Service dog awareness month.
Jack(brown dog) is NOT a service dog nor a service dog in training, he’s simply being tested and taught tasks to see if i can benefit with his qualities.(yes he is being trained tasks as well and alerted to my BPM going 157 while sitting down since i had chest pain and dizziness after being anxious for awhile, he is not a SDIT but he is being task trained) sorry if it’s a bit confusing.
Service dogs are NOT emotional support dogs, therapy dogs, protection dogs, police dogs, military dogs, etc.
Service dogs have public access by law and other dog jobs do NOT have public access EXCEPT for working dogs protected under government law such as police k9’s or military k9’s whom are on duty and are currently still working(not retired). Service dogs are protected under federal law and that means distracting a service dog(including a different dog causing a distraction) from its work or denying access is a violation and can cause a felony. Faking a service dog is a crime and could potentially lead to years in jail or even paying a big fine based on where you live.
Service dogs are task trained dogs to mitigate a handler’s disability that includes Cardiac alert, seizure alert, psychiatric, blood sugar alert, autism alert, PTSD alert, guiding, or hearing for the handler (there’s a lot more). A common misconception for the public is psychiatric work is emotional support. Psychiatric is different from emotional support by alerting to a certain amount of anxiety, zoning out, etc. Psychiatric service dogs are not emotional support dogs because emotional supports do not alert or mitigate any disability, simply only providing comfort to a single individual by its presence.
Service dogs can be any breed, even if the breed is banned by country/city/state/home/apartment as long as the dog is task trained for a disability then it is a service dog that has public access.
I usually don’t talk about my medical issues or post any of my personal medical episodes nor explain reasons why I need Alpha as my service dog because I feel a bit uncomfortable with it and very anxious about it because a lot of people will negatively comment and or make people think that they are eligible and have the disability’s for qualifying for a service dog.
But here is what Alpha is tasked trained to do:
Alerting to anxiety.
Alerting to high BPM from anxiety.
Guiding.
Pressing accessible buttons.
Watching my back(PTSD).
Deep pressure therapy to lower my BPM.
Light pressure therapy in case if my BPM is just a little high
Assisting when I need to get up(I don’t put full weight)
Finding entrances/exits and my car.
Guiding me to follow a trusted family member.
finding me a seat to sit down.
Distracting me from fidgeting and scratching from anxiety
Circling around me to make personal space from public
Buffering so others go around me instead of through me
And a lot more.
So in general he is a psychiatric, PTSD, cardiac, and guide dog, however I am not blind or have heart attacks, I do get high BPM’s which sometimes cause me symptoms of blacking out, and I do get that feeling of being lost or disconnected so he guides. #service dog #unfiltered #ptsdservicedog #psychiatricservicedog #cardiacalertdog #guide dog
Service Dog Awareness Month is an important time to deepen public understanding about the roles and legal rights of service dogs. Many people confuse service dogs with emotional support animals or therapy dogs, but these are distinct categories with different purposes and legal protections. Service dogs are specially task-trained to mitigate their handler’s specific disability, which can range from cardiac alerts and psychiatric support to guiding individuals who are visually impaired. Unlike emotional support animals, which provide comfort by their presence alone, service dogs are trained to perform work or tasks that directly address their handler’s needs. For example, Alpha, although not a service dog in training, is being trained to alert to elevated BPM due to anxiety, provide deep pressure therapy to help lower heart rate, assist with PTSD symptoms by creating personal space, and guide his handler in public settings. The law grants service dogs full public access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means they are allowed in public places where pets are typically not permitted, such as restaurants, stores, and public transportation. Disturbing a service dog or denying access to one is not only disrespectful but can be a legal violation, even resulting in felony charges. Conversely, police K9s and military dogs have public access by government regulations but only while actively working. Service dogs can be any breed, regardless of local breed restrictions, as long as they are trained to perform tasks for a handler’s disability. This varies widely because disabilities and individual needs differ greatly, encompassing cardiac alerts, seizure response, autism-related interventions, hearing alerts, and many psychiatric disabilities. One challenge faced by many service dog handlers is misunderstanding and skepticism from the public, especially regarding invisible disabilities like PTSD or anxiety. Handlers may face uncomfortable questions or skepticism about the legitimacy of their dog’s role. This can create anxiety and discomfort in sharing personal medical details, yet raising awareness during Service Dog Awareness Month helps counteract false assumptions and educates the public on why these dogs are vital. In summary, Service Dog Awareness Month encourages us all to respect these working dogs and the disabilities they help manage. Recognizing the difference between emotional support and service dogs is crucial, as is understanding the scope of service dog tasks to appreciate how these companions dramatically improve the quality of life for many individuals living with disabilities.
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is October service dog awareness month or November??