Service dogs stand out
Both of my dogs are graduates of the Therapy Dog Program through St. John Ambulance, and I share my dogs’ successes quite often. The Therapy Dog Program is professionally guided by welltrained enthusiastic staff. When I tell people about my dogs and the program, people often respond by saying something to the effect of: ”It must be nice to take your dog with you everywhere.”
Being a therapy dog does not give you a hall-pass for full access to businesses and private residences. A therapy dog is restricted to visiting authorized pre-approved places whether they are public or private venues. This week’s column is not about the Therapy Dog Program but rather the significant differences between therapy dog and service dogs.
Therapy dogs have passed a series of temperament testing with St. John Ambulance staff. The dog owner has demonstrated they have complete control over their dog and that the dog responds to their voice commands.
The dog has also demonstrated it is not reactive to noise, overstimulation, touch but most importantly the dog enjoys people.
Therapy dogs must wear their official therapy dog neck scarf when they are on recognized visitation trips. The owner of the dog must also wear a designated therapy dog shirt with embroidered emblems and logo. The owner of the dog is the only person authorized to hold the leash when out on a therapy dog appointment. The owner must also wear picture ID cards of themselves and they must wear the dogs picture ID card.
The cards have an expiry date, the dogs veterinary records are up to date and the therapy dog office has a copy of a current police check on the dog owner.
Service dogs are acutely different from therapy dogs. Service dogs can cover many areas such as: seizure response, hearing, sight, medical alert, autism assistance, severe allergy alert, mobility support, post-traumatic stress, diabetic alert and psychiatric service. This is by no means an official or complete list but it is meant to highlight the type of work these dogs do every day to help humans.
Service dogs are highly trained to protect and enrich the lives of their owners. These dogs have been groomed for their specific duty since birth.
The training starts what they are a puppy and continues until the dog passes official certifications.
You can recognize a service dog as they wear a bright vest and they may also have a metal brace instead of a leash. It is my understanding service dogs have a laminated card with their information and registration printed on it.
As you can see there are very large significant differences between therapy dogs and service dogs. Most dogs can become a therapy dog but only specially trained dogs can graduate as service dogs.
It is disheartening to hear of individuals buying dog vests with “service dog” embroidered on the vest as they try to pass their dog off as a registered service dog. This undermines the work service dogs accomplish each and every day.
Dogs have rightfully earned a coveted spot in our society and they deserve to be protected,
Please be kind to animals.
Tracy Jessiman is a pet portrait artist who lives in Halifax with her husband and their three pets. She is a volunteer with Animal Rescue Coalitions of Nova Scotia. She has been rescuing animals most of her life, but more intimately, animals rescued her.