Service dogs: What’s so hard to understand?
By Gina Spadafori
April 22, 2007
Although dogs have been working side by side with people as long as both have been around, the modern idea of training dogs specifically to help a person with a disability dates to just after World War I, with the formal training of dogs to help people with vision impairment.
In the United States, the idea of a service dog started with a woman named Dorothy Harrison Eustis, an American dog trainer living in Swtizerland who wrote a piece on the concept for a 1927 article in the Saturday Evening Post. Morris Frank wrote her after the article appeared, and the two worked together with a German shepherd named Buddy to provide the first modern American teaming of a blind person with a dog.
Frank and Buddy showed that such a pairing could allow independent living for a person with a disability, and in 1929, The Seeing Eye*was founded in New Jersey. Other groups followed, and the partnering of a dog with a blind person has been commonplace for decades.
In the last couple of decades, the concept of a service dog has expanded greatly, with dogs helping the hearing-impaired, people who use wheelchairs and those who have many other kinds of physical challenges. The Americans With Disabilities Act made the rights of people who use service animals the law of the land.
And yet, people still have to fight for their rights, as shown by a piece in the Huntville Times (Alabama):
Pam Ewald says her life has improved “1,000 percent” in the three years she’s had her guide dog, Kate.
But spending her waking hours tethered to a dog has also complicated Ewald’s life in ways she never expected.
With the well-trained Labrador retriever leading the way, Ewald, who is legally blind, has the confidence to take long walks around her New Market home, shop at Wal-Mart, even go on an occasional cruise. Ewald and Kate have sailed together to Mexico and the Bahamas.
But in February, Ewald called Huntsville police after a local restaurant refused to let Kate inside, arguing it was against Health Department regulations. She got the same spiel last fall at a Fayetteville, Tenn., diner and stormed out – hungry, hurt and disgusted.
A couple of years ago at a local department store, an employee barked at Ewald to move away from the clothing racks, saying Kate’s hair was getting on the blouses.
“You feel about this high,” Ewald said, holding her thumb and index finger an inch apart. “When people do that, they’re picking on my baby. If you hurt her, you’re hurting me.”
The Americans With Disabilities Act, passed by Congress in 1990, says guide dogs for the blind are allowed in any public place. But Ewald, 51, said she and Kate have been turned away from so many restaurants that she feels compelled to carry a copy of the law in her back pocket.
What rock would you have had to grow up under not to be aware of the value of service dogs and the rights of those who use them? Why are people still getting challenged about this? I don’t get it.
*The Seeing Eye’s Web site is clunky and dated. They need a new one. Anyone with a Web design business? This would be a wonderful pro bono project for you. Somebody help these folks!
Has anyone had any Problems with CANIDAE
Wet or Dry FOOD for Dogs & Cats
Please let me know
Comment by Mary — April 22, 2007 @ 7:20 am
Thank you for the piece on the Service Dogs - there are a bunch of unedcated and rude people in this world - as we all know, some in very high positions of power -
I hope people with Service Dogs stop feeling humilated and stand up to these Bullies with some backbone - demand they honor the Disabilities Act and demand to speak to their supervisor and also hand them the name of their attorney - because they will gladly sue the pants off for discrimination against the handicapped.
Just my two cents worth.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 7:24 am
I think to some people, dogs are “just animals”, even if they are providing crucial support services to someone. This probably accounts for why the country as a whole has been dragging its feet regarding every aspect of the toxic pet food crisis.
Comment by slt — April 22, 2007 @ 7:34 am
Hi Mary,
i’ve been researching cat food(i’ve got 1!),
Felidae , and surely Canidae are 1 on the better foods .. it has literly zero things i can find that are unhealthy, im sure my search
isn’t complete .. can you tell me what problems
you’v experenced ? i might be able to offer some sugestions, and i’d like to know more as i want to try some with my cat.
