It's September! Let's Talk About Service Dogs!
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Happy National Service Dog month!
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I don't have a service dog... but being the crazy dog lady that I am, I've always been so intrigued by the extraordinaryĀ service and value they bring into the lives of their handlers.Ā
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To recognize these wonderful dogs and spread awareness, I invite you to learnĀ a little bit more about Riley!
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Riley is an 8 month old Golden Retriever, who loves to swim and get spoiled with peanut butter. But aside from enjoying treats and doing dog-ish activities š¾, she also has a full time job!
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Riley is aĀ multipurpose service dog who is skilled at providing services such as medicalĀ alerts, item retrieval, crowd control, light mobility work, and faint responses. A common misconception is thatĀ service dogs only aid people who are blind, deaf, or in a wheelchair. But this is only partially true because disabilities come in many forms and are not always visible!Ā
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"They are much more then dogs, they are medical equipment that help us gain back our independence & sense of reassurance with the world. They save lifeās everyday in such a big way that people donāt understand thatās why I encourage you to spread awareness." - Riley's Mom
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So next time, think twice about petting a service dog, as you may be jeopardizing the safety of their handler. Ā I know... itāsĀ so tempting when they look so friendly and cute, but please refrain! š« Ā Ā
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Unfortunately, there are also incidents where people disguise non-serviceĀ dogs in service dog vests to sneak them into places in which they are not normally allowed. š Not only do non-serviceĀ dogsĀ cause disruptions in these situations, but each time it happens, business owners will be more reluctant to accept real service dogs on their premises.Ā Pretending to have a service dog is not only disrespectful, but it is making the lives of people who rely onĀ real service dogs so much more difficult.
We hope by spreading awareness, people will realize the how these actions can affect others. So let's...
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be mindful
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be kind.
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IfĀ you are asĀ fascinated as I am by gifted dogs like Riley, follow herĀ on InstagramĀ
@goldenlovve_Ā to learn more about her journey!Ā Ā
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