Discussing What A Service Dog Is, Why They Are So Important, And The Month-Long Holiday That Celebrates Them
The month of September is a very important month for service dogs everywhere because September is widely celebrated as National Service Dog Month! This month-long holiday is all about showing appreciation and support for service dogs. Service dogs serve very important and specific roles for a wide variety of people. This article will take an in-depth view into what service dogs are, what services they provide, and how you can help show them support this September.
The History Of The Holiday
National Service Dog Month was founded by Richard Van Patten in 2009. Richard was an American actor, businessman, comedian, and animal welfare advocate. During a visit to the Guide Dog of the Desert campus in Palm Springs, CA, Richard experienced first hand the value of service dogs. Richard was blindfolded and given a guide dog to help him navigate the campus. This experience was so impressive and inspiring that he soon after created fundraisers to help raise awareness and money for guide dog schools.
In 2009, National Service Dog Month was established to raise money and support for non-profit guide dog schools accredited by the I.G.D.F. (International Guide Dog Federation). What originally started as a fundraiser has now turned into a full blown holiday for service dogs everywhere. We continue to celebrate this pet themed holiday every September.
What Is A Service Dog
Generally speaking, a service dog is a working dog that is specifically trained to assist a person with a disability or specific need. This type of working dog is not to be confused with other types of working dogs such as police dogs and search-and-rescue dogs. It’s important to make the distinction that service dogs are not pets. They are specifically trained to help their handler with a specific task that is directly related to the person’s disability. This does not include therapy dogs or emotional support dogs.
Different Types Of Service Dogs
There are many different types of service dogs, each specifically trained to help their handler with specific tasks. They make it possible for their handlers to live an independent and normal lifestyle without outside assistance. Here are a few examples of some of the most common types of service dogs.
Hearing Dogs
As the name implies, hearing dogs are trained to help deaf or hearing impaired people. Hearing dogs are specially trained to listen for common sounds like telephones, doorbells, smoke alarms, alarm clocks, etc. These hearing dogs are trained to alert their handlers when they hear any of the aforementioned common sounds.
Guide Dogs
A guide dog, a.k.a. seeing-eye dog, is specifically trained to guide, aid, and protect people that are blind or visually impaired. These dogs typically wear a specific harness that has a large handle attached to the top. Guide dogs help their handlers navigate through the world and in everyday situations. This includes watching for hazards, giving directional cues through body language, and providing navigational support.
Seizure Response Dogs
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, a seizure response dog is a type of service dog that is specifically trained to respond to a seizure in someone who has epilepsy. In the event their handler has a seizure, the dog will respond by barking to alert family members, lie next to the handler to prevent injury, put their body between the handler and the floor to break their fall, or even activate a pre-programmed device that works as an alarm like LifeAlert.
Mobility Assistance Dogs
According to the A.K.C. (American Kennel Club), mobility dogs are service dogs that are trained to help people with strength, balance, and/or mobility issues. They can be trained to perform a variety of tasks such as retrieving dropped items, retrieving out-of-reach items, being a brace for individuals with strength or balance issues, and pushing buttons for automatic doors.
How You Can Observe The Holiday
The best way to get involved with National Service Dog Month is to donate to the cause. The average cost to raise and train a service dog is over $40,000 dollars. Any and all donations to service dog schools is appreciated. To learn more about how and where you can donate, click here. Odds are there may even be a service dog school near you! Additionally, you can also help promote this amazing holiday by posting about it on social media. Be sure to share this article while you’re at it!
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