Comment by johnypaycut — April 22, 2007 @ 7:42 am
Also people try to intimidate others and if the handicapped slink off cowering pulling their dogs behind them – it takes guts and courage to live the worthwhile life and for weaker people it takes even more spunk to make it out there.
I have worked for guide dogs for the blind and also train a S&R dog and I do not take him in restaurants unless necessary but I have come across so many people that do such rude things. Maybe it takes a little more understanding to be kind to the handicapped but so what, open a door, rearrange the seating, bring a bowl of water for the dog too.
I wish all of us that see ill treatment happen would rally around and add strength and voice to help those that are hurt and discriminated against.
Now, that five cents worth.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 7:43 am
Hi Johnypaycut,
Read my post above. I will also mention more here.
I also have a Cat along with 4 dogs. I am a SUCKER for animals. Just reading some of these posts get to me. I go i stores making sure no food that has beenrecalled is not on the shelves.
ANYHOW, there signs are still vomiting off and on, there stools are very loose and have mucus in them. There Urine still is showing crystals. I am so Confused as I have been feedingthem Canidae for Over a Year but I was mixing it with Wet food IAMS, Olroy ect because they would stick there noses up in the air
Comment by Mary — April 22, 2007 @ 7:46 am
Mary,
I too have been having problems with the Canidae pet food lately. Loose stools, some vomiting.
I wonder where they are making there food and if it is really being tested by the FDA
Comment by Kathy — April 22, 2007 @ 7:54 am
Mary,
Sorry to hear your pal has this. lose stool is not uncommon in a dog whose had a different
diet. the possibilty that your pet is showing
dietary issues is not probably the new food
(not likely , in my mind). i assume you
had a problem with iams. i am also assuming
you might have a problem with the new food
(canidae). this means the problem might be better solved by seeking a nutritionist?
the loose stool could be be due to a wet
food , in which case a dry food or a canned food with less moisture would help?
Comment by johnypaycut — April 22, 2007 @ 7:55 am
I went to there website, checked out all of the information and wrote them an email and pretty much got the same response as you did.
But if it is all natural and does not contain any of the ingrediants then I do not know what to do. I tried putting rice in the food to help my dogs but that did not work they still hd some of the same problems.
I really wish I could find a dependable, trusting, reliable, good dog food but right now I do not trust any of them so I have to figure something else out.
Comment by Kathy — April 22, 2007 @ 7:57 am
Hi again Johnypaycut,
I do not give them wet food anymore have not since the recall.
I will take your advice about a nutritionist.
They have been on Canidae for over a year.
It was the recalled wet food that caused them the kidney problems.
I am just so upset about all of this that I feel so sorry for every Pet that has been affected in anyway.
Comment by Mary — April 22, 2007 @ 8:01 am
Mary when you say crystal? i hope your not seeing ‘em in the animals urine,(visible without
any optical magnifacation/aid).
that would be time to consult a nutritionist..
(always a good idea? can’t go wrong with information). the wet food/wet stool is often normal, with canned pet food.
i don’t believe it’s the product (felidae/canidae).. it sounds like your pets
have been caught in this recalled food problem.
(iams, and so many others are as guilty as sin)
have you been to the vet? what is the prognosis?
Comment by johnypaycut — April 22, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Mary,
I can’t be absoultly certain, but i think
2 things here.. 1st. the canidae/felidae isn’t the culprit, and 2nd. the animals need the meat/
protein that comes in a raw or wet food..
if you don’t like using a canned product?
(and none are all that great!) try “suplimental”
food .. raw meat with that dry , you’l have to figure out how much by body weight , but there’s a cornapopia of web sites on raw feeding
i am feeding basicly innova evo wet , and
dry , with felidae wet , soild gold wet ,
and rotate my foods? i also like orijen ..
Comment by johnypaycut — April 22, 2007 @ 8:11 am
I have a service dog who helps me with my disability . I am not in a wheel chair and I am not blind. Because my disability is invisible, people tend to assume I am my dog’s trainer and regale me questions.
