Hunde Helfer / Service Dog Program
Service Dogs can cost upwards of $20,000-$30,000, long waiting lists, and shortage of trained dogs versus the numbers of individuals in need has caused many to seek other options. Service dogs generally require six months to a year of schooling on tasks, obedience and public access manners (a minimum of 120 to 360 hours of training, with around 30 hours in a public setting).
We started out working with local veterans to provide low or no cost training obedience to veterans with disabilities including PTSD. As we continue we realized there is also a need for the general public as a whole and we now work to assist individuals that already posses a dog or if one is being provided to them.
We started out working with local veterans to provide low or no cost training obedience to veterans with disabilities including PTSD. As we continue we realized there is also a need for the general public as a whole and we now work to assist individuals that already posses a dog or if one is being provided to them.
Not every dog will make a good service or therapy dog. They must have the right temperament, be reliable, aggression free, have self-control, and low reactivity. They should be tested under every possible circumstance to ensure the best possible outcome. While any breed can technically be a service dog, they must be physically able to perform tasks.
Any person with a disability meeting the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements can qualify for a service dog of any kind including PSD’s (psychiatric service dogs), a doctors letter is required.
A dog needs to be able to pass the PAT (Public Access Test) in order to be called a service dog. The PAT proves your dog is task trained for your disability. A mobility dog will help with daily tasks such as picking up a dropped object, bringing medication to their handler, or helping the handler maintain balance. A PSD dog provides support to people suffering primarily from panic attacks, anxiety, depression, & isolation. PSD dogs are trained to perform tasks to mitigate the psychiatric disability. Test qualifications provided thru Psychiatric Service Dog Partners.
We recommend service dogs be registered with United States Service Dog Registry.
Simply registering them does not qualify an animal or an individual as a Service Dog Team or provide any special rights, legal or otherwise. The purpose of registering is to agree to an additional and specific set of training and behavior standards.
What is a Service or Assistance Dog versus Emotional Support or Therapy Dogs?
Service Dogs are a special type of working dog trained to help a disabled individual complete work or tasks directly related to their disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a Service Dog as:
§ 35.104 Definitions. Service animal means any dog that 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. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
Emotional Support Animals are not required to have any kind of specialized training. They can provide a calming influence and comfort to their owner. They are not Service Dogs and do not have the same public rights, although, covered under the Fair Housing Act and may be allowed to fly in-cabin. To be considered an emotional support dog, the dog needs to be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional. There are PSD (Psychiatric Service Dogs) that work specifically with individuals whose disability is due to mental illness. While they sound similar to ESA’s (Emotional Support Animals), PSD’s dogs require special training and perform tasks.
Therapy Dogs are trained to help and comfort people other than their owners. They are not Service Dogs, however, the individuals they help and comfort may or may not be disabled. They can help teach, lift spirits, and assist with physical and emotional rehabilitation, and more. Therapy dogs will often visit people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, disaster areas, etc.
Please consider a contribution to our organization, your assistance helps support our ability to provide low or no cost training to those in need, and any amount is truly appreciated! The money raised through the training classes and funding go towards providing no or low cost training for those in need and training equipment.
Therapy Dogs are trained to help and comfort people other than their owners. They are not Service Dogs, however, the individuals they help and comfort may or may not be disabled. They can help teach, lift spirits, and assist with physical and emotional rehabilitation, and more. Therapy dogs will often visit people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, disaster areas, etc.
Please consider a contribution to our organization, your assistance helps support our ability to provide low or no cost training to those in need, and any amount is truly appreciated! The money raised through the training classes and funding go towards providing no or low cost training for those in need and training equipment.
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