It’s no surprise that September is one of our favorite months here at W.A.G.S. 4 Kids: it’s National Service Dog Month! While we interact with service dogs every day, and service dogs have become more and more of a common sight throughout the past few years, much of the general population still has a lot to learn about working dogs.
In honor of National Service Dog Month, and because we see it as one of our responsibilities as an organization, we’ve taken time this month to celebrate, educate, and inform others about service dogs. Whether you’re the parent of a child with a service dog, or simply an individual who wants to broaden their understanding of service dogs in order to be a better ally for those with disabilities, we’re here to be your trusted resource.
September was established as National Service Dog Month in 2008 by actor and animal advocate Dick Van Patten. While it began as a fundraiser for guide dog support, it has turned into an annual celebration of all service animals.
“Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability.”
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
At W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, we work with children who deal with a wide variety of diagnoses, from autism spectrum disorder, to cerebral palsy, and even mental health conditions. This means that we train our service dogs to specifically meet a child’s personal, individual needs. Some of the tasks that we train our service dogs to complete include tethering, cuddling, behavior interruption, retrieval, and brace (to only name a few).
To W.A.G.S. 4 Kids children, their service dog isn’t just a friend for life, they’re a source of empowerment, inspiration, independence, and confidence. They’re not just companions; they’re integral to a child’s daily life. We’re proud to celebrate service dogs in September and beyond.
Becoming a Powerful Ally
It's likely that you've read or heard stories about people with disabilities being unfairly treated, or having their basic human rights infringed upon. These are the kinds of stories that we never want to hear - and in order to make a change, we need to spread education and foster understanding! Being a powerful ally for people with disabilities begins with educating yourself and making efforts to educate others!
We've created a few informational graphics to help teach the public about service dogs and their handlers in an effort to spread awareness. Please feel free to share these pictures and information with your friends, colleagues, and family!
What to Expect From a Service Dog
Many people have preconceived notions about what service dogs should look like and how they should behave. For example, when someone imagines a service dog, they often picture a golden or labrador retriever. However, while some breeds are more popular for service work, service dogs can be any breed!
At W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, we use golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, poodles, and poodle mixes. We use these breeds because they are what we refer to as “soft expressioned dogs.” These dogs may go into school with their child partner where other students may not be familiar with dogs. Using fluffier dogs with soft expressions make it easier for wary classmates and other individuals in public who may be timid of dogs.
Another image that will often pop into someone's mind when they think of a service dog is of a dog wearing a service vest. We train our dogs to wear service vests when they are working, but it's not required by the ADA that a service dog have a vest, ID tag, or specific harness that identifies them as a working animal. Distracting a service dog from its work can be dangerous for the dog and the handler, so even if a dog in public is not wearing a vest or harness, the best practice is to simply ignore the dog.
At W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, we train our service dogs to be hard workers. They have important jobs, and they recognize that! However, in the end, service dogs are still dogs! Many people think that service dogs are all work and no play, but when they aren't working for their child partner, they are allowed to play and have fun just like any other dog. This isn't to say that they don't enjoy working for their handler - many service dogs live for their work!
What Questions Can Be Asked About Service Dogs?
According to the ADA, when it's not obvious if a dog is a service dog (like if they are not wearing a vest or other identifying gear), only two questions can be asked to the handler: is the dog a service animal required because of a disability and what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Medical documentation or proof of disability cannot be asked for and does not need to be provided! This legislation is in place to protect the handler's privacy by not asking them to disclose too much information about their disability. It's important that you provide service dogs and their handlers with the privacy and confidentiality offered to anyone else!
The Difference Between Service, Emotional Support, and Therapy Dogs
Service dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs are not the same. As working dogs become more and more commonly seen, it's important to make yourself aware of the differences between each - because these differences are important!
Not only is it important that non-dog handlers understand the difference between these categories of dogs, it's also important for those who are served by an animal to know their rights based on how their dog is classified. Correctly identifying your working animal helps ensure that ADA laws are followed as intended. For example, if you have an emotional support dog, understand that it is a pet, and recognize that it cannot be taken to public establishments. This will help protect the public and reinforce their faith in working dogs.
Celebrating Service Dog Positivity All Year Long
At W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, we believe that service dogs should be celebrated every month! Whether you're reading this in September or beyond, you can practice being a powerful ally for those with disabilities by sharing our informational resources and spreading service dog awareness.
As a Cleveland-grown, small charity, we can testify as to how important it is to have others share information about our cause, be it a share of our posts on social media, a referral, or just recruiting friends to participate in our events. Follow us on social media to help us spread educational information about service dogs!
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