When I say ” No, she’s my own assistance dog”. they often look at me as if I’m pulling a scam just to get my dog into restricted places.
I now carry cards in my dog’s service vest explaining that not all disabilities are visible.
Comment by ray gwyn smith — April 22, 2007 @ 8:29 am
Here in Floriduh we have the Sunshine Law, which precludes any government meetings from being conducted behind closed doors. I picked up a little card the other day in a govt office which said if I was ever refused entry to a govt meeting to quote the law and show them the card. Perhaps anyone using a service dog needs to have something similar, then offer to call the police if they don’t comply.
If you don’t lay down, they can’t use you as a doormat. Then again, I’m feeling pretty cranky…..
Comment by CathyA — April 22, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Great article & comment, Gina!
All I can guess is shear ignorance & inconsideration.
In a way, I can understand about doggies in restaurants, esp. if it’s a shedding type. I have 5 pets & deal with pet hair all the time — and even MY OWN HAIR! I probably shed more than they do. But, I don’t like the hair in my food & those are hairs from MY OWN 4-legged compadres & me.
I don’t like to find any hair in my food. I doubt anyone does. That is a risk with doggies in the restaurants. But, the cooks shed too.
I can definately see both sides of the issue tho.
Comment by Kat — April 22, 2007 @ 8:37 am
An interesting comment has been made by one pet food manufacturer regarding executives being amused with people who regard their pets as family members. This provides us with a chilling insight. You may have heard this old small business rule: “keep a dog at the office and don’t give credit to anyone who doesn’t like your dog”. Like much common sense evolved by native cunning, science hasn’t quite caught up with it yet.
Dogs developed from wolves by influencing humans to take care of them. It’s estimated that a female with a litter of pups would more than double the survival rate of the pups by throwing her lot in with a human family. Dogs achieved this by acting upon the one thing that distinguishes us as human; our empathy. Between one half and one percent of the human population, as measured by the PCL-R checklist, does not possess normal empathy. Be very cautious in dealing with anyone in this segment of our population. Technically they are psychopaths but the popular perception does not differentiate between psychopath and criminal psychopath of which are far fewer in number.
The majority of psychopaths learn to fake empathy by acting, often over-acting and they make mistakes you can spot. Fake empathy allows them powerful powers of manipulation. What happens to these people? Some of them become well-known leaders, CEO’s, politicians; others become con artists and business jerks. The most dangerous become criminals. Because they care nothing for other people they cheat and lie and step on people to get what they want. Sometimes they become extremely good at acting empathy but they truly don’t understand and are prone to making jarring mistakes. Your dog is your canary in the coal mine. A psychopath cannot normally relate to a dog; often your dog will recognize the problem too. It doesn’t mean that anyone who hates your dog is a psychopath but it should put you on guard. However, if you are handicapped and someone doesn’t like your service-dog it’s a two-canary sign. Now you have someone who shows no empathy for dogs and for the handicapped. The chance of them being a psychopath is much higher.
Never feel self-conscious about being abused for being handicapped because the abuser is probably handicapped in a far more profound way. They may be unable to pass the test to claim to be completely human.
Comment by Dave — April 22, 2007 @ 8:37 am
Hi Mary! Sorry to hear about your sick doggies! The vet can do a Blood Panel Test & check the BUN & Creatinine levels. High levels indicate the kidneys are not functioning properly. My vet charged $48.50 per patient. I’ve seen ranges of $25 - 100 online. It sounds like your dogs need to get checked out.
Have you researched the recall lists to see if you have actually been feeding them anything that’s been recalled?
I see you’ve been feeding Ol’Roy. Here are their recalls. They also have dog biscuits recalled too.
