Our goal is to increase service dog awareness through education.
Service Dog Info
For Business
Your business need to be aware of the laws regarding service dogs as a service dog is a necessity for some handicapped persons. Service dog education for businesses.
Service Dog Info
For Individuals
It can be difficult to find solutions to mitigate a disability in daily life. Predicting if a service dog would help or hinder progress can be hard. I can help you with that decision.
Service Dog Info
Seminars
Do you have questions about service dogs? You can schedule a service dog awareness consultation here. View, save, or print the Paws Then Play service dog awareness flyer.
What Is A Service Dog?
A service dog, by legal definition, is a dog trained specifically to help a disabled person. In the eyes of the law, a service dog is considered medical equipment much like a wheelchair or an oxygen tank. A service dog is not a pet by the standard definition. This means that a service dog is allowed to accompany its disabled handler anywhere the general public is permitted, with rare exceptions.
Can Any Dog Be A Service Dog?
Not many dogs have the combination temperament, training, and excellent health needed to be a successful, working, full-time partner for a person with a disability. It is critical that the animal be mentally balanced and consistent enough to handle public spaces with lots of distractions, not only for the handler’s safety, but also for the health and well-being of the general public.
What Is An Emotional Support Animal?
Emotional support animals are pets for people who are disabled who must be allowed into housing when applied for properly, and to travel, with appropriate notice to the airlines. An emotional support animal does not have public access rights with their handler, and no training is required for the legal definition of an emotional support animal.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a service dog?
A service dog by legal definition is a dog trained specifically to help a disabled person. They are considered medical equipment, not a pet; much like a wheelchair or oxygen tank is, in the eyes of the law. Thus, a service dog is allowed to accompany its disabled handler anywhere the general public is permitted, with rare exceptions.
How is a service dog different from a therapy dog?
A service dog is very different than a therapy dog, which has a stable temperament and some training, but does NOT have the right to go into public spaces where no pets are allowed. Therapy dogs help many people in their community, service dogs are specifically trained to help one disabled person.
What is an emotional support animal?
Emotional support animals are pets for people who are disabled who must be allowed into housing when applied for properly, and to travel, with appropriate notice to the airlines. They do not have public access rights with their handler, and no training is required for the legal definition.
Can any dog be a service dog?
Not many dogs have the combination temperament, training, and excellent health needed to be a successful working partner full time for a person with a disability. It is critical that the animal be mentally balanced and consistent enough to handle public spaces with lots of distractions, not only for the handler’s safety, but also for the health and well-being of the general public.
How do service dogs help people?
Service dogs play a significant role in the lives of disabled individuals by mitigating elements of that particular person’s disability. There are a plethora of illnesses, injuries, ailments, disorders or other health factors that can cause a human to be disabled. Dogs can be trained to help in specific ways that can enable a person to function more independently. For example, if a person cannot bend over the dog can be trained to pick up items on command, or help with daily routines like taking off socks or shoes. Dogs can also monitor things like blood sugar, to help diabetic persons stay healthy.
Support Service Dog Awareness
If you would like to find out more about Service Dog Awareness Education, information about seminars, or to ask a question about Service Dogs, please use the PawsThenPlay.com contact form. To donate directly please visit our Paws Then Play support page or use the link below or in the top navigation. Thank you for your help and support.