companion/service dog?

[uncspin]

My DH has CP and uses an electric wheelchair. We are a young married couple that have pretty much decided that we will not have children, but are considering getting a dog. We are not sure which route is the best way to go - companion dog or service dog. Honestly, my DH and I are rarely apart, so many of the things that a service dog can/would do, wouldn't be necessary. But at the same time, we can see how having a service dog would allow my husband to hopefully get through stores/tight areas slightly quicker. What are your experiences? Any suggestions on agencies, etc. for placement of service or companion dogs? (By the way, we're in North Carolina)

 

[1stluvispooh]

This is wear a friend got her autistic son a companion dog. http://www.4pawsforability.org/
They hae nothing but good to say about them. Hope it helps

 

[fitzpa]

We got our sons dog at NEADS. They are located in Princeton, MA, but have clients all over the country. They train hearing, service, social, therapy, & walker dogs.
http://www.neads.org
They were great!

 

[Schmeck]

I'd find out the different rules/regulations between a trained service dog compared to a companion dog - are untrained companion dogs given the same access as trained service dogs?

 

[fitzpa]

My son's dog is a social (companion) dog. He is trained and needs to pass a review test ever few years.

 

[Schmeck]

But are social/comapnion dogs covered under ADA? From what I have found on the web, it doesn't seem so.

 

[fitzpa]

They may have changed things since we got his dog? (We've had him for 5 years now.) Never had a problem in public. He has the special vest and id card. The agencies would be able to answer that during the interview process.

 

[livndisney]

I'd find out the different rules/regulations between a trained service dog compared to a companion dog - are untrained companion dogs given the same access as trained service dogs?

I found this:


"The Difference between:
Service, Therapy, Companion and "Social/therapy" Animals


Service Animals are legally defined (Americans With Disabilities Act, 1990) and are trained to meet the disability-related needs of their handlers who have disabilities. Federal laws protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals in public places. Service animals are not considered 'pets'.

Therapy Animals are not legally defined by federal law, but some states have laws defining therapy animals. They provide people with contact to animals, but are not limited to working with people who have disabilities. They are usually the personal pets of their handlers, and work with their handlers to provide services to others. Federal laws have no provisions for people to be accompanied by therapy animals in places of public accommodation that have "no pets" policies. Therapy animals usually are not service animals.

A Companion Animal is not legally defined, but is accepted as another term for pet.

'Social/therapy' Animals have no legal definition. They often are animals that did not complete service animal or service dog training due to health, disposition, trainability, or other factors, and are made available as pets for people who have disabilities. These animals might or might not meet the definition of service animals."

http://www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pid=303

And:
"The Definition of a Service Animal under the Americans With Disabilities Act and Guidance documents from the U.S. Department of Justice have established two training requirements for a Service Animal. The first is that a service animal must be individually trained to perform tasks or work for the benefit of a disabled individual. The second is that a service animal must be trained to behave properly in places of public accommodation. Inappropriate behavior that disrupts the normal course of business or threatens the health or safety of others is automatic grounds for excluding the team from the premises.

Most animals, including but not limited to those labeled Companion Animals, Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Animals or pets are NOT service animals according to ADA’s Definition, as they have NOT been individually trained to perform disability mitigating tasks. Thus their handlers do not legally qualify for public access rights. Typically these animals also lack the months of training on obedience and manners needed to behave properly under challenging conditions in places of public accommodation."

http://www.iaadp.org/iaadp-ada-training-requirements.html

 

[SueM in MN]

Companion dogs for someone with a disability have no more legal access rights than companion dogs for someone without a disability.

We are in the same type of situation as the OP - our daughter is disabled and needs assistance with a lot if things. Because she has seizures, is not able to talk and would not be able to get help/get to safety in an emergency, someone is with her 24 hours a day. Even though she always has someone with her who could do what she needs, we elected to get a Service Dog for het rather than just a companion dog.
Her dog is being trained to pick things up when she drops them, to get things for her and to bring one of us into the room if she needs help.
Sure, we could do all these things, but having the dog to do them gives get a little more independence and also takes me and my DH from the role of caregiver to the role of parent for a few minutes. That can be a very precious thing.

 

[dclfun]

I have a service dog trained through Paws with a Cause. I can't even remember my life without her and all she has done to improve my independence. I too use a power wheelchair and my SD opens/closes doors, picks up things I drop, pushes elevator buttons and w/c pushplates, alerts to my ventilator hoses if they have a leak, and much more. I would strongly encourage you to get a service dog vs. companion dogs. Companion dogs DO NOT have rights to be in public in places where dogs are not allowed. They are considered the same as pets. Only service dogs, who perform trained tasks to mitigate a disability ( the task must be something the person cannot do for themselves) have public access rights. Even though you might be with your husband most of the time, I'm sure there will be circumstances where he might be on his own, or at least would want to be able to be on his own. Good luck!---Kathy ( and Skye)