Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE dogs (especially black labs)! My daughter, Lauren, is 28 and diagnosed on the autism spectrum. She has a service dog from Canine Companions for Independence. Mr. Toy (Toyon is his real name) has helped Lauren in many ways and quickly became the love and joy of our family.
But all dogs (wearing a vest) are not the same!
Service dogs work tirelessly to assist people with a variety of disabilities and healthcare challenges. Service dogs assist people with paralysis, hearing loss, vision loss and PTSD. They alert people who suffer from epilepsy or diabetes and help to deescalate behavioral challenges for people on the autism spectrum.
Service dogs are considered a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act- if the service dog's work or task is directly related to the person's disability. The dog's handler is trained and responsible for the dog's care and behavior.
"Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. For example, in a hospital, it would be inappropriate to exclude a service animal from areas such as patient rooms, clinics, cafeterias, or examination rooms. However, it may be appropriate to exclude a service animal from operating rooms or burn units where the animal's presence may compromise a sterile environment." (ADA, 2010)
Service dogs
A service dog is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Tasks performed can include, among other things, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving dropped items, alerting a person to a sound, reminding a person to take medication, or pressing an elevator button.
Service dogs at work
A pediatric nurse practitioner works with her service dog at a children's hospital in Colorado. Staff and patients have come to know and love her dog as much as she does! (Canine Companions for Independence).
A hospital administrator, who suffered a spinal cord injury, works with his service dog making rounds throughout the hospital. Pollyanna, an almost-white yellow Lab has been trained to turn on lights, open and close doors, go for help, warn about obstacles and retrieve keys or dropped items (Associated Press, 2015).
A nurse with vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa works as a diabetic nurse educator. She graduated with a master's in nursing education. She recalls" I don't know whose smile is bigger in the graduation photo--my guide dog's or mine....the entire audience gave us a standing ovation as we crossed the stage to receive our degree" (Maheady, 2006, p.46).
A nursing student who suffers from dysautonomia (which causes her to fall) relies on her service dog to maintain her balance, get help and help her up. The student recently graduated with her BSN. (Happy Hudson).
Therapy dogs
Emotional support, comfort, and therapy dogs are not considered service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability.
Emotional support, comfort or therapy dogs are often used as part of a medical treatment plan, but they are not considered service animals under the ADA. Support dogs can provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities.
Pet therapy programs staffed with volunteers bring dogs to pediatric oncology units to provide support and comfort to patients. In other programs, volunteers bring therapy dogs to residential/ mental health treatment centers.
A nurse in Illinois and her therapy partner, Tori, the Labradoodle, bring joy and comfort to patients going through chemotherapy (Larson, 2011). They can't walk down the hall without drawing a crowd!
In a nursing home, a poodle goes door to door visiting patients while her owner works as a medication assistant. "Nala" jumps on beds and laps to offer kisses. The residents love her (Swartz, 2015).
Some service dogs crossover roles
A nurse with multiple sclerosis uses a scooter and has a service dog "Georgia". They both volunteer at a local hospital's rehabilitation center. Georgia comforts patients and works with the physical therapist to assist and motivate patients involved in therapy sessions. Georgia crosses over in her roles...she is a service dog to the nurse, but she also "volunteers" as a therapy dog with patients in the rehabilitation center.
Dogs have proven (with proper training) to be an asset to independence for many people with disabilities. In addition, they can facilitate wellness, provide comfort and unconditional love. Dogs can connect with people in special ways.
So...the dogs are "out"!
Are service dogs working where you are employed? If so, in what type of setting? Hospital floor? Rehabilitation center? Community center for children with disabilities? Health Department? Long term care facility? Hospice?
Love to have you share your thoughts and experiences related to this topic.
ADA, (2010). Accessed July 14, 2015 ADA.gov homepage
Associated Press (2015). Service dog forges friendship with paralyzed man. Accessed July 14, 2015
Canine lifeguards doggie paddle to the rescue Companions for Independence (n.d.) Accessed on July 14, 2015
Hudson Valley (n.d.) Happy graduation for nursing student. Accessed on July 14, 2015 Happy Hudson Valley | Our news is good news,
Larson, J. (2011). Pet Therapy Programs Benefit Patients Physically and Emotionally. Accessed on July 14, 2015 NurseZone.
Maheady, D. (2006). Leave No Nurse Behind: Nurses working with disAbilities. New York: iUniverse.
Swartz, A. (2015). Poodle goes door to door at nursing home. Every day. All by herself. Accessed July 14, 2015
