“SERVICE ANIMAL”

Name Institutional Affiliation

Service animals are animals that have been specially trained to carry out activities for people with various disabilities. Dogs have been known to be main service animals even though monkeys, birds and horses have been documented. Laws about service dogs are provided by various state laws such as housing act, air carrier act ADA etc. .With proper training, Such animals can assist mitigate various disabilities by performing tasks such as directing a wheelchair, guiding the blind, guiding the deaf, alerting people with seizures, reminding mentally sick people to take their drugs, pick objects that are out of their person’s reach, opening and closing doors, turning light switches off and on, barking to indicate that help is needed and the tasks are endless. Allen, K., & Blascovich. J. (1996).Service animals are dogs on duty and not pets. Service dogs get trained on specific tasks relating to the person with disability. Dogs playing other roles such giving comfort and company are not service dogs according to IDA definition. Where Service Animals Are Allowed
According to ADA, any institution that serves the public must give access to service animals to give assistance to disabled people. For example, in a school, it’s wrong to deny access to a service animal in areas such as examination rooms, library, administration areas and playgrounds. However it may be necessary to exclude service animal from risky areas such kitchen, laboratories etc. Granting access to service animals depends on the nature of the environment so us to eliminate danger that the person may be exposed by the service animal.
Control of Service Animals.
ADA provides that service animals must be controlled and not let loose. They can be controlled by tethering unless otherwise provided. The person with the animal must be able to maintain control of the dog by use of sounds, gestures etc.
There are prescribed standards for training service animals. These standards are set by the ADI and they are minimum standards for every assistance dog programs. The service animal must be able to respond to commands given by the client on the first ask in all environment. The service animal should demonstrate obedience skills by responding to voice and/or hand signals for sitting, staying in place, lying down, walking in a controlled position near the client and coming to the client when called. The service animal must demonstrate ability to carry out at least 3 tasks to mitigate the client’s disability. There are also basic standards set for the client. The client must meet the ADI minimum standards for assistance Dogs in public. The client must show that the dog can carry out at least three task and that the client understands canine care and health, in addition the client must maintain the train and continue to train and add new skills to the dog. The assistance dog program is responsible for making and documenting monthly follow-ups with the client for at least six months. Contact with the client is made by a qualified staff within the first year. IDA clarifies that the dog must be identified as service dog by IDS with names of the dog and partner and also the dog must wear a cloth that identifies it as service dog. Beck, A. M. (2000).
Before any placement of the service dog, it must demonstrate compliance with ADI Standards and Ethics Regarding dogs, have vaccination certificate as outlined by the veterinarian and state laws. Perceived Allergies and fear of dogs should not be used as an excuse to deny access of service dog to premises. If there allergies then people should be assigned to different rooms. The client with disability cannot be required to leave the premise unless the service dog cannot control itself and the client is unable to control it. Food selling premises must allow service animals even state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises.ADI also requires that charges charged to other animals must be waived for service animals.
In conclusion, there is general lack of knowledge among the public regarding the rights of the disabled and the use of a service animal. There is a general perception by the public that with labels of the service dog label, a dog cannot be considered a service dog. And therefore many companies take advantage of this ignorance by selling all forms of identification without scrutiny of the training of the dog. If a person uses a dog a service dog without following proper procedures, they are subject to a heavy fine and/or serve jail term. REFERENCES
Allen, K. (1996). Response to Eames & Eames. Disability Studies Quarterly, 16(4), 23-25.
Allen, K., & Blascovich. J. (1996). The value of service dogs for people with severe ambulatory disabilities. A randomized controlled trial. .Journal of the American Medical Association. 275(13), 1001-1006.
Beck, A. M. (2000). The use of animals to benefit humans: Animal assisted therapy. In A. Fine (Ed.). Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy (pp. 21-40). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Sandler, J. L. (1996). Care and treatment of service Sandler, J. L. (1996). Care and treatment of service dogs and their owners. Journal of the American veterinary Medical Association, 208(12), 1979-1981.dogs and their owners. journal of the American veterinary Medical Association, 208(12), 1979-1981.