BACKGROUND: Assistance dogs are trained to provide specific services to their partners. According to Assistance Dogs International there are three types of assistance dogs: Guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired, hearing dogs for the deaf, and service dogs for people with disabilities other than vision and hearing. Guide dogs have been trained the longest, formally for over 70 years. Training dogs for physically and mentally disabled people is a recent concept. Assistance dogs come from breeder volunteer puppy raisers, who take care of them until they are ready to start helping people. In some cases, assistance dogs are rescued from animal shelters.
MEET THE DOGS: There are many different breeds of assistance dogs. However, the most popular dogs are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds. Training these dogs takes about two to three months and they’re taught to have the best manners, and how to respond to commands, and how NOT to respond to unsafe commands. In most countries around the world assistance dogs are guaranteed legal access to all public places and modes of transportation.
(SOURCE: www.assistancedogsinternational.org)
ABOUT THE EXAM: Service dogs are known to be the eyes for their owner; their performance depends on their vision. This year, ACVO held its 4th annual ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event to help serve these dogs who dedicate their lives to serving the public. Search and rescue, guide, mobility, and police dogs are all eligible for the free eye exam. More than 180 board certified ophthalmologists are proving the sight-saving exams to the thousands of registered dogs. Last year, the examination helped more than 3,200 active service dogs.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The veterinarians will look for problems including: redness, squinting, cloudy corneas, retinal disease, early cataracts and other serious abnormalities. Early detection and treatment for these working dogs is crucial. (SOURCE: www.acvoeyeexam.org)
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: First, the dogs must be active 'working dogs' that were certified by a formal training program or organization or are currently enrolled in a formal training program to qualify. The certifying organization could be national, regional or local. The owner can register their dog online at
www.acvoeyeexam.org. They will be allowed access to a list of participating ophthalmologists in their area.
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