Service Dog Script Resource

Ahh…… be careful what you call a ‘fake’ service dog. While some breeds are more common than others, any breed or mix of dog could potentially be a service dog if it has been trained for a task that helps its owner manage their illness or disability. You also don’t have the right to ask these people what their disability is, or necessarily what the dog is trained to do. (International laws will vary)

A service dog should always be under control of their handler and housebroken. If they are not, they may be either not a service dog, or still in training, in which case the owner is probably embarrassed by the whole thing.

If you are interested you could see @actuallyservicedogs for more information. Here is their FAQ.

Why shouldn’t service dogs become more common? If these animals are helpful and allow people greater mobility or interaction in the world, surely that’s a good thing.

In vet clinics in Australia, I see the occasional guide dog for the blind. They have a little extra paperwork I have to fill out because the organization that trained the dogs wants to keep tabs on them to ensure they’re in good health, but that has varied from state to state. I haven’t seen many other service animals myself, yet.

Emotional Support Animals is another matter. There are a few of these around, though owners wont always explain to you that this is the case. Sometimes these owners will come into the clinic with a friend who does most of the talking, and may be reluctant to let the animal go to the treatment room for a blood draw, even though the animal was totally chill with this. They often don’t want the animal to stay overnight.

As far as veterinary paperwork goes for GDB, at least, it depends on the local puppy raising chapter and veterinary relationship. For example, our club “highly recommends” using the same vet clinic for all our puppies. After 20+ years, they are familiar with the paperwork and are willing to directly bill GDB, know and understand the policies about maximum costs per visit, etc.

That said, it is not required, and many clubs allow their raisers to use whatever clinic they want. In this case, the paperwork may be more intensive because the clinic may not understand how to process payment through GDB, or they may require up-front payment from the raiser family and the raiser family then has to request a reimbursement from GDB.

So, yes, there is more paperwork, but it’s fairly straight-forward and, in many ways, similar to, say, insurance billing for a human.

As far as document retention, most vet clinics now have electronic documentation, so at the end of our raising experience, we simply request that they email all requisite documents to GDB. (The other nice thing about this is that we can get immediate consults between our GDB vet staff and local vet staff on bigger or more severe issues and they can all be looking at the same tests/results/pictures/etc at the same time.)

My instinct is to say yes. The legal definition of “disability” under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 is (paraphrased) “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities… include but not limited to caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working” and the requirement for a service dog is that the dog is trained in one or more tasks that directly relate to the disability.

In this case, the major tasks I see as being relevant are:

Brace & balance / brace & mobility work: The dog is trained to brace against a hard push or pressure so their handler can stand up, get into a wheelchair, or maintain their balance. The dog might also be trained to do things like drag a wheelchair, cane, or walker to their handler.

Keep in mind, for mobility work like this, both the dog and handler need to be trained. The dog needs to know how to brace in preparation for a hard push and the handler needs to learn where NOT to apply pressure on the dog’s body to prevent injury.

Picking stuff up: This one’s pretty self-evident, so I’ll include a rather adorable picture of Chance the diabetes alert chihuahua picking up a little bag with his human’s blood sugar testing gear.

I’m including this pic in part because it’s adorable (Chance is VERY proud he can pick stuff up and he enthusiastically will find this bag, keys, his leash – whatever) but in part because it demonstrates that even tiny dogs can do retrieves. When his handler isn’t sitting on a collapsed Goodwill couch that’s barely a foot off the ground, he’ll leap up into her lap to give her whatever he’s retrieving.

The obvious problem, though, is that Chance is like eight inches tall and his handler won’t always be sitting. But even when he picks stuff up off the floor and stands on his hind legs, he makes it easier for his handler to take it from him, rather than her having to bend all the way over or possibly drop to her knees to get something that’s fallen under a couch or table.

Bring stuff to their handler: Some service dogs will carry medication or medical devices (asthma inhaler, blood sugar testing kits, etc.) in their vests so their handlers have it whenever they leave the house. Other service dogs will be trained to open cupboards or even the fridge and retrieve medication or drinks (water bottles, please, and not beer!) so their handler can swallow pills.

Pushing buttons & flipping switches: Service dogs, especially tall ones, can be trained to turn lights on and off, ring doorbells, or even use emergency phones like this one.

As for organizations that provide training, I’m going to refer you to Canine Companions for Independence and Guide Dogs for the Blind as examples of reputable organizations that provide service dogs to handlers in need. (I know your character isn’t blind, but you can use GDB’s processes as another example of placement.)

Generally this requires an application, a home visit (so the organization can verify the dog will live in a safe environment), time spent on a waiting list, and time spent with trainers so the handler learns how to care for the dog, the laws and how to handle access challenges, and how to work with the dog in the real world.

(Tagging @fundaypuppy2k15 who may have more insight on this process.)

