{"id":203,"date":"2017-08-03T10:59:39","date_gmt":"2017-08-03T10:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.travall.com\/en-us\/?p=203"},"modified":"2017-08-03T10:59:39","modified_gmt":"2017-08-03T10:59:39","slug":"to-pet-or-not-to-pet-that-is-the-question","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.travall.com\/en-us\/to-pet-or-not-to-pet-that-is-the-question\/","title":{"rendered":"To pet or not to pet: that is the question"},"content":{"rendered":"

When asked to consider animals who assist people, most of us immediately think of dogs that aid blind or partially sighted individuals. This is thanks to organizations such as Guide Dogs of America<\/a> and The Seeing Eye<\/a> who work hard to ensure that those with vision challenges receive assistance. Over the last couple of decades, different types of animals are increasingly used to help people dealing with a broader range of physical and behavioral conditions. \u00a0The benefits of using these animals are numerous, with the result that they are being employed more widely and with greater frequency. Today, chances are that you are more likely to meet service animals in your daily routine than in the past. As they are actually \u201cat work\u201d and are not pets, what are the best approaches to take when encountering these animals?<\/span><\/p>\n

Categories of assistance animals<\/span><\/h2>\n

Assistance animals fall into differing categories depending on the type of assistance required.<\/span><\/p>\n

Service animals<\/strong><\/span>
\nService animals are specifically trained to perform tasks relating to the handler\u2019s needs. Not just for the visually impaired, hearing dogs for the deaf, and mobility dogs have become available allowing people with differing needs to be able to go about daily tasks with a greater level of autonomy and liberty than in previous generations.\u00a0 People dealing with issues such as seizures, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, anxiety, and diabetes also benefit from using service dogs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Working dogs<\/strong><\/span>
\nPolice or military dogs are in the working dog category. Sadly, with terror threats being a more common occurrence over the last 15 years, we tend to see more of these dogs on duty.\u00a0 This is particularly true at airports where they are now an\u00a0intrinsic part of the security process, rather than just used to detect contraband at customs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therapy animals<\/strong><\/span>
\nIn recent years there has been a rise in the number of therapy dogs used in various settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and even in courtrooms. These dogs differ from service dogs in that they are used to provide affection and comfort to people, helping to reduce anxiety, stress and sometimes acting as an intermediary between the care recipient and professional staff.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emotional support animals<\/strong><\/span>
\nTypically used by people with specific behavioral health conditions requiring extra support and comfort, these animals may accompany an owner or may be employed by a business to help improve customer experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Only dogs allowed?<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to an article in the Huffington Post,\u00b9<\/a>\u00a0 the cost of a service dog in 2016 was around $20,000. At that time, one website that places 75-100 service dogs a year, had a wait list of 1,600 people. This equates to a potential wait time of 16-22 years, which for people requiring assistance is simply too long.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, given the level of need, dogs are not the only animals being used in this capacity. Other animals are also suitable to assist with different medical conditions. Ferrets alert owners of seizures. Boa constrictors (yes, you read it correctly!) are used for seizure alerts, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder. Parrots have a calming influence on those with bipolar disorder. Miniature horses help the visually impaired. The Guide Horse Foundation<\/a> believes that miniature horses are a great option for people who love horses, for those allergic to dogs, and for people wanting longevity from their service animal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Capuchin monkeys are great for people with dexterity issues who struggle to pick up or hold items. Pigs can help visually or physically impaired individuals or can act as therapy animals. For example, San Francisco airport employs Lilou a Juliana breed pig to comfort anxious travelers in the terminal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dos and Don’ts of interacting with working animals<\/span><\/h2>\n

Dos<\/span><\/h2>\n

Interact with the owner or handler<\/strong><\/span>
\nInteract with the owner but not<\/strong> with the animal.\u00a0 The owner and animal are a team and the owner\u2019s life could depend on his team member staying focused on the job.\u00a0 It is better (and not considered rude) to ignore the service animal altogether.\u00a0Let the owner know if his dog approaches you, and allow him to correct the situation.\u00a0Therapy and emotional support animals are slightly different. \u00a0For example, if the animal\u00a0is employed by an airport to help calm passengers, then do ask the handler if it is OK to interact with the animal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be respectful<\/strong><\/span>
\nBe respectful of the owner. Just as a police officer will not be prepared to discuss details of why she is on duty with her dog, other service dog owners will not want to discuss their personal details with a stranger.\u00a0 If you cannot figure out why the owner needs a service animal, don\u2019t ask them. Equally, if your offers of help are refused, don\u2019t be offended, just accept that this can interfere with the work of the service dog and can confuse commands previously given by the owner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep your own dog\u00a0on a tight leash<\/strong><\/span>
\nKeep your own dog away from the service dog completely as other pets can be distracting for the working animal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allow service animals into your business<\/strong><\/span>
\nIf you are a business owner in an establishment that normally does not allow pets, make sure you do allow service dogs and their owners to enter. This is required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)<\/a>. The law applies to any service animal that gives assistance when there is a disability.<\/span><\/p>\n

Educate children about service animals<\/strong><\/span>
\nExplain to children that service animals and working animals are not like regular household pets and that they have a special job to do to help the owner.\u00a0 Keep children at a distance from a\u00a0service dog and do not allow them to pet the dog.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019ts<\/span><\/h2>\n

Don’t pet the animal<\/strong><\/span>
\nYou may be the biggest dog lover in the nation, but don\u2019t be tempted to pet a service dog unless you have the owner\u2019s permission. Petting the dog distracts him and may prevent him from following out a complete command.\u00a0 An example of this is with dogs trained to detect seizures, who need to give a 10-minute warning so that the owner can get to a safe place or get help.\u00a0 If you distract the dog by petting him, he may not be able to warn the owner in time, which could be catastrophic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t give treats<\/strong><\/span>
\nYou may love giving treats to dogs, but please don\u2019t give treats to dogs that are on duty. Not only can it distract the dog, making for a dangerous situation, but many service dogs are on specific diets and should not be given anything that does not meet the diet criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t make assumptions<\/strong><\/span>
\nDon\u2019t assume that if a service dog is asleep he is off duty. If he is out with his owner, he is working.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t assume that these dogs have a worse life than other dogs. \u00a0They have fantastic bonds with their owners and when off duty they get to relax like any other dog.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t assume that the owner has a certificate proving the dog is a service dog.\u00a0 Not all states require such certification and, in the states that do, owners are not always required to carry the paperwork.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t assume that only\u00a0dogs and only certain breeds of dog can be service animals. Many breeds of dog and different types of animal are trained to work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t assume that service dogs are only for adults.\u00a0 Many children with many different needs benefit from service dogs. \u00a0Interestingly, one county in Colorado now uses dogs in the courtroom to help comfort children when giving testimony.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t fake it<\/strong><\/span>
\nDon\u2019t pretend to have your own service dog.\u00a0 You may be tempted to put a special coat on your pet and take him to places where pets aren’t ordinarily permitted, but please don\u2019t. Not only does it confuse the distinction between pets and service animals, it is a federal crime. \u00a0Allow people with genuine needs to be helped by genuine service dogs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best approach<\/span><\/h2>\n

For a moment, put yourself in the shoes of an individual living with physical or mental conditions, which in some cases are life-threatening. \u00a0If an animal gave you the opportunity to live the fullest, most independent life possible, how would you react to someone interfering with and compromising the hard work of that service animal?<\/span><\/p>\n

The following YouTube clip shows Windsor, a remarkable service dog, assisting his handler in running errands.<\/span><\/p>\n