Mr. Watkins
English 4
3 March 3, 2017 Service Dogs
Service dogs are very beneficial to our society and help a lot of people enjoy their life just like anyone else would. Service dogs are not like any other dogs, they have to go through special training that can take up to two years. Service dogs must be able to act professionally in public so they will not be taken out of public places. Service dogs are not pets therefore, they are allowed to go into businesses that have a no pets rule because they are helping their assigned person. Service dogs are very reliable and benefit the public in many ways such as helping the blind get around and helping people with PTSD enjoy a normal life, do the tasks that some people are not able to …show more content…
These dogs are trained to walk their owner across a busy street or across the road. A quote from, “Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services” states that, “The dog acts as a pilot to direct its owner in a straight line unless directed to turn, while avoiding obstacles in all directions”. The dog acts as the owner's eyes and helps them live their life as closely to normal as possible. Service dogs help people with PTSD by giving the owner reassurance that they are safe in any environment. An example of this would be from, “VA Study of Service Dogs for Vets with PTSD Faces Questions” they interviewed Joe Aguirre and this is what he said, “He’s basically looking for … anything that would be out of the ordinary. A bag. A particular weapon. People acting erratic,” says Aguirre, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after three tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. At the cash register, Aguirre says “Block,” and the dog places himself perpendicular to his master, creating a buffer to anyone who might approach”. The dog helps Mr. Aguirre and anyone with PTSD feel safe at all times. Service dogs have to go through special training and be taught how to do things the owner cannot do which would include turning on a light or taking clothes out of the dryer or making sure the road is clear before crossing “Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual with a disability is entitled to a service dog to help them live their lives normally” (Information). Anyone with a disability is able to own a service dog to help them with life. Having a service dog that is trained to do certain tasks that one is unable to do helps that person to enjoy a life that is almost close to