Keep in mind, there are incredibly disreputable “organizations” that are selling half-trained or even untrained so-called service dogs to people for tens of thousands of dollars. I’m not saying that every organization that charges a fee is disreputable – training a service dog can be VERY expensive – but…

Tagging on here with a couple other thoughts. One of our close partners in our local PNW area is Summit Assistance Dogs. Like CCI but much smaller, they are a group of local, devoted volunteers who purchase and evaluate their own dogs, provide disability-specific training, and then place with a partner based on their needs. Though a little difficult to find, there are a huge number of these kinds of very small operations available that are doing amazing work in very niche areas. I’d also take some time to just google around with “mobility assistance service dogs” and get a sense of what is available out there, what seems reputable (and not), maybe combine it with a search of the area your MC lives in?

Ahh…… be careful what you call a ‘fake’ service dog. While some breeds are more common than others, any breed or mix of dog could potentially be a service dog if it has been trained for a task that helps its owner manage their illness or disability. You also don’t have the right to ask these people what their disability is, or necessarily what the dog is trained to do. (International laws will vary)

A service dog should always be under control of their handler and housebroken. If they are not, they may be either not a service dog, or still in training, in which case the owner is probably embarrassed by the whole thing.

If you are interested you could see @actuallyservicedogs for more information. Here is their FAQ.

Why shouldn’t service dogs become more common? If these animals are helpful and allow people greater mobility or interaction in the world, surely that’s a good thing.

In vet clinics in Australia, I see the occasional guide dog for the blind. They have a little extra paperwork I have to fill out because the organization that trained the dogs wants to keep tabs on them to ensure they’re in good health, but that has varied from state to state. I haven’t seen many other service animals myself, yet.

Emotional Support Animals is another matter. There are a few of these around, though owners wont always explain to you that this is the case. Sometimes these owners will come into the clinic with a friend who does most of the talking, and may be reluctant to let the animal go to the treatment room for a blood draw, even though the animal was totally chill with this. They often don’t want the animal to stay overnight.

So you’re planning on including mature, dark themes in your work! Fantastic! Fiction is an awesome place to explore this kind of thing, and god knows I am a sucker for both writing and reading tragedy.

This is literally me:

[[4 panel comic with two people. 1: I love this character! 2: Me too! 1: I can’t wait to see this character… BLOODY, BROKEN, AND BRUISED. (1 is smiling, 2 is horrified). k009@tumblr (source)]]

But putting your readers through the wringer is very, very different from triggering a past trauma they’ve experienced.

So what exactly is a trigger?

A trigger is essentially (but not always) something that reminds someone of a past trauma. They can be virtually anything, as every trauma is uniquely experienced. Specific triggers may not make sense to other people. That doesn’t make them any less valid. See this post here for a really, really good example of this.

Even if it’s not a trigger of a past trauma, some people aren’t comfortable reading about certain topics. That’s why I call these warnings “Content Warnings.” You don’t have to be triggered by something to want to avoid it like the plague, and that’s perfectly fine.

Why should I use content warnings?

If you’re writing about a character going through a extremely graphic and traumatic experience, in my opinion, you have a duty to warn your audience about the content of your work.

Besides, you want your readers to enjoy your work, right? A lot of people with triggers (but not all) are going to be okay with triggering content if they are forewarned about it, and know that it’s coming. They can mentally prepare themselves and brace for impact. But if it comes out of the blue, WHAM. They aren’t expecting that content, and it can not only ruin the work for them, it can mess up their entire day. They probably won’t come back to reading your stuff, no matter how tastefully or respectfully it’s handled. 

So what should I do about it?

First off, if the platform you’re using to post your work uses a rating and/or tagging system, use it. Tag everything properly. 

If your platform doesn’t allow that, or you don’t want to “spoil” your work, put a link that says “For content warnings, click here,” and have that go to a page that lists the potential triggers in your work. People who don’t need content warnings won’t click it and won’t be spoiled; people who need them can click through and find out if they are gonna be okay with reading your work.

I also recommend putting some kind of warning in your description, such as “This work contains mature, violent, and/or traumatic content. Reader discretion is advised.”

What should I tag for?

Let’s find out after the jump! I’ll also give an example of what a properly, extensively tagged content warning list looks like from my own writing!

My book, CHANGE OF ADDRESS (which features a service dog for PTSD!), comes with no warnings and the following details -- though since there are potential spoilers, I’ll put it under a cut. :)

*hugs you and wraps you in a blanket burrito*

I’ve had days like that, so I sympathize! Drink tea (if you like tea), cuddle your SDiT, and remember that there are good days ahead.

