Welcome to National Service Dog Awareness Month!
Courtesy: Mobility Service Dogs
September is National Service Dog Month!
It’s dedicated to all the extraordinary and specially trained dogs who support Americans with special needs every day!
What are Service Dogs?
Courtesy: Mobility Service Dogs
Service dogs are trained for as long as two years and can cost as high as $40,000!
Service dogs are protected under the Federal ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act enacted in 1990) which prohibits any discrimination against a person with a service or medical dog. Only trained service dogs are protected under this Act (unlike untrained comfort animals) and given full public access.
There is no one service dog for all medical issues. So, service dogs are trained to help the blind and deaf, those with epilepsy, PTSD and much more! These dogs help with day-to-day tasks, fetching dropped items and alerting to different medical conditions and important noises in daily life.
To learn more about the different types of service dogs, read our previous blog post, “A Service Dogs is a “Medical Device?” Absolutely!”
National Service Dog Month: The History
Courtesy: Natural Balance
This holiday in September was designated to bring more awareness of service animals and the important work they accomplish. What you may not know is that actor Dick Van Patten played a significant role in solidifying the importance of National Service Dog Month. In 2008, Van Patten was so impressed with the Guide Dogs of The Desert program in Palm Springs, California, that he launched a fundraising effort for their benefit (originally called National Guide Dog Month.) Van Patten also served as an honorary Board Member of this same organization and his company, Natural Balance Pet Foods, continued to support the promotion of National Guide Dog Month/National Service Dog Month. In 2010, the holiday was moved to September.
As the observance became more popular, organizations like Petco Foundation (enlisted by Van Patten) began to join the fundraising efforts. Later, many states (including California, Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, Nebraska and Illinois) began local versions of National Service Dog Month.
Service Dog Awareness Month: Present
Courtesy: Mobility Service Dogs
Today, observing National Service Dog Month not only raises awareness of both the dogs and those who need them but also highlights the many organizations and efforts promoting the use and acceptance of service animals in the United States.
Organizations like our own Mobility Service Dogs West Coast Project, help raise and train service dogs while also offering ongoing advocacy, education, training and support for their disabled communities. Like MSD, we all rely on the support and donations from our supporters to fulfill our mission of helping disabled people get the specially trained dogs they need to enjoy a full and independent life!
During Service Dog Awareness Month, please consider supporting these invaluable organizations with:
Financial donations/assistance (100% of our donations go directly to services.)
Purchasing products online.
Volunteering.
Puppy Raising.
Potential Partnerships.
Opportunities to help raise even more awareness.
Courtesy: Mobility Service Dogs
Remember, your donations and support make a huge difference in the lives of our dogs and humans! You will be proud of all your donation is doing for those living with disabilities in being able to navigate their world freely and independently!
See How YOUR Donation to MSD Can Help Change a Life HERE!
