American Service Dogs

For a very long time, with American Service Dogs, "man's best friend," in the capacity of a service dog has assisted people in keeping touch with the world around them and helping them lead independent lives. The "seeing eye dog" has been assisting the blind since the 1920s thanks to American Service Dogs.

Service dogs are those special animals that assist those with mental or physical impairments. An American Service Dogs service dog, as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 is "any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including but not limited to guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or [retrieving] dropped items." Service dogs are NOT considered pets and are allowed by law access to ALL public places.

Today, service dogs provide assistance to the mentally as well as the physically handicapped. The demand for service dogs is great and any breed can qualify as a candidate. The American Service Dog Association is an organization of professional dog trainers who are dedicated to the training and placement of service dogs for people with disabilities such as diabetes, arthritis, spinal cord injury, multiple schlerosis, and many other physical impairments, and they also train those clients in the care and use of their dogs. Anyone looking to obtain a service dog simply needs to submit a completed application to the ASDA. The applicant is then evaluated so as to be partnered with a dog who has the right temperment and training that matches the client's needs.

David De Porte, President of Guide Dog Users of New York: "I think of [my guide dogs] not as pets, and not even as family," he said. "They're more than that, they're a part of my identity."

Author: T. Kaymed, Dog Training Product Reviews