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Ol‘Roy%20US_041607.htm
http://www.sunshinemills.com/press_release.html
Comment by Kat — April 22, 2007 @ 8:49 am
please read this. http://www.philly.com then you will see on right side PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER click that ,story headline BELOVED FRIEND OR SIMPLY PROBERTY. THIS WILL BREAK YOUR HEART AND MAKE U MAD AS ALL HELL
Comment by MARY ANN — April 22, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Tks for the piece on service dogs. I never knew that people with service dogs have to endure such treatments in the USA. I grew up in Europe(Holland) in the 50’s/60’s and from a very young age was taught that such dogs belong on a pedestal and are practically human. In early grades in elementary school, we had a blind person with a dog come to the class room and explain about service dogs. We were also told not to pet a guide dog unless you had permission from the owner. Ditto with police dogs,which were also brought into the classroom by an officer.
In eating establishments, it was very common to ask the owner of the dog if he needed a bowl of water and if any treat was allowed. But then, many eating establisments also allowed non service dogs(on a leash ofcourse) in their establishment. Had a rude awakening when I arrived in the USA in 1972 with my two (non service) dogs. Only drive-ins.
Am still in awe(and almost teary eyed) every time I see working guide dog with his owner. Such a wonderful symbiotic relationship.
Comment by Serijna — April 22, 2007 @ 8:58 am
ALSO ON http://WWW.PHILY.COM SCROLL DOWN TO health and science story headline-chasing justice in pet food lawsuites -then below that, is another story -ANOTHER RECALL OF DOG AND CAT DRY PET FOOD. MY God This Is So Sad
Comment by MARY ANN — April 22, 2007 @ 9:00 am
mary, i read that alot of pets got the runs from that food i google it and there was a page to rate it and there vwere lots of comments about the runs w/ canidae
Comment by MARY ANN — April 22, 2007 @ 9:03 am
Regarding Canidae, I recently purchased a bag (chicken & rice kibble for dogs) after speaking to a trusted friend who’s had her lab on it her entire life (11 months) with no problems whatsoever. I saw both my friend & her lab yesterday and the dog looks beyond healthy. She is training her lab for the Guide Dogs of America (GDA) & told me Canidae (regular All Stage) is the GDA’s food of choice.
In making my decision to try Canidae I did read numerous reviews, most of them quite good. Since every dog is different & may respond differently, perhaps you can try a small bag of their kibble & see how it goes? I haven’t tried mine yet since I have another week to go before my dog ends his food trial.
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck & health to your pet.
Comment by Ally — April 22, 2007 @ 9:18 am
I switched to Canidae when all of this mess started and have had NO problems. In fact I had to really look to find any complaints about loose stools in the internet and there were very few. I have emailed them and gotten very quick responses to my questions - not a form response either. They are 100% sure that the origin of the ingredients in their food is the U.S.
Comment by ashlee — April 22, 2007 @ 9:28 am
Canidae is one of the better foods out there and if it looks weird or gives your dog the runs (or cat) I’d swap it out at the store you bought it from.
Maybe your bag was sitting in the sun somewhere and got exposed to some heat and the fats got compromised or it’s a ‘fluke’ bag that happens to every pet food and it’s just a scary time to see things be different right now.
But I agree that the Canidae is more than likely not the problem. They are a good company and the rep people I’ve met from their company are uber caring people as well.
Dave - wow, what an insight.
To all with handicaps that aren’t visible, we are so sorry and apologize the best we can and this is one of those ‘pets are better than people’ times. And even with handicaps that are visible, it is like the elderly - we forget that the outside has nothing to do with the inside.
I follow this all so closely and scrutinize so much since I almost lost my 87 year old mom in February to food poisoning, or so the doctors say. It was some kind of poisoning and she didn’t have peanut butter, we went through all of the questions. She is ‘strong like bull’ and fought through it, but man it was a fight. But, since we couldn’t nail down what caused it, the incident went ‘unreported’ and I can’t help but wonder how many other unreported cases there are out there.
I am glad that Sen. Durbin is trying to unravel the whole food inspection mess, for pets and people alike!
