This site, ServiceDawgs.org, is slanted toward Service Dogs who live in the Southern states of the US. However, the vast majority of the information is useful for Service Dogs who live elsewhere in the US.
With that in mind, this site is still growing and being almost constantly changed. I suggest you not bookmark other pages at this time, and instead check here or the site update log for new or changed pages.
With tornado season upon us and hurricane season just around the corner, this is the best time to share information concerning emergency prepardness for our animals.
NC Dept. of Crime Control and PreventionNational:
- Friends of Animals - Disaster plans by state
- American Veterinary Medical Association - Saving the Whole Family
- Humane Society of the United States - HSUS Disaster Center
- American Humane Society - Animal Emergency Services
- Petfinder.com Library - Disaster Planning
- ASPCA - Emergency Pet Preparedness (>>get free rescue sticker<<)
FEMA:
In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed and turned into law. A Federal law that was to ensure the civil rights of equal access to persons with disabilities. Fourteen years later, the law still exists but equal access does not. But that's another discussion....
The ADA allowed equal access for persons with disabilites including those who are blind, deaf, and/or mobility 'challenged'. Part of that access was extended to include their Service Animals. While the law does say 'Service Animal', it has become the norm for that animal to be a dog. Now, there are Guide Miniature Horses and there are indeed a cat or two that has been trained to assist the person with a disability, but this site will focus on the Service Dogs (SD). That focus is specifically toward Service Dogs in the South - or Service Dawgs.
I must admit that I have a bias toward SDs that have been trained individually by their owner/handler but I will provide information on how to obtain a dog through an agency. My own SD, Joella, was trained by me using positive reinforcement. She has learned many tasks as well as a trick or two.
There are other laws that cover access to SDs and I will provide that information as soon as I can pull it together. For example, the ADA does not apply to housing. Instead, that is under the Fair Housing Act. State and Federal businesses, in most cases, do not have to comply with the ADA but with Section 504: Rehabilitiation Act of 1973. In most regards, the Rehab Act allows more civil rights to persons with disabilities than the ADA.
If you have any questions or suggestions about this website and its purpose, please let me know.
Got links, ideas, photos, whatever? Contact the webmaster.
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