| A service dog is a dog that
has been trained to assist a person with a physical handicap, and is
different from a "seeing eye dog" who assists a blind
person to be more independent outside of the home. A service dog is individually
trained to meet the needs of the person with a physical handicap.
Service dogs can be trained to perform a wide variety of tasks on
command. An example of some of these tasks include but are not limited
to; picking up dropped items, pulling a wheel chair, opening and closing
doors, retrieving the telephone, providing support for a person getting
up from the ground or chair, helping dress or remove clothing, and even
calling 911 in an emergency. A service dog can also be trained as an
"alert dog" for a hearing impaired person, alerting it's owner to
things like a car horn, ringing
telephone, door bell, smoke detector, cooking timer, boiling water on the
stove, and more.
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Opening and closing doors is only one of the tasks
a service dog can perform for it's disabled owner. |
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Picking up dropped or hard to reach objects. |
Although they do provide
great companionship, a service dog is not a pet.
From the time training begins, a service dog has the legal right to
enter all public buildings with the disabled person. With very few
exceptions, a service dog can not be denied access by Federal law*.
A service dog is allowed to accompany it's disabled owner in taxi cabs, on public
transportation, and to fly in the passenger cabin of commercial
aircraft. They may enter restaurants, theaters, hotels, and public schools.
A person with a disability and a service dog can not be denied tenancy in an apartment or
other rental dwelling by a landlord because of no pet policies.
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A Service Dog can fly in the
passenger cabin of
aircraft, regardless if the dog will perform tasks for the disabled
person on the aircraft during the flight. |
The person traveling with the dog
should
call the airline after making reservation
and request "bulkhead seating" |
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A service dog is most often identified
to the public by the wearing of a cape, jacket, bandana, or backpack
displaying a patch or other lettering "SERVICE DOG",
and in most cases, a sign or patch that says; "DO NOT TOUCH ME, I'M
WORKING". A disabled person accompanied by a service dog must
answer only two questions to anyone questioning their right to access public
places, "are you a person with a disability?" and "is
this dog a service dog?". After answering yes to both questions,
any further questioning of the disabled person concerning their medical
condition or abilities of the dog are a violation of Federal law*.
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Service dog cape, jacket, bandana, or backpack. |
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A dog is considered a "service dog" if it has been "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a
disability.*
*See the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA,
1990) |
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Many different breeds of
dogs can be trained to assist the handicapped, but two of the most common
are German Shepherd dogs and Labrador Retrievers. Smaller breeds can be
trained as service dogs as well, however larger breeds such as the GSD
and retrievers are preferred because of their physical strength and natural
instincts.
In most cases service dogs are considered
a medical expense and their training and care may be tax deductible when
itemized under healthcare. (Consult your tax professional for
advice)
Click here for
more information on our
Service Dog Training Program
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<Click here to
enquire about Service Dog Training.
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Serving Madison Wisconsin
and the
surrounding communities
(608) 846-3232
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®
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