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Anonymous45634
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Default Mar 10, 2019 at 06:56 PM
 
therapy dogs
Therapy dogs need to be well-behaved in public and responsive to their handlers. They are trained to provide comfort to many people. They do not provide comfort to only their handler and they are not trained for any specific tasks to help mitigate an individual's disability. Therapy dogs who have passed a therapy dog evaluation are only allowed in locations where therapy work is approved. Therapy dogs serve in many different areas, but some of the most common are hospitals, long term care facilities, or reading programs for children (at local libraries, for example). These dogs visit with their handler to bring comfort to patients and sometimes their families. Therapy dogs sometimes are also used in locations such as at court cases for victims who are having a difficult time testifying. Or they might help provide comfort after a traumatic event such as a mass shooting or a natural disaster. Therapy dogs are not permitted in facilities such as stores that do not allow pets unless they have been called to work there.

service dogs
Service dogs are trained to help mitigate the disability of a specific person and are protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). These dogs must be well-behaved and responsive in public as well as be trained to perform specific tasks for the individual. These dogs ARE allowed access to public locations where other dogs are not allowed, as long as they are not disruptive to the environment. People are probably most familiar with guide dogs for the blind, but service dogs can also provide many other tasks such as helping deaf individuals. Service dogs can also provide diabetic alert or seizure alert services. Psychiatric service dogs can help individuals with psychiatric issues that prevent them from functioning in public places. There are many areas in which service dogs are helping individuals to lead more independent lives. However, these dogs must be trained to perform specific tasks to help mitigate the individuals' disabilities. Providing comfort is not enough to qualify as a service dog.

emotional support dogs
Emotional support animals provide comfort to a specific individual. ESA's are allowed to fly on airplanes and to live in housing that might not otherwise allow animals, but are not otherwise allowed in public places where dogs are not allowed. ESA's are not trained to perform any specific tasks and are therefore not considered service dogs nor are they provided any of the rights or protections of service dogs.

There is NO national registry of service dogs. There is no required vest. Anything you buy online does not give you any extra credentials. Buying one does not a service dog make.

Therapy dogs under go training, usually starting with obedience and then canine good citizen and then pre-therapy dog class & therapy dog class. Certifying agencies require the dog to pass a skill test (about 10 steps I believe) . A written test is required as well for the handler. This must be repeated annually. Dogs must be certified healthy by a vet yearly as well.

It is frustrating because many people bring u trained dogs into establishments as "service dogs" or ESA's and then the dog can cause issues. This hurts those who use legitimate dogs. I have a dog who is certified as a therapy dog and also is an ESA. I know the limits and adhere to them. But having worked in establishments where there are folks who bring their pets inside all the time..because their dog "needs to," really? I doubt it.
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Thanks for this!
lizardlady