Comment by Evy — April 22, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Comment by Dave — April 22, 2007 @ 8:37 am
“Never feel self-conscious about being abused for being handicapped because the abuser is probably handicapped in a far more profound way. They may be unable to pass the test to claim to be completely human.”
Wow, Dave. Extremely well said! Kudos to you for sharing such an erudite & wonderfully written post - a much needed breath of fresh air during such nerve wracking times as these…..
Comment by Ally — April 22, 2007 @ 10:17 am
I posted some days ago about my problem with Felidae, my cat had been on it for about two weeks, I bought a new bag last week and he seemed to not want to eat it, but when he got hungy he did eat some and after about 15 mins began throwing it up. I contacted Felidae and their response was ’ what is the RM and bar code numbers on the bag’ I gave them those and they said they would test an unopened bag of theirs and get back to me. What struck me odd was they never tried to assure me that their food doesn’t contain any of the tainted ingredients, nor try to suggest any other reason for my cat getting sick. They just very curtly asked for those numbers.
Comment by BW — April 22, 2007 @ 10:23 am
BW ~
I think that Canidae/Felidae did a good thing in how they treated you. Instead of giving you the pablum that some of the ‘larger’ companies have given people, they got proactive and they have retained samples from various runs of food and wanted to test it. I don’t see anything on their label that would raise suspicion to me, but wouldn’t you rather they try to test than just give you a false sense of security?
Locally, there are several people I know of now who are saving bags of dry dog food for testing (what to test for keeps growing it seems!) and they have called the ‘larger’ company over two weeks ago. They were told someone would get back with them. And I am talking about two dead dogs and one that almost died.
So, Canidae/Felidae is acting responsibly. Maybe they seemed curt since they have had to deal with so many problems and defend a good product so much that their own nerves are getting frayed. I know I’ve been there myself and just had my first good night’s sleep in a long time lol.
I keep trying to post that as we come into the warmer seasons, try to keep your pet food purchases as close to getting home as possible - much like you do your frozen food. If pet food gets exposed to heat (and cat food is far higher in fat than most dog foods) then the fats can get compromised and throw the food off kilter.
That is one of my biggest concerns approaching the hot summer months and I know many higher end pet shops are starting to be pro-active and warn their customers to keep the food away from heat and sun.
Comment by Evy — April 22, 2007 @ 10:39 am
Evy,
I would have felt better if they had offered to test the bag I have.
Comment by BW — April 22, 2007 @ 10:50 am
Thanks for the article on Service Animals…
I work for an Independent Living Center, who for 30 years has been assisting persons with all disabilities to achieve their independence. I have a disability myself.
Even though the ADA was passed in 1990, advocates and persons with disabilities continue to fight for equal access to services in their communities. Many business owners just don’t get it, or don’t care, which is unfortunate for them, as they are losing potential business from consumers with disabilities.
According to the United States Department of Justice website:
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos.
For more information:
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
Comment by Marcy — April 22, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
The biggest complaint about service animals coming into a restaurant or department office would be if they misbehaved but they tend to be very well trained. They have to be, to help the person who is disabled. If you’ve seen how people’s children act sometimes, a well trained dog is the least of your worries and no restaurant has suggested banning toddlers.
A theatre is the only example of what i could consider to be potentially awkward, if they had unconventional use of the theatre in which they had to rush down the isles and didn’t want to run over the dog as there isn’t much room in the seating section. And a dog might find a pretend murder confusing. (As I don’t know how they interpret threats.)
Other then that everyone is used to ramps, front parking lot spaces and larger bathrooms. I would think accomodating a service dog would be considerably cheaper for the business then installing ramps or elevators in old buildings. I wouldn’t even say that service dogs are incredibly common, I hardly ever see someone with a guide dog but I know what they are. I’ve never heard of anyone having any sort of problem with them, that’s simply bizzare.
