The Road to Having a Service Dog
Service animals seem to have almost a mystic quality nowadays. There seem to be so many things that a dog can do to help their handlers daily. Over the last few years, I have seen such an uptick in the number of teams I have seen roaming about.
Being a member of so many online groups I see so many new people come into the groups asking, "how do I get a service dog?". Most are brand new to the idea of having a service dog and have not really researched how to qualify, or if they are qualified, for getting a service dog let alone the pros and cons of having one. So, that's what I am going to try to help with, based on what I have seen and gone through.
Please note: I live in the US so most of the things included here are specifically set for users within the US. As always make sure you double-check behind me, this is not intended to be legal advice, simply as a guide to help individual readers researching this subject.
Do you qualify to have a service dog?
To qualify for a service dog, you must be considered disabled as described through the ADA (American Disability Act).
In normal terms (Pulled from the ADA Statute):
The person must have an impairment that Substantially limits at least one Major life activity.
In layman's terms, you must have a substantial problem that you need help with and have an agreement with your doctor that a service dog would improve your quality of life.
NOTE: While the Doctor's Note is not a requirement for having a service dog (here in the US) I find it a very important step as it can ease many problems down the line. "Doctor's Letters for Service Dogs (United States)".
One thing I have found true within the service dog world is research is very important! Whether it is the multiple laws handlers must know, to what breed would be best, which trainer to use, what tasks would be best for you, Ad Infineum…
Fortunately, in today's age, we have so many good places for reference. Service dog groups on social media, the internet, and of course, this site can provide a wealth of information, especially for those who are just getting started on their journey.
One word of warning though, always remember that different people can tend to look at some service dog ideas through their rose-colored glasses and believe their way is the only way to look at some subjects. While doing your research try to verify your findings.
Another important subject that is often overlooked. Having a service dog is a lifelong commitment, not only for the handler but also for those close to the handler. Typically, the dog goes everywhere with its handler, it is the handler's medical device. We, prospective service dog handlers, tend to forget how this can impact the family dynamic. Things like vacations, date nights, school, work, and the like must all be taken into the equation on whether a service dog would be a good fit for you or not.
Medical Conversation
While service dogs are much more popular now, many medical professionals have very little to no experience with what they can provide. But, in my opinion, it is important to get them on board in including the dog as part of your ongoing therapy. This could be some research you must do to show the medical professional what a service dog could be able to provide for you. You may have to advocate for yourself. Thankfully there are now many studies that have been done on the advantages of service dogs.
Family Conversation
This is the one that, again in my opinion, is the most important when it comes to making sure everyone agrees. For me, this was a very long conversation that went on until a consensus was made between my wife and me.
My wife understood that a service dog would help me with my disabilities, but she is a planner and saw a lot of possible problems, from costs to care. We went through every item we could think of to make sure this was something we could both agree on. If this is something that we could not agree on then the answer for getting a service dog would have been "NO"!
Some things that I found helped me out with the pre-service dog conversations I have been a part of.
- Make your family part of the process and let them have some equity within the process.
- Take your family to your doctor's appointment and have the doctor help show the need. Third parties are always a great resource as they tend to not have any "skin in the game". Show the family your research on how a service dog can help you.
- Have solutions to arguments that will come up. What will we do with the dog when we go on vacation? What happens with the dog when you go to work or school? (Pro/Con lists?) Don't worry if you don't have an answer to a question, but make sure you figure it out and let the person know of the solution.
- Typically, this means some serious conversation time. Listen to what they have to say and take that into account, and they should be doing the same. Concessions may need to be made, but an agreement must be made.
- This communication should continue throughout the entire process of getting a service animal. No agreement means no service dog.
