to deny entry to service dogs; even on a plane. As outlined by the Assistance Dog International or ADI, service dogs are also known as assistant or caretaker dogs, and are usually trained to perform many functions, such as being guide dogs to the physically and/or mentally challenged. Guide dogs also offer assistance to those who are visual and/or hearing impaired.
The History of Service Dogs: Types of Service Dogs Though service dogs are classified according to the way they are trained, they are largely made to assist individuals suffering from some disability or the other. Some examples of service dogs include: • Mobility Assistance Dogs: Trained to assist the physically disabled, mobility assistance dogs perform simple tasks such as picking up objects and opening and closing doors. Large, muscular breeds like the Rottweiler can also be trained to pull/push a wheelchair around with specially designed harnesses to guide those suffering from both minor and major injuries/diseases. These canines are commonly referred to as walker dogs. • Psychiatric Service Dogs: Trained to assist the mentally challenged, psychiatric service dogs are taught to detect any changes in their owners’ behavior or demeanor, such as the onset of hallucinations or paranoia, and alert the handler or anyone nearby to any oncoming problem. • Service Dogs for Diabetics: Service dogs for diabetics identify hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) through changes in a person’s body odor and alert those nearby so that the owner can receive timely medical response. Since the dogs trained to assist diabetic patients need to have a strong sense of smell to detect any changes in a person’s odor, the breeds most commonly used for this purpose include Labradors/ Labrador Retrievers and Hound Dog breeds like the Dachshund and Beagle. • Seizure Response Dogs: These dogs need to be individually trained to offer personalized assistance to their owners, since seizure responses differ from patient to patient. Seizure response dogs also provide physical support if needed. • Autism Service Dogs: Autism service dogs are trained to help autistic people perform their daily activities. Assistance dogs not only help and guide physically and mentally challenged individuals, but also offer them unconditional love and support. There have been many instances where service dogs have saved their owners in the nick of time, and have even helped patient’s combat depression. It is often said that people with pets tend to live longer lives, and that may be true. After all, dogs are a man’s best friend; and what better way to live your life to the fullest in the face of a health condition, than by having a loving friend by your side?
Guide dogs were first used to aid the physically challenged in 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA was implemented. However, seeing-eye dogs or canines who guide the visually impaired have been around since 1929; the year the Seeing Eye Guide Dog Organization was founded. Hearing dogs; or dogs that assist those who are hearing impaired, have been around since the mid-1970s. This was when the Hearing Dog Program (now known as Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans or NEADS) and Canine Companions for Independence organizations were established. Service dog awareness programs have been in operation since the mid-1980s, and are headed by the National Council on Disability. The need for a comprehensive law granting equal opportunities for the disabled saw the light of day in 1988, when the official definition for service dogs was finalized. According to this definition, a service dog is a dog trained to offer assistance to a disabled individual as and when required. A service dog requires no license or certification from the state or local government, and is not subject to state laws either.
