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 In
her article, “Do I qualify for a service dog? These are the
requirements you should know about,” Gabrielle LaFrank says, “If
you’re curious whether you or a loved one qualify for a service dog,
you must qualify as having a disability as defined by the Americans
With Disabilities Act (ADA): “a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who
has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is
perceived by others as having such an impairment.”
The ADA does not specify any conditions. However, the ADA registry
site says, “Service Dogs, Emotional Support Dogs and even Therapy
Dogs can benefit people with disabilities associated with many
diagnoses.” These include “Arthritis Ataxia (poor balance), Autism,
Blindness or Impaired Vision, Deafness or Impaired Hearing,
Diabetes, Cardio/Pulmonary Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Physical
mobility Issues, Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.), Psychiatric Disabilities
and Seizure Disorder (Epilepsy).”
As LaFrank says, “Title II and III of the Americans With
Disabilities Act describe service animals as those who “have been
specifically trained to perform a task for the person with a
disability.” Because these dogs are trained to do certain tasks,
they are allowed to accompany their owners in most public spaces.
The tasks these dogs perform depend on the needs of the person.
Therefore, there are various types of service dogs. For instance, a
guide dog, also known as a seeing eye dog, helps people who are
blind or visually impaired “navigate their surroundings.”
For hearing impaired people, service dogs can alert owners to sounds
they cannot hear.
An alert dog is another type of service animal. LaFrank says,
“Though their exact detection skills vary by individual, an alert
dog is trained to detect and alert their person of a substance that
could be harmful to their health. There are diabetic alert dogs who
can detect glucose, gluten alert dogs, and even seizure alert dogs.”
Additionally, LaFrank says, “There are many other services a
licensed dog can perform, from mobility assistance (providing
support for a person to hold onto as they stand) or psychiatric
service to daily tasks around the home. These all help an individual
with a disability find more confidence and independence, no matter
what difference they otherwise face.”
The ADA National Network site on service animals and
emotional support animals explains how these animals assist those
with disabilities or other diagnoses.
For instance, the site says, a psychiatric service dog “has been
trained to perform tasks that assist individuals with disabilities
to detect the onset of psychiatric episodes and lessen their
effects.” These tasks may include “reminding the handler to take
medicine, providing safety checks or room searches, or turning on
lights for persons with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, interrupting
self-mutilation by persons with dissociative identity disorders, and
keeping disoriented individuals from danger.”
A sensory signal dog or social signal dog is “trained to assist an
autistic person or their caregiver. These dogs are trained to do a
variety of social or sensory tasks based on the needs of the
individual. For example, a dog might cue a person to pay attention
to street crossings and crosswalks when walking to their job.”
Additionally, “a dog might listen for a parent calling a child’s
name and guide the parent to the child.”
Seizure Response Dogs are “trained to assist a person with a seizure
disorder. How the dog serves the person depends on the person’s
needs. The dog may stand guard over the person during a seizure, or
the dog may go for help. A few dogs have learned to predict a
seizure and warn the person in advance to sit down or move to a safe
place.”
Steps for Applying for a Service Dog
If you think you may qualify for a service dog, there are several
steps you must follow.
The Service Dogs for America site says, “The first step in applying
for a service dog from Service Dogs for America (SDA) is to fill out
and submit the preliminary application.”
Before you submit a preliminary application, you should make sure
you meet certain eligibility requirements.
For example, you need to make sure you meet the age requirements.
SDA says Those applying for “Mobility and Seizure Response” need to
be “12 years of age or older and possess the physical and
developmental capacity to handle a service dog independently.” Those
applying for assistance with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder “must be
21 years of age or older.”
If you have a medical need, you must be able to verify it. At times,
a letter from a doctor may be needed.
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If you have PTSD, “you must have an official PTSD
diagnosis from a qualified and licensed mental health professional,
be actively engaged in therapy for the PTSD diagnosis, for a minimum
of one (1) year, and maintain compliance with therapeutic
recommendations.”
Applicants need to be able to show they can “demonstrate proficiency
in handling a service dog at home and in a variety of public
environments.” Additionally, they must be able to oversee “the dog’s
safety, behavior and working skills.”
Applicants are also “required to supply proof of
financial resources sufficient for the care of a service dog,
including veterinarian care.”
The National Service Animal Registry says, “Initial
costs for adopting a service dog can range between $10,000 and
$30,000.” For some dogs, the costs may be “up to 50,000 dollars,
depending on the type of skills they are trained to perform. This
high upfront cost is due to the amount of training and specialized
care that is put in to raising the service dog and teaching them to
perform highly specialized tasks.”
After the initial costs, the registry says you should expect to
spend about $1200 a year on the care of the dogs.
Do not let the high costs deter you, though, because
some places provide service dogs for little or no costs. For
instance, the organization Paws With a Cause “provides no-cost
service dogs trained to deal with a variety of medical conditions to
individuals across the United States.”
If you have gone through all the steps and are approved for a
service dog, LaFrank says “the real search begins. If you’re looking
for an Emotional Support Animal, though, you won’t need to find a
specifically trained dog — any canine companion counts! For true
service dogs, though, you’ll want to locate and contact a service
dog provider or nonprofit.” It may take a while to find the best dog
for your needs, so patience is important.
This patience usually pays off. As LaFrank says, “Despite the long
wait and even longer adjustment period, taking the time to register
for and meet a service dog can be a life-changing decision for
everyone involved. Not only does a talented canine get a home and a
job to keep them feeling fulfilled, but their owner can gain a sense
of independence and joy that only a dog can bring.”
Service dogs can truly enhance and improve a person’s daily life
with all the assistance they provide.
Sources
About Service Dogs for America.
https://www.servicedogsforamerica.org/
Frequently Asked Assistance
Dog Questions.
https://assistancedog
registry.com/law_information/?msclkid=290ff62557b0197b9883970
c5dbf7d49&msclkid=d55e80a8648b1
1cb43b9e51d16d97922
LaFrank, Gabrielle. “Do I qualify for a service dog? These are the
requirements you should know about.” 30 June 2022.
https://www.pawtracks.com/dogs/qualify
-for-service-dog/#dt-heading-what-do-i
-need-to-do-to-qualify-for-a-service-
animal
USA Service Animals. <https://usserviceanimals.org/blog/service
-dog-cost/>
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