Love With Four Legs and A Tail
In the world of people with disabilities most of us hold something in common. We have relied on someone at one point to help us get around; whether that be by getting dressed in the mornings to a doctor telling us what to do after an injury. Actually every body in the world has at one point had help from someone else.
For me my life really changed two years ago in November when I was contacted to fly to California. I was finally getting my service dog. Canine Companions for Independence has been gifting people with disabilities service dogs for many years and it's because of them that I have met many people who have touched my life in so many ways. One of the those people, well dogs, is my yellow lab/golden retrieve mix, Danika.
I often get the question "What does Danika do for you?"; well to answer plainly, Danika is my assistance dog. She picks things up off the floor for me, opens doors {literally and not}, closes them, turns on and off the lights, can tug my wheelchair when my arms get too tired for me to walk. She also will lay on top of my legs when they become tense or start to hurt from my form of Muscular Dystrophy. But most of all Danika is my companion. She is one of the only people who I can trust with my silent tears at night, whether they are falling from physical pain or from memories. She is there when I need a warm welcome, a hug and a kiss, or just someone to watch t.v with when I'm not able to go to school. I know that she won't leave me because I am different or need a wheelchair. I know she's here for keeps. She is my perfect and stable thing in my crazy world. And without her I'm not sure what I'd do.
Today, before I even decided to write a post, I read an article online about people using fake service dog vests to get their pets into stores or restaurants. Right away this struck a nerve. I am entitled to my own opinion and will now voice it:
People who use fake vests or claim that a snake, hamster, or bird is a service animal to be able to bring them to public places either-
A) Don't understand why service dogs are so important
or B) Are too ignorant to learn and respect people with disabilities
I understand that animals are a great way to cope with stress, that horses are used every day for therapies and they are amazing. I personally have used horses at my camp for disabilities and they are just great to have around. But a service animal should be able to do more then just be there for therapies or to distress.
Service dogs are not just "special dogs that get to go places". They are life changing canines that work hard for their people. Many of my friends have seen "service dogs" out in public who bark at people who walk by or relieve themselves wherever they want to. Real service dogs are trained not to do that. They are trained to be quiet and still. They don't bark at strangers or go to the restroom on the floors of restaurants. Also handlers of service dogs should not be scared or hesitant about showing managers or airport staff their cards the certify their dogs as legit service dogs.
Many people also don't realize that by pretending to have a service dog and then causing a scene with their fake service dogs; creates problems for legit service dog owners.
We are seen as nuisances or pests. It also makes owners of establishments, managers, and staff members question whether we really do need our dogs. Please notice that your actions do cause a certain light to fall on us.
And on a last note, what is worse then people doing this is : there are no consequences. They don't get in trouble for their actions. They get away with this horrible and selfish crime. And that's not alright. It shouldn't be brushed off because it's just a minority group of people who suffer. Look around and open your eyes to the reality.
Links -
CCI.org (Here you can sign a petition to stop the selling or fake service dog vests and explore the site)
(My Momma, Danika, and I two years ago at the CCI facility in California. This is our first group photo together after she got assigned to me officially.)