Few dogs are suited to life as a service dog, whether it’s as a guide dog for the visually impaired, a medical alert dog, or a psychiatric service dog. Therefore, service dog organizations need to be very particular about which dogs enter their programs. Despite that, many of the dogs that enter service dog […]

The people of Indianapolis had an extra special Valentine's Day this year as service dogs from an organization called ICAN delivered nearly 650 gift boxes to local businesses. The ICAN service dogs are trained by inmates from three different prisons in the Indianapolis area. The dogs are trained to help people with a range of […]

By now, I’m certain you’re sick of presidential politics and want this election to be over. Enter a welcome distraction: "Secret Service Dogs: The Heroes Who Protect the President of the United States" by Maria Goodavage, a New York Times bestseller. This insightful read serves up plenty of brief, punchy slices of dog life that […]

At six prisons in New York and New Jersey, inmates can participate in a program where they learn to train purpose-bred Labrador Retrievers to become service dogs for veterans and explosive detection dogs for law enforcement. But as much as the inmates are helping train the dogs, the dogs are teaching the inmates responsibility and helping them gain a sense of self. […]

A Maryland Senate Committee is scheduled to consider a bill on February 11 that will provide further protections for owners of service animals.  Senate Bill 264 creates two new provisions that would protect service dogs and their owners.  It amends the crime of aggravated cruelty to state that a person may not intentionally inflict bodily […]

Would you lie to get a handicapped parking placard? Would you fake an injury that required the use of a wheelchair to obtain special services? Would you feign a life-threatening illness to qualify for a Make-A-Wish trip? Most people would never do these things because they harm those who are truly disabled and need special […]

Would you lie to get a handicapped parking placard? Would you fake an injury that required the use of a wheelchair to obtain special services? Would you feign a life-threatening illness to qualify for a Make-A-Wish trip? Most people would never do these things because they harm those who are truly disabled and need special […]

Kallie, a psychiatric service dog, and Rio, a puppy in training to become a service dog, go on an outing to Walmart to work on their training. Rio is a Labrador Retriever, and Kallie is a Border Collie/Cattle Dog mix.

“I’m happiest in the month of May,” says Nancy Bromberg, a veterinary ophthalmologist in Fairfax, Virginia. It’s not the spring flowers or nicer weather that warms Dr. Bromberg’s heart, though. It’s the ACVO/StokesRx National Service Animal Eye Exam Event that has taken place every May for the past eight years. The program provides screening eye exams […]

By Jamie Williams  People frequently ask why many service dog organizations provide purpose-bred dogs to their clients, as opposed to training rescued or shelter dogs. We talked to Molly Morelli, Warrior Canine Connection’s (WCC) Dog Program Manager about this topic. "While a majority of dogs put up for adoption make wonderful pets, there are a number […]