What comes
to mind when you think of a service or assistance dog? Many of us picture a beautiful golden or
Labrador retriever, or maybe a smaller breed, serving as a faithful helpmate to
someone who is disabled. Most think of
someone in a wheelchair or someone who’s blind.
A few of us think of someone whose disability is not readily apparent to
others such as diabetes, post-traumatic stress or brain injury. Some smile down at their own service dog
lying quietly at their feet.
But some
folks must picture a sad, weary, downtrodden dog with the life of an indentured
servant. Last week, an application to
the Northern California Golden Retriever Rescue was turned down because it was
noted that the dog would be adopted for training as a service dog. The rescue group does not allow adoptions for
dogs that are destined for service work.
Apparently, they would rather the dog stay in their shelter or foster
home than find a loving, permanent home, simply because it would be highly
trained for service work.
A trainer recently
informed me that she did not “believe” in dogs working as service dogs. She was convinced that the dogs were
mistreated, overworked, and essentially had a horrible, really terrible life as
a service dog. Interestingly, she didn’t
feel that way about other types of working dogs such as those trained for bomb
and drug detection. Nothing I said could
convince her otherwise.
To be fair, there
are many rescue groups and shelters that not only support placing their dogs
as possible service dogs … they encourage it and will help trainers identify likely
candidates.
So what does
the typical life of a service dog look like?
I suspect there’s no real answer to that question. But, on average, service dogs have amazing
lives. They love and are loved
back. They get to go lots of places
other dogs don’t get to go. They play
and exercise and nap. They go swimming,
hiking and on vacation. They get lots of
treats. And every day they increase
independence and enhance the quality of life for the person they're lucky enough to love
and who love them back.
Isn’t that
better than staying in a shelter?
For more information about service dogs and their use for people with invisible disabilities, please visit our website at www.ServiceDog411.com.
For more information about service dogs and their use for people with invisible disabilities, please visit our website at www.ServiceDog411.com.
Life of service dog - Saturday I had the opportunity to temp test a dog for a rescue - as I entered into the small rural shelter - I walked down the concrete pad with kennels on both sides of me (top and bottom) - dogs looking and barking at me as I passed by their kennel - it was hot and loud and a big fan blew the warm air around. I could barely think as I walked to get the boy out of the very last kennel, he looked at me with hopeful eyes as I opened his kennel and took him out - he is a great dog through no fault of his own has ended up in a shelter - 4 years old and already 3 different owners, I'm sure he is wondering what he did wrong? As I worked with him and gave him love all he could really think about was getting his nose at the front door to try and free himself from his prison. I don't know how anyone could think that living like that in a pound or shelter is better for the dog than having that one special person in their life and being loved on each and every day and being so thankful that they had a dog that would help them in the everyday living! That person who has a service dog would probably do anything in their power to make their dog happy and comfortable and return the love to them.
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