Assisting People with Disabilities for over 27 years! Winter 2007, Volume 6
For a copy of the newsletter, please call 516-796-0144 or e-mail us at: licil@aol.com
Ever wonder to yourself if you would be a good candidate for a Service Dog? Odds are you would be! Service dogs help people who use wheelchairs/scooters and walkers/crutches and canes. Service Dogs help people who have epilepsy and seizure disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, ALS, Parkinson’s disease and arthritis. They can help people who have a hard time bending over, walking or managing stairs, or manipulating their limbs easily. If you have difficulty with your fine or gross motor skills, A Service Dog may be just the partner you need. Ditto, if you get tired quickly. Most important, a Service Dog can reduce the physical and mental stressors to the body which keeps people healthier and out of the hospital.
As you can see, there are many reasons a Service Dog can make a difference in the quality of your life. Here are some more reasons that Service Dog recipients shared with Canine Partners For Life:
- “To become more independent.”
- “To have a reason to get out of bed in the morning.”
- “To feel safe.”
- “To not feel lonely.”
- “To be able to do things myself without having to ask someone else.”
- “To have someone who will love me no matter what I look like or sound like.”
- “To get more out of each day.”
- “To be less tired and fatigued.”
- “To have less wear and tear on my body.”
- “To get out more.”
- “To have a social ice breaker because people are scared or intimidated by my
disability.”
- “To relieve some of the pain.”
- “To enjoy more activities.”
- “To go back to school.”
- “To get a job.”
- “To start doing some of the things I used to do again.”
Service dog partnership is a two-way commitment! A Service Dog has the legal right to go with you wherever you go – and whatever you do. By being with their partner at all times, the dog is available to help in any and all situations and environments.
Service Dog partners have found that this changes their lives in a meaningful and positive way. They are more confident and independent. They are willing to go places, and do things that they haven’t done.
As with any partnership (spouse, parent, etc.), there must be a mutual commitment and responsibility. Service Dogs are not robots, they are dogs. They need love, care and ongoing training. They have good days and bad days just like people do. That can sometimes be a challenge. Understand all that and your partnership with a Service Dog will be rewarding.
If you want to partner up with a Service Dog, or if you are considering it, or have questions, you can call Canine Partners For Life at 610-869-4902 or go to their website at www.k94life.org.
What’s your reason to partner up with a dog?