With Child Allergies on the Rise – Special Service dogs track allergens to keep kids safe
Written by Tom F.
Service dog vest says "Do Not Pet" because he's on the job.
The number and variety of disciplines or fields that service dogs are being trained in is amazing. Remember when the only service dogs were guide dogs for the sight impaired?
The other day I was in one of the big box stores and there was a lady with her Chihuahua. She said it was trained for alerting her of an impending medical condition. My first thought was she just wanted her dog with her all the time and was using that for an excuse. So, since my skepticism was obvious, my wife suggested I research service dogs and I have.
First, I believe that dogs are smart enough to be trained in areas that humans can’t be. I also have first hand experience that tells me dogs have compassion for humans and other animals. I still have a strong feeling that the lady at the big box store was being less than honest about her situation. Not that Chihuahua’s can’t be trained for medical alerts, but the specific condition she talked about was somewhat dubious.
I know this is a long way around to saying this, but in my research I found that you could buy a service dog vest and documentation online with ZERO qualifications! What a quandary. We need service dogs of all types. We want the alerts, guidance and life saving protection these well-trained animals provide. How can we regulate who gets the help from these wonderful dogs as they go to public places and who has to leave them at home?
The government has passed laws concerning this very important service dog issue (ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act), but there are so many variables and no hard-line rules. What are we to do? The following article shows some of the amazing things these service dogs do and also the obstacles some people go through to protect their loved ones.
State and federal agencies do not track the number of allergy-specific service dogs in the nation, but handlers and trainers say they’re fielding more inquiries and orders in recent years. They attribute it to a growing awareness about the allergy-sniffing dogs and an increase in peanut allergies among many of today’s children.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates four of every 100 children have a food allergy, and says rates are highest among preschool-age children. It’s also growing quickly: From 1997 to 2007, food allergies increased 18 percent among American children under 18 years old, though researchers haven’t conclusively determined why. ~ Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/news/health/2011/06/special-dogs-track-allergens-keep-kids-safe#ixzz1PC53GrMN
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Filed under: Service Dogs
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It is interesting that you posted this article today. I had a conversation yesterday with a friend about service dogs that notify their human friend of a large variety of impending health conditions. There seems to be more and more stories in the news, on NatGeo and Animal Planet about these amazing animals. Great story, thanks for sharing.
A fine post by every standards, but i had exptected a more personal interaction on your part, as in where you express your detailed opinion as well, but each person has a different style of expressing,hence its fine.