Service Animal

I do customer service for Service Dog Tags. Today I spoke with someone who was not aware of the changes in rules about service dogs. The new one that took affect March 15th of this year. The one that includes anxiety and PTSD as a disability and any dog that is used to control that is now a service dog.

I actually kinda felt sorry for this man as he was under the impression that, even though his dog helped him, since he could hold down a job, he was not disabled even though he was formally diagnosed with PTSD. I politely told him that he was wrong.

There are many many disabled people that can hold down a job. The presence of the service dog makes them able to do so. I am one of those. I work full time for Service Dog Tags. However I honestly feel that if I did not have my service dogs (my retired one, my current one, and my one in training) that I probably would not be able to work. Or, even worse, not even be able to function or maybe not even be in existence.

This gentleman that I spoke with had pretty much limited his lifestyle due to the fact that he felt he was not disabled. This was due to misinformation on his part. Since speaking with me he now understands and will probably be doing a few more enjoyable things in his life now that he can take his “service dog” with him.

Please be aware of the new ruling change. Be aware that anxiety and PTSD, correctly diagnosed by someone in the medical field, IS a disability. And any dog that is used to prevent or control the symptoms of such IS a Service Dog according to ADA.

Sussie and the Y Team
(Gunny, Rainy and Lucy)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/service-dog-fitted-prosthetic-leg-15059782

Service dog gets fitted with a prosthetic leg.

Note from Sussie: I think the main reason the dog started to complain is that the constant taking off and putting on of the leg was starting to irritate it.

At first I thought “Well if the dog was born without it, why bother?” I have had two three legged dogs in my life and they lived long healthy lives (one Akita-Border Collie lived to be 16 and one Border Collie until cancer got her at the age of 15). But then I had to remember to take into consideration the breed here. Labs are known to develop hip problems. This would help the one good leg from going bad too soon.

Sussie, Gunny, Rainy and Lucy

It seems that there are still some really conscientious people still left in this world. Maybe that statement seems to have a little negative tone to it, but it’s probably for a reason. I have noticed in the past few years that people have a tendency to be a little less wanting to “get involved” in anything. Then something happens that totally surprises me. There are people out there that will actually go above and beyond to help a total stranger.

I run customer service for Service Dog Tags.com. I would like to make myself sound fancy and say I am the Supervisor or Chief of something but, in fact, I am the only customer service rep they have. So that just leave me being me. *smile*. Anyway. Twice now we have individuals call us stating that they found one of our tags on the ground or in a store and would love to return the tag to the owner. One tag was even attached to a set of keys. I’ll bet the owner was happy over that reunion!

Now I know, at that time, they would have have to hunt on line to find out who made those tags. Then find our phone number and call us to try and locate the owner.( Our tags only state the dog’s name,the owner’s and the city. No street address or phone number) Just for the simple fact that they would like to see the tags returned. A great big Texas sized hug for those wonderful good Samaritans.

Well we just made it a bit easier for lost tags to find their way home.

On our tags we now have printed “If Found please call 1-281-660-1600″ When a person finds the tags, they can call the phone number and give us the tag number. We will, with their permission of course, take their contact information. Then we will look up, contact the owner of the lost tag, and give them the finder’s contact info so they may retrieve their tag.

So far, this seems to be working out pretty good.

Just another service we offer to make life a little easier for our customers.

Sussie, Gunny, Rainy and Lucy

Do you like Service Dogs?

Do you like Emotional Support Animals?

Do you like Facebook?

Then please “Like” us!

http://www.facebook.com/ServiceDogsFanPage

Sussie, Gunny, Rainy and Lucy.

We are pleased to announce that we have added another disability specific tag to our line of Service Dog and Emotional Support Animal tags.

We have always had the following…

Service Dog
Service Animal
Seizure Alert
Medical Alert
Working
Guide Dog
Hearing Assistance
Search and Rescue
Cadaver Dog
and
Emotional Support Animal

We have now added PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) to our list of tags.

I have PTSD and understand that it is a disorder that, though now recognized by ADA as a disability, does not fall under the category of a medical alert dog.

Though Service Dog can be used for a PTSD dog, we feel that this new tag will serve the needs of those who wish to be more disability specific.

Sussie, Gunny and Rainy

Vest? Tags? Doctor’s note? Nothing?

What has worked best for you and your dog? Any recommendations? Pros? Cons?

The ADA states that a service dog does not need to be identified as a service dog. However they suggest it as it reduces conflicts.

I for one use both a vest and a tag on Gunny and Rainy.

Sussie, Gunny and Rainy.

Here is a little Friday fun. It’s “brag about your dog” day!

Answer as many of the following questions as you wish.

