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Service Dogs

We give thanks this month, as we should every month, to animals that provide service to us humans. It is easy enough to purchase official-looking vests and patches online, but can be difficult to know the difference between the classifications of animals that provide us with such valuable assistance. What training does it take to be a therapy dog?  A service dog?  The information below will help clarify these differences. 

Canine Good Citizens
The  AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program  was started in 1989 and designed to reward good manners at home and in the community. It is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and good manners for dogs. There is a 10-step test. The CGC Program is the foundation for other AKC activities such as obedience, agility, tracking and performance events. Amador shelter dogs that go through the Karma Rescue/Paws for Life Prison Program earn CGC certificates. 

Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are not the same as service dogs. Therapy dogs go with their owners to schools, hospitals, libraries, nursing homes and other community locations. They do not have the same access as service dogs. AKC therapy dog titles are earned by dogs that have been certified by AKC-recognized therapy dog organizations.  Most, if not all, therapy dogs have earned a GCC certificate or met the standards of the GCC program. Specifically-trained dogs who work with a professional’s clients or residents, such as live-in dog at a nursing home, are therapy dogs.

Service Dogs
Service dogs are intensively trained to perform specific tasks to help a person with a disability or condition. There are many different types of service dogs:
  • Visual or hearing-impaired assistance dogs
  • Dogs that provide assistance with a medical condition such as seizure and diabetic alert dogs, psychiatric service dogs, etc.

Search and Rescue (SAR) Dogs
SAR dogs are used in wilderness tracking, mass casualty events and natural disasters and to search for missing people. There are three types of SAR dogs:
  • Air-scenting (to locate humans in general)
  • Trailing (following the scent of a specific person)
  • Following ground disturbances

What are NOT “service animals”?
Emotional Support Animals work with an individual who needs comfort. There is no required specialized training, has no public access, and can be any species.

Courthouse Companions are trained to work with children or adults in a courtroom setting while giving potentially difficult testimony. It helps lower tension, provide distraction, and give support. Amador County has a courthouse companion.

