Andrew and I recently took a quick trip to attend a marvelous fund raiser for Genesis Assistance Dogs, Inc. We decided to stay overnight at a hotel close to the venue. It was at the hotel that we encountered a fake assistance dog in Florida. Upon entering the hotel with Motive at my side (Andrew […]
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Can I pet your dog? One of the most frequently asked questions of people accompanied by their mobility assistance dogs in Florida is “Can I pet your dog?” While the impulse for most handlers is to be polite and generously give permission for the person to approach and pet their assistance dog that is typically […]
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Public awareness of the assistance that highly trained dogs can provide to people with disabilities is vastly increasing. The need for service dogs in Florida is rising almost exponentially. Unfortunately, the availability of service dogs in Florida is not keeping pace with the demand. If you have ever considered becoming a puppy raiser to help […]
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All dogs love treats; we’ve yet to meet a dog who doesn’t. That doesn’t mean their human companions should indulge them frequently. Many pet parents, while having the best of intentions, tend to grab the first box of dog bones or chewy treats they see at the supermarket or pet store. Most don’t stop to […]
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Living with an assistance dog in Florida poses a unique challenge not necessarily posed to assistance dogs in other parts of the country. As we enter into the hot and steamy summer months it’s important to once again remember, that service dogs are not indestructible creatures and that they can just as easily succumb to […]
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While we love to think of our assistance dogs in Florida as being indestructible because of the wonderful and loyal support they provide, the truth is that service dogs can easily succumb to illness and injury if they ingest the wrong foods. While it is truly difficult to ignore the impulse to “reward” your companion […]
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The need for service dogs in Florida is increasing almost exponentially with the help of media stories about the wonderful support they provide their companions. The Invictus Games even held a special event for service dogs to swim alongside their partners and the entire world was watching. With the public’s awareness of the positive support […]
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You discussed it with your physician. You discussed it with your family. You researched organizations and decided to apply for an assistance dog in Florida. You made it to the waiting list and waited anywhere from 3 – 5 years. The call came. You met your future partner. You attended weeks of training and the […]
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Two of the many challenges you will experience out in public with your assistance dogs in Florida are: (a) interacting with people who aren’t aware of common courtesy and (b) folks who have no clue about ADA guidelines regarding service animals. Aside from the plethora of people who gawk, want to pet your dog, recoil […]
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If you’ve been thinking that a service dog in Florida would be helpful to your daily living routine no doubt you have begun researching organizations that provide assistance animals. You’ve probably also discovered that the wait lists are long and that some organizations charge a fee. So now you are wondering if it would be […]
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