What breed of service dog do you have?

Did you train your service dog? Or was your service dog trained by someone else?

If you did not train your service dog yourself, do you think you could now having worked with yours?

Where did you obtain your service dog?

What is the most amazing thing your service dog has ever done?

Do you allow people to pet your service dog (this includes dogs that are trained to only be petted when they have been given a command to allow it)?

Have you ever felt that your service dog gave you a chance to educate the public about service dogs?

Have you ever had anyone complain about the breed of your dog being a service dog?

Anything else you want to say about your dog, feel free too!

Sussie, Gunny and Rainy.

Yes. We are going into the cold season. “Don’t remind me!” That’s what I say. LOL!

Anyway. The main concern that I have is with the ice melt or the de-icer that they use on sidewalks and steps. People rarely use rock salt anymore. Which is a shame because it is actually the safest of all to use, for dogs anyway. Though allot of salt is bad for dogs, a little is not going to hurt them. Plus it toughens the pads up. And if they do crack, a little Bag Balm does wonders. (Did you know that Bag Balm is safe for dogs now? They quit adding the Mercury to it some time ago).

The “salt” used on roads, driveways and paths should not be confused with harmless table salt or rock salt. The snow-melters and de-icers commonly used are chemical compounds, many of which cause painful burns to dogs’ feet, as well as to their tongues and mouths as they lick their paws clean.

The sand put on icy roads also contains chemicals to melt ice and snow. If you want to sand your own pathway, buy the sand sold for kids’ sandboxes. Kitty litter or wood ash will also provide safe footing.

When you come in after a walk on chemically treated streets or sidewalks, wash your dog’s feet and brush out the underside of a long-haired dog. If the hair is wet or feels gritty, it has picked up the salt or sand and should be washed in warm, soapy water. Follow the washing and rinsing with a brisk towel rub. Another tip is to keep a damp washcloth in a ziplock bag. You can use this to wipe your dog’s paws while you are away from home if your dog has walked through the de-icer.

Another option is to buy boots for your dog. Though some do not take kindly to it at first, the can adjust to it quickly if the boots are of a proper fit.

An added note about cold weather.

A waterproof jacket is a good thing. Many people think that their dog has a good enough coat to withstand the weather. But keep in mind that a dog that lives indoors does not have the right coat to withstand several hours outside. If your dog does have a thick coat, just a nice lightweight waterproof cover will work perfect for them. Dogs that get soaked or chilled on a regular basis stand a good chance of developing an early onset of arthritis.

Sussie, Gunny and Rainy

BY SARA CASTELLANOS
The Aurora Sentinel | 0 comments

AURORA | City officials could discuss the possibility of amending an ordinance to allow pit bulls as service dogs in the city at an executive session as early as Oct. 11, according to a city attorney.

The announcement of the meeting comes after officials from the U.S. Department of Justice said earlier this summer that any dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for disabled people should be classified as a service animal, under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The Department of Justice expressed an opinion that breed-specific legislation, or breed bans, should not be applied on a blanket level to service animals,” said Charlie Richardson, the city’s attorney.

City officials have drafted an ordinance that would accommodate all types of service dogs, but Aurora City Council members must first be briefed on the issue, and then the potential ordinance change must be sent to a committee for public and employee input, Richardson said.

At the Oct. 11 meeting, council members will be briefed on the ongoing litigation that originated when Aurora resident Allen Grider filed a lawsuit against the city in March. Grider, a Vietnam War Veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, said the city can’t mandate how his service dog is maintained, even if the dog is a banned breed. Grider and two Denver residents filed a class-action lawsuit against Aurora and Denver in March and are seeking damages of more than $75,000.

A social worker suggested that Grider acquire a therapy pet to alleviate his symptoms, and he got his pit bull in 2003.

“She’s my protector,” Grider said during an interview earlier this year. “I can’t sleep if she’s not here. If I’m tense, she’ll bother me until I calm down.”

But in November 2009, the city’s animal control officers seized the dog because it was a banned breed.

The city eventually determined that the dog was a service dog, and after about five months the dog was released to Grider, on the condition that she wear a muzzle in public, among other restrictions.

The lawsuit was filed by the Wheat Ridge-based Animal Law Center shortly after the dog, Precious, was back with Grider.

“We believe there are an number of damages that occurred because of what Aurora did in this situation, by taking his dog away from him,” said Grider’s attorney, Jennifer Reba Edwards. “As long as these pit bull ordinances have been in place, they have been in violation of the ADA.”

City officials from Denver are set to review a proposal Monday that would allow pit bulls as service dogs within the city.

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A personal note from Sussie:

I personally love Pit Bulls. They are terriers and terriers make great Service Dogs.