Fake Service Dogs: Dozens of organizations, such as the U.S. Dog Registry, claim to offer registry, certification, licenses, or other documentation for service dogs. These are all scams. If someone does not have a disability, he/she does not qualify for a service dog.  No equipment--vest, harness, ID card, patch or anything else can make your dog a service dog unless you are disabled and your dog has been specifically trained to perform tasks or work that you would have difficulty doing because of your disability. Be aware that in California there is a $1,000 penalty and six months in jail for pet owners who falsely imply that their animal is a service dog.
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Search
  • Home
    • SiteMap
  • APAL
    • A-PAL History >
      • A-PAL Humane Society Leadership Team
      • APAL Leadership Opportunities
    • APAL Programs >
      • Save the Kittens
      • Spay or Neuter
      • Second Chance K9 >
        • TCK9-2014 Graduates
      • Community Cats >
        • Understanding Feral Cats
        • How to Trap a Feral Cat
      • Special Needs >
        • Special Needs Stories
      • Adopt a Friend
      • Trap-Neuter-Return
      • APAL Tracking Our Progress
    • Support A-PAL >
      • Volunteer for APAL
      • Foster for A-Pal
      • Donate to A-PAL >
        • Donate your Car
        • Giving Tuesday 2020
      • A-PAL Wish List
      • A-PAL Facility Sponsor
    • APAL Events >
      • APAL Calendar
      • APAL Past Events >
        • SantaPaws2019
        • Bark in the Park 2019
        • Whiskers and Wine 2017
        • Whiskers and Wine 2014
        • Bark in the Park 2014
        • Whiskers and Wine 2015
        • Bark In The Park 2015
        • Maui Raffle
        • Santa Paws 2015
    • Partners >
      • Shelter Partners >
        • Shelter Partners on TSPN
        • Dec14News-PitBulls
        • Jan15News-Excel
        • Feb15News-BenefitsOfPets
        • Feb15News-HarmfulAlgaeBlooms
        • Mar15News-Hoarding
        • Apr15News-TNR
        • Sep15News-QAMargeB
        • Oct15News-ButteFire
        • Oct15News-Bats
        • Nov15News-SeparationAnxiety
        • Dec15News-Tips4Treats
        • Jan16-Volunteer
        • Apr16-TNR
        • July16News-Center
        • Sep16News-ACART
        • Nov17News-ServiceDogs
      • ACART >
        • Prepare
        • Volunteer
        • ACART Annual Banquet
        • ACART Wish List
  • TCWC
    • Find an animal in need? >
      • Audio Wildlife Tips
      • WhereAreWe
    • TCWC History >
      • TCWC Leadership Team
      • TCWC Leadership Opportunities
    • Wildlife Programs >
      • Education >
        • TCWC Education Events >
          • TCWC Education Animals
        • WildlifeSavesUs
        • Living Wildlife Friendly >
          • Songbird Concert Tips
          • Holiday Trash
          • Alert Your Birds
          • Water to Help the Critters!
          • Bread is for Sandwiches
          • No Dogs Allowed
          • Repurpose to Feed the Birds
          • GoNative
          • Netting It Out
          • Balloons
          • E-Waste
          • Organic Food
          • AllThatGlitters
          • Fly Strips and Glue Traps
          • Toxic Household Products
          • Recycling Pumpkins
          • Tree Trimming Tips
          • Saving Venomous Species
        • Nuisance Wildlife >
          • Nuisance-SayNoToTrapping
          • Foxlights
          • Wildproof Your Home
        • Gold Country Critters
        • Keep Them Wild and Free
        • TCWC Videos
        • Points to Ponder
      • TCWC-Tracking Our Progress >
        • TCWC 2014 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2015 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2016 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2017 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2018 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2019 Impact Report
      • TCWC Patients >
        • Success Stories >
          • 1 - Opossum Call
          • 2 - Raccoon Behind the Grill!
          • 3 - Saving a Raven
          • LongTripHome
          • Anita's Bird Comes Home
          • College the Wild Way
          • Releases
        • TCWC Critter Show
    • TCWC Events >
      • TCWC Calendar >
        • GivingTuesday2020
        • TCWC-WildlifeClasses2020
        • TCWC-WildlifeWorkshop2020
        • Paws&Claws2020
      • Past TCWC Events >
        • Paws & Claws 2019
        • No Dinner-Dinner
        • Paws&Claws 2018
        • AnimalScapes
        • Paws & Claws 2016
        • TCWC Grand Opening
        • Wildlife Workshop 2014
        • Paws & Claws 2014
        • Hot Rod Heaven 2014
        • Paws & Claws 2015
        • Paws&Claws2017
        • Paws&Claws2018
        • TCWC-No Shower Baby Shower
    • Support TCWC >
      • Giving >
        • Shop-Create
        • TCWC Wish List
        • Donate to TCWC >
          • DonateCarToTCWC
      • Volunteer at TCWC
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      • Sponsor a TCWC Critter
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • Paws News
    • PawsPartners Social Feed
    • Newsletters >
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      • ShelterPartnersNews
    • Blog
  • Gratitude
    • TCWC-Gratitude >
      • BusinessSupporters
      • Our Volunteers
      • InMemoriam >
        • Cockrill
        • Glenyce
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliations
    • Links >
      • ContentSubmissionForm
    • Critter Chronicles >
      • Watson
      • Don't Fawn!
      • Art - the Cooper's Hawk
      • Mugsy-CommunityCat
      • Trash Kitty!
      • Gretchen&Ginger
      • MajesticBird
      • DuckTherapy
      • MrJunco
      • TheOddCouple
      • The Twins
      • WillToSurvive
      • MeetMandy
      • Furrever - Chloe
      • Charlie the Corgi
    • Kids
    • Shop >
      • Learn More >
        • Promote Our Store
        • Submit Art
      • Volunteer Gear
      • Shop These Stores
      • Shop PawsPartners
      • Shop TCWC
      • Shop A-PAL Humane Society
    • Site Credits