Every disabled service dog, the things they do and the life they live is as unique as the disabled person they serve. Because they are working dogs, dedicated to remaining with the disabled person most if not all of the time, they tend to live as their disabled handlers live. Every disabled service dog, the things they do and the life they live is as unique as the disabled person they serve. Because they are working dogs, dedicated to remaining with the disabled person most if not all of the time, they tend to live as their disabled handlers live. […]
Since passage of the American’s with Disabilities Act (or, ADA http://www.ada.gov/) in the 1990s, the US has witnessed an explosion of the number of disabled persons active in American society. Because of certain provisions in the Act and subsequent revisions, people with many different types of disabilities are now using “service” or, assistance dogs to help them with many daily activities. In this article, I hope to clear up the confusion within the public on the laws regulating access for disabled people, service dogs and dogs “in-training” to be service dogs. As well as how the public should and should not […]
When most of us think of a service dog, the first thing that comes to mind is a guide dog for a blind person. This article will show there are a variety of service dogs that fulfill a large number of jobs on a daily basis. According to the ADA, “Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities…. Service animals are working animals, not pets.” (http://www.ada.gov/svcanimb.htm) In most cases, service animals that frequent public places are beautiful well-groomed animals that are often irresistible to the dog or animal lover. In fact, it is […]
Most people are familiar with the guide dogs that assist blind people. Increasingly people with many different sorts of disabilities, some of them not so obvious have begun to use assistance or “service” dogs, and even other animals to help them in their everyday lives. Since the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) first passed in the 1990s, there has been little clear, legal definition of the term “service animal” and how they should be allowed to operate in society. This all changed in July 2010, when the Attorney General, Eric Holder, released new guidelines governing service dogs. According to the […]
According to the American’s With Disabilities Act (ADA), “Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Service animals are working animals, not pets.” This article will breakdown the various organizations that provide service animals as well as provide you with links to online resources where you can find out more information about obtaining an assistance animal or ways to volunteer. Canine Assistants http://www.canineassistants.org/ provides trained dogs […]
In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of horses ending up at shelters and horse rescues. Due to the downturn in the economy, shelters and rescues are being flooded with requests from horse owners who can no longer afford to keep their horses. In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of horses ending up at shelters and horse rescues. Due to the downturn in the economy, shelters and rescues are being flooded with requests from horse owners who can no longer afford to keep their horses. Many horse owners who […]
It seems as if animal lovers are always looking for new ways to show their love and devotion for animals. Some people choose to donate to their favorite animal charity, shelter or rescue. However, in uncertain economic times it is difficult for many to continue charitable giving. One great way many people are now considering to give back to the animals they love is, volunteering at a shelter or rescue. If you have been thinking about doing volunteer work, why not consider volunteering at your local animal shelter or pet rescue group. These groups depend almost entirely on the work […]
You are expecting a new addition to your family…the human kind. Congratulations! This is always a very exciting time and a lot of time and effort goes into preparing yourselves for the baby’s arrival. Keep in mind that you also need to prepare the family pet for the new addition. Following are some steps to take to make the introduction go smoothly. Before your baby arrives, make sure your pet is healthy. Take them in for a complete exam. They should be up to date on vaccines and checked for parasites. If they are not already spayed or neutered, you […]
When we bring home a furry friend for the first time, we are entranced by the new little life in our home. The comical antics and pitiful cries are met with our “coos” and smiles as we happily scoop them up. As our pets grow, we cherish the experiences we have together—first walks on leash, going to the dog park, chasing toys or the laser pointer, cuddling. When we bring home a furry friend for the first time, we are entranced by the new little life in our home. The comical antics and pitiful cries are met with our “coos” […]
Scientists define the human-animal bond as, a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors essential to the well being of both. This definition encompasses all human-animal relationships including livestock and wildlife. This definition seems too broad for the scope of this article so, it will address only domestic house pets, particularly dogs. It’s possible that people and domestic animals have been living together for as much as 20,000 years. Scientific evidence now leads us to believe we first domesticated the dog back when all dogs were wolves and they competed directly with people […]