Comment by Erica — April 22, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
Erica
Service dogs don’t take the place of ramps or elevators…they assist people with disabilities in certain specific tasks…such as picking items up off the floor, turning light switches off and on, sometimes pulling a manual wheelchair…and so on.
Ramps and elevators are a must, as a wheelchair or mobility scooter cannot navigate stairs usually (and neither can moms with strollers). There is a power chair that will climb stairs…but it is very, very expensive.
Comment by Marcy — April 22, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
I lost my cat to the pet food crisis so I appreciate all of you posting about the ongoing issues. It would be nice if we posted relevant comments here about service dogs and the pet food comments elsewhere.
That being said, I do have a relevant comment…
I was a puppy raiser for Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation (http:/www.fidelco.org) and we were given a card to show to restaurants, etc. to show that the pup was a service-dog-in-training. They do not have the same rights as a service dog but usually, I did not have any problems bring her places. The majority of the time, even though she was a puppy, she was SO well behaved, people did not even know she was there until I was leaving and they commented on that (she would wear a cape indicating her status when she was “in training”). I think that service animals are valuable assets to our society and from first-hand experience that organizations like Fidelco do an EXCELLENT job training them! It is sad that many of the restaurants are turning legitimate service dogs away and causing the person who needs the service animal grief. There should be a penalty for business owners who do not learn the law. (Ignorance is no excuse, right!)
Comment by Shelli Godfrey — April 23, 2007 @ 9:36 am
I live in the area where that article was written and am shocked that restaurants or other places would bar service dogs! I would much rather sit next to a well-behaved dog than a bunch of rowdy, misbehaving human children.
A brushed dog does not shed enough, provided they are receiving their Omega Fatty Acids, to get into the food, etc.
Perhaps these people who block service dogs need to be reminded that it is a violation of the rights of the disabled to do so and then the person with the dog might talk to the local district attorney about bringing a few charges against those who do this.
And yes, I am serious. They have no right to cater to the public and then block the disabled. That is wrong and it is against the law. I would think the local DA would have someone who could help to convince these restaurants of such, too.
Just my thoughts from a first time poster.
Comment by Anna — April 23, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Mary Ann, just a note: your second link dropped an “l” from philly.com.
For everyone else, here are direct links to the stories Chasing Justice in Pet-food Lawsuits, and Another Recall of Dog and Cat Dry Pet Food.
Comment by Crafty Witch — April 23, 2007 @ 10:57 am
Yes, businesses that do not follow the Americans with Disabilities Act are subject to being brought into court and sued.
After all, it IS law. Just because someone doesn’t obey it, doesn’t mean that it isn’t binding.
Comment by Marcy — April 23, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — If dog is man’s best friend then Thor is Jacob’s best friend. Jacob Saecker is 12 years old and suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, also known as high-functioning autism. Saecker is prone to angry outbursts and loosing his focus but his service dog Thor helps him stay calm and get work done.
The only problem is that after three days of Jacob and Thor going to Thorner Elementary together, the Bakersfield City School District said that Jacob’s parents had to sign a written agreement before Thor could return back for a fourth day or any others.
The BCSD is required by the state education code to approve all animal services that would be on any of their campuses. They say that Thor will be free to return with Jacob to school once his parents sign a written agreement. However, Kristi Saecker says that agreement is full of inaccuracies and there was no way that they were going to sign it and they haven’t as of Friday morning.
BCSD says that they’re offering Jacob independent study work until he returns, including materials for a series of tests due to take place next week. Jacob hasn’t returned to school without Thor because his family says their bond is too tight for them to be separated. Kristi Saecker says they won’t sign the agreement because its misidentifies what kind of service animal Thor is. Both sides hope to work out a deal so that Jacob can return to regular class.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 23, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
I have heard of people making a living off of companys ignorance-one “story” being $60,000 a year (7 years ago) suing companys that do not adhear to the law -not a bad living
Comment by mike — April 24, 2007 @ 2:44 pm