Campaign boosts service dog awareness
As a result of an incident involving a service dog and a coffee shop in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Mayor Jim Beis, members of the borough council, representatives of the service-dog foundation Asista and Craig Read and his service dog Joey have launched a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of allowing service dogs and their owners access to business establishments.
Last week, members of council, Asista reps and Read and Joey visited merchants in the borough to explain how service dogs help their owners navigate the day-today with greater ease.
In a televised interview, Read said that he and Joey were refused service at a Tim Hortons in the borough last July. Read suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and agoraphobia and tried to explain to the employee that Joey’s constant presence helped him with his symptoms. But he was ordered to leave.
Following the incident, Tim Hortons issued a statement saying service dogs are allowed in its coffee shops and that owners must comply.
Asista trains service dogs to provide customized care for people who suffer from psychological, emotional or physical disabilities.
Some disabilities are clearly identifiable, but because coping with severe psychological or emotional disabilities is an internal struggle, the need for a service dog may not be immediately evident to the public at large.
Service dogs are identified by a special harness or vest which sports a logo identifying the organization that trained them. The owner also carries a formal letter identifying the need for the dog.
The public should not try to interact with the dog because he or she is in work mode and must not be distracted from the task.