And then save up your change to buy really big, giant, over-the-ear headphones so you can pretend to not hear those damn stories. :( :( :(

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This will be a sporadic series of posts, by various mods, covering things that we encounter in our everyday lives as service dog handlers. Hopefully it’ll inspire you to add these touches of realism to your writing!

~~~

Today’s planned tasks: Get breakfast, go to the dentist, return items to a store, go to the post office.

Today’s derailing events:

At breakfast, the waitress spent ten minutes talking to me about her dog training woes before taking my order or bringing me coffee.

Also, Bucky got up and tried to walk out from under the table three separate times. This was a sign that I should’ve cancelled my plans and gone home.

When trying to leave the restaurant, the cashier came out from behind the counter to admire Bucky. She didn’t touch him but she did get him even more riled up with her cooing and staring.

At the dentist’s office, Bucky wouldn’t settle. I ended up having to reschedule my appointment again. I’ve now had a temporary crown for two full months due to bad scheduling, Bucky’s emergency surgery, and his restlessness at the dentist’s office.

At the post office, the clerk asked questions about Bucky’s breed, age, and diet, then stopped my transaction so he could take out his phone and show me a picture of his chihuahua/pomeranian mix. He also told me stories of how she lets him know when she has to go out and when her water bowl is full.

Writing takeaway: There are no fast five-minute errands with a service dog. If your character has a service dog, show them bracing themselves for a frustrating trip and struggling to be polite to everyone who just wants to chat for a few minutes – those minutes add up!

You think you’re running a quick errand with your puppy in training to grab a gallon of milk at the grocery store?

Wrong. It’s going to take you 15 minutes just to walk through the store between managing and working with the dog and fielding questions, comments, and people interfering with the puppy. A young puppy may become overwhelmed to the point where you leave- without the milk. You may have to physically place yourself in front of the dog to block from people grabbing at the dog even when you ask and then explicitly tell them not to distract the puppy. Yesterday, the puppy I had with me up and decided to quit walking (I ended up carrying her out of where we were).

YES.

Writers, be aware that there’s this REALLY bizarre thing where people see you working with your dog and then feel compelled to tell you about how their dog -- who usually was a pet of an entirely different breed -- died.

This is incredibly traumatic to hear.

Sorry this took so long to answer! Your ask came right before the holidays, which turned into multiple surgeries, school, and other drama.

[[EDIT: Removed the cut because apparently Tumblr hates us. Sorry for the long post!]]

What if they needed the service dog because their powers could sometimes overwhelm them? They could help control powers, or help focus them. Like someone with super hearing who can’t filter out the many sounds they are hearing, so the dog alerts for screams, or common household sounds like doorbells and phones.

Something like familiars would be really helpful; some kind of bond between dog and handler that helped communicate needs. 

- mod @fundaypuppy2k15

Okay so I think this is a really interesting question to think of logistically. For example, if your character’s super power is flying, she would have to carry her dog whenever she flew (also, this would be a great place for a seizure detecting dog because I imagine that would be a very bad thing to happen while FLYING) so you would have to think about things like weight of the dog, safety - doggles! - and how cold it gets up high so lots of sweaters. Also does this flying character have super strength? Because if not, then out of necessity they will need a small service dog.

Or what about a character (good or bad) whose power is invisibility? A service dog is still going to be able to smell the handler and probably want to follow, so training the service dog to have a code word that means ‘Act like I’m still here’ so the character can do and do sneaky things would be such a cool element to add to the story.

Also dogs with powers! Okay so. Super strength/resilience would be awesome for a mobility dog to have because one of the issues is that while a dog can be trained to brace itself with warning. In the real world, if a handler suddenly collapses, we cannot hang onto our dogs because it would injure them. But a super dog with super strength would be very helpful for someone who had dizzy spells from medication or from POTS or a similar chronic illness. 

Another cool idea for service dog with powers would be telepathy. While this could be useful in any situation, it would be especially useful for characters who are non-verbal and/or deaf and would provide another way of communicating! And it doesn’t have to be words - feelings, pictures, smells would all be super cool. Imagine an autistic character with super-hearing who gets overwhelmed and their service dog sends them images of the ocean and the smell of salt water tohelp calm them down. 

I think whatever way you decide to take this, one of the really cool things is to figure out how the pairing works together, like the flying/seizure alert dog pair I mentioned. If a character can shapeshift, does their scent remain the same or do they have a codeword to let their dog know they are shifting? How does each pair communicate the logistics of their powers to the other? So much world-building fun right there! 

- mod @rescuetohero

I’d consider first where you want the line to be between “dog” and “super-powered creature shaped like a dog.”

In Supernatural S08E15 (Man’s Best Friend with Benefits), there’s a witch whose familiar is a doberman… who can shapeshift into a gorgeous human-looking woman. The two of them develop an, uh, unconventionally intimate relationship that eventually causes trouble with all their witchy friends. In human form, this familiar is a human, with speech, intelligence, etc. In dog form, she “can get a better read on people” (presumably through scent).

So, do you want your character’s service dog to be a DOG or a shapeshifted entity with the intelligence and self-awareness of a human? And at that point, is it ethical to use that creature as a service animal or are they then a (hopefully) paid caretaker?

For my answer, let’s assume you’re sticking with core doggie dogness – meaning an animal who’s been bred for the desire to socialize with/work with/please humans. If that’s the case, you need to look at the human’s disability. A medical alert dog might have a constant psychic link monitoring its human’s body chemistry and the psychic ability to sound an alarm in its human’s brain. A physical service dog might have stronger muscles and bones to help with brace and balance work. It might also have the ability to teleport or blink itself and its handler away from danger.

- mod @anauthorandherservicedog