Williams: Many dogs hold down important jobs

More and more we see dogs out and about in all kinds of places from hospitals and nursing homes, to libraries, schools and sometimes even in restaurants and grocery stores. As a dog person, I think this is a great thing. It shows that dogs are being allowed to do what they were bred to do, assist humans in many different capacities. However there does seem to be some confusion about the different jobs and services dogs can provide. We see them wearing vests with patches that read “please pet me,” “please don’t pet me,” “working dog,” “therapy dog,” assistance dog,” and even those that say “in training.” But what do all those vests and patches mean and what’s the difference? Most dogs you see in public are either therapy dogs or assistance dogs. Unfortunately the terms are often confused but the fact is, the two jobs are vastly different.

I receive a good share of calls from people who state they’d like to train their dog to be a therapy dog so they can take him in public places like grocery stores and restaurants. Unfortunately this is a huge misconception. A therapy dog is a pet that has been trained, certified and insured to provide comfort and affection to people in a variety of places like hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, mental institutions, schools, libraries and crisis situations such as disaster sites. Therapy dogs must be invited by pre-arrangement to the specific facility or place they are visiting. A person cannot just take their therapy dog anywhere under the assumption he or she will be welcome. Normally they must fall under the same access rules as any other pet dog.

On the other hand, according to federal law, a service or assistance dog is one that has been individually trained to provide assistance or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a physical or mental disability. The handler of a service or assistance animal is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and his or her dog is allowed access because of the handler’s disability. This is very important to note because when a service or assistance animal is not allowed access, it is the civil rights of the person with the disability that are being denied and violated. This is something a business owner denying access should keep in mind.

Because we most often see Labrador and Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds acting as guide dogs for the visually impaired or providing assistance to people in wheelchairs, another misconception is that assistance dogs must be a large-breed dog. There are many disabilities and impairments a person can have that can’t be seen. As you can see from this partial list of various service and assistance animals, there are a multitude of services a dog can provide regardless of its size or breed and a variety of disabilities and impairments that can be helped with an assistance animal:

● Guide Dog – assists individuals with vision impairment
● Mobility Dog – assists by retrieving items, opening doors or pushing buttons for its handler. Also, assists with walking, balance, and transferring from place to place.
● Hearing Alert Dog – assists handler with hearing loss by alerting him or her to sounds
● Seizure Alert Dog/Seizure Response Dog – alerts handler to oncoming seizures and is trained to respond to seizures such as "Get Help" or stay with the person until help arrives.
● Medical Alert Dog/Medical Response Dog – alerts handler or others to oncoming medical conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, low blood sugar/diabetes, epilepsy, panic attack, anxiety attack and even post traumatic stress disorder.
● Emotional Support/Psychiatric Service Dog: assists persons with mental or emotional disabilities
● Autism Service Dog – assists people with autism in a variety of capacities

Another misconception is that a service or assistance dog must be certified or “licensed.” Some assistance and service animals, such as one from Guide Dogs for the Blind, have undergone formal training and certification, however many service animals may have been trained by their own handler. Again, it is the disability and impairment of the handler that determines the designation of the dog. So, the question remains, how does one know if a dog is a legitimate or bonafide service or assistance animal, particularly if the handler doesn’t have a visible disability? In short, you really don’t.

Keeping the rights of the individual in mind, there are only a few specific questions a business owner may ask: Are you disabled? Is that an assistance or service dog? And lastly the Department of Justice has made it permissible for a business owner to ask: What does the dog do for you? However, as outlined in the ADA, medical conditions are personal and the decision to discuss them is solely at the discretion of the patient. Therefore a handler can choose to answer this question vaguely as to not disclose his or her actual disability, and that’s well within their rights.

So what about impersonators? While there are always going to be people who try to beat the system, it is a felony, punishable by heavy fines and even prison time, to impersonate a disabled person and/or have your dog impersonate a service dog. In the end, it’s just not worth the risk.

Even though each is unique, therapy work and assistance and service work are both very honorable and needed jobs that dogs can hold. For further local information on therapy dogs and certification, visit the Blue Gray Spirit Keepers Web site at http://www.bluegrayspirit-keepers.org or the Delta Society http://www.deltasociety.org and find out how you can share your dog’s love with those in need.

Stafford resident and business owner Laurie Williams appeared on the reality show “Greatest American Dog” with her Maltese, Andrew.