Perhaps you have thought about getting a dog to help you, but, like me, did not know the difference between a service dog, support dog, or a protection dog. Let me define them for you. A Service Dog is a dog of any breed, and individually trained to do work, or perform tasks for a person with a disability. These disabilities include physical, sensory, psychological, intellectual or other mental disability, to accompany people with disabilities, in all areas where members of the public are allowed to go. Resource: ADA National Network, adata.org Service Animals. Initial costs for adopting a service dog can range between $10,000 and $30,000, with some dogs costing up to $50,000, depending on the type and skills they are trained to perform. Resource: The Cost of a Trained Service Dog. usserviceanimals.org Don’t stop reading even if you cannot afford this because later in my blog, I have given options where it may be possible to get a service dog free of charge. Support Animal is an animal that provides relief to individuals with “psychiatric disability through companionship.” They may be any type of pet and are not recognized as a type of service animal under the Americans with Disability Act. Resource: Wikipedia (ESA) I find it interesting that if legally recognized as an emotional support animal (ESA), you will not be charged a pet fee or a pet deposit. Resource: Where Can You Bring Emotional Support Animal? 2/5/23 Jillian Blume. ESA’s do not require specialized training. Protection Dog is a highly trained dog that is capable of protecting you from threats and which will keep you from being physically hurt by others. It is there keeping you safe from intruders in your car, going out for a walk making sure no one threatens you or abducts you in a parking structure, keeping you safe. Escorting you to and from your car. They are allowed on public transportation, buses, and trains, planes, boats, rail cars and subways. Resource: integrityk9services.com According to this resource they have full access to almost anywhere. Some sources say they are allowed on flights, others say they are not. Fully trained protection dogs generally cost $45,000 and $65,000 in total. Resource: https:??scottskp.com How Much Does a Protection Dog Cost?
During my research I have learned so much. I hope if you have ever desired information about dogs that can assist you, this information has further helped you know what it is you’re looking for and how much money you can plan on spending. I highly recommend reading this entire article, but here is some worthy information from it. Service dogs become an essential part of their handlers lives and support them during their daily life struggles. Mobility and balance tasks are often affected for people having brain injuries. A service dog can assist in so many areas such as: pulling a wheelchair, helping the handler to climb/go downstairs, transfer from one place to another, from one room to another, help a person when they have fallen to stay on their feet again, get in and out of a bathtub or shower, turning one on their back if they have fallen on their front. These dogs can be trained to pull heavy items, clean up items off the floor, carry grocery bags, unload the washer/dryer, turn lights on and off, open and close doors and drawers, and much more. Resource: Service Dogs Tasks, Dani Graymore, Sept 13, 2021. I feel like this is such a needed help for so many of us with balance and mobility problems, which so many of us having brain injuries suffer.
What is great is that although there are strict requirements, it takes time and work, an emotional support animal (ESA) can also be trained as a service dog. Always check with the airlines to find out if documentation is required to travel with your service dog. If a support animal becomes a service dog, a vest is not required, but is often helpful. Resource: Can an Emotional Support Animal Become a Service Animal? Zander Panford June 25, 2021
Since service dogs can be very expensive and many cannot afford to buy them, I went ahead to find out if and where they can be gotten for a lesser amount or even free of charge.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) pays for expenses if health insurance doesn’t. Since service or emotional support animals count as medical care, it covers them. However, some animals are ineligable. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they’re only service animals if they are dogs trained to perform disability-related tasks. Resource: FSA to pay for emotional support animal or service dog, benefitnews.com
The Assistance Dog United Campaign (ADUC) assists people who need an assistance dog but cannot raise the necessary funds themselves. ADUC is a health and human welfare organization. They seek to aid individuals with disabilities. They raise funds for assistance dog placements. Types of assistance dogs can be, but are not limited to, guide dogs, hearing dogs, service dogs, social or therapy dogs, psychiatric dogs, and seizure response dogs. Resource: Funding for Assistance Dogs https://assistancedogunitedcampaign.org
Paws with Cause provides service animals to assist with many types of disabilities. They provide the animals for free of charge based on prior donations. Unfortunately, this service dog may be from out of state, but you are required to pick it up. Thankfully there is something called Miracle Flights. They may be able to help you book a free flight to pick up your service dog and/or attend required training sessions. They serve people of all ages. Flights are limited to one disabled person and a caregiver. If the patient is a child, they may be able to provide fare for two parents if necessary. If they promise to deliver the trained animal to you, it is a scam. Do not pay an online service fee for an animal service letter. Also, a scam. Resource: How to Get a Service Animal for Free! Nicole Thelin Dec 13, 2018, updated: Feb 13, 2023.
Canine Companions places service dogs with military veterans and veterans with disabilities free of charge. Resource: Veterans Initiative service dogs for veterans with PTSD. Check into it.
I hope you have found this information helpful. Now, I too, am more educated about dogs for disabilities.
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Have a beautiful week!
Dawn Corbelli 