September is National Service Dog Month!
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” It takes a lot for a dog to become a service animal as they must directly assist a person with their disability and undergo lots of intense training. Some examples include guide dogs for those visually impaired, hearing dogs, medical alert dogs, psychiatric assistance dogs, and more.
Quick Facts:
- There are three types of support animals: service dogs, emotional support animals, and therapy animals. Only service dogs are protected by the law.
- Service dogs do not need to wear a vest or any kind of license; in fact, there is no certification that is required for a dog to be a service animal.
- There are no breed restrictions for a dog to be a service animal. They come in all shapes and sizes!
- Service dogs are working animals, and you should always ignore them when you see them unless they are alerting you to help their owner.
Meet Charlie, a famous Service Dog!
Charlie is a Labrador retriever who helped service men and women with injuries sustained in war zones. He helped them with daily tasks such as retrieving items, alerting them to important sounds, and with their balance. Charlie was voted one of the most heroic dogs in America in 2018 by USA Today.
Be sure to download our Pet Desk app and opt into our rewards program, “The Kittel Club”! Here, you can review your pet’s reminders, request and cancel appointments, and more!
You can also check out the Pupstanding app to help you in your journey in raising a new puppy in safe, fun, and manageable ways!
COVID UPDATES:
Our lobby is OPEN! But, we’re still practicing curbside-care for those who wish to remain outside. Even though our lobby is open, we are still asking everyone arriving for an appointment to call us from outside so we can get you checked in. Our waiting room is small, so calling from outside allows us to cycle people through at reduced numbers. Masks are REQUIRED by ALL who enter, regardless of your COVID vaccine status.
Please be aware that our wait times continue to be longer than normal. Please bring something to entertain yourself with while you wait outside; you are NOT allowed to leave the parking lot unless you’re scheduled for that type of appointment. Use the time outside to download our new PetDesk app and join our Loyalty Program.
Scan me for an article detailing what a Service Dog is, the benefits of a service dog, and common public misconceptions – written by the American Kennel Club:
Connect with the community! Scan me for a local chapter of Canine Companions, a non-profit service dog training organization, to learn about volunteer opportunities, events, and more: