| The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, the dogs are considered service dogs under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government. Service dogs perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for himself or herself. Most people are familiar with guide dogs for the blind, but many don't know that there are other types of service dogs. Many service dogs assist handlers with disabilities other than visual impairments. Many people with disabilities need help doing simple tasks most take for granted.
Some examples of disability related tasks:
Service dogs for the hearing impaired may assist their handlers by alerting them to sounds such as telephone rings, crying infants, alarms, oncoming traffic, and people calling them by name.
Service dogs for the physically challenged may perform tasks such as operating light switches, retrieving items, pulling wheelchairs, and opening doors, bracing on stairs, assisting them to rise from a sitting position, or carrying items in a saddlebag.
Service dogs for people with a variety of medical conditions may find help in an emergency, bring medication when asked or on schedule, bring a portable phone during a medical crisis, provide stability and tactile stimulation during seizers, or alert a person to an oncoming medical crisis (such as a drop in blood sugar for brittle diabetics.)
Service dogs for people with mental or emotional impairments may help their handlers to their feet after panic attack, flashback, or dizzy spell. They may also rouse their handler from a dissociative spells or fear paralysis.
These are only a few examples. Each service dog is individually trained to mitigate an individual handler’s disability. Therefore, each service dog’s set of tasks and skills will vary with the individual handler.
Many service dogs are trained by their owners. There are simply not enough agency dogs for all of the people who need them, and waiting lists are often years long. Most people who choose to train their own service dog do so with the help of a professional trainer. Books and videos are also available. Some of the best are from Top Dog. (You will find them listed in the "Links" section of this site.)
Please note: While the overwhelming majority of service animals are dogs, other animals are also used. Monkeys and miniature horses are just two examples. Customs, etiquette, and regulations concerning service animals are essentially the same, regardless of the species. Therefore, on this website, the term “service dog” is used. Most information applies to service animals of any species. |
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There are many reasons for choosing a service animal other than a dog. The most common are:
- Longevity
- Personal preference
- The need for a helper with opposable thumbs
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