Seizure Alert/Response Dogs

 

ADA Guidelines (Outlined)

What are seizure dogs?          

Seizure dogs are dogs that have been trained to perform specific tasks during or after a seizure and/or alert to an oncoming seizure. There are two categories of seizure dogs; seizure alert dogs and seizure response dogs. The difference is that the alert dogs warn of impending seizure; the response dog is there to protect and assist during and after a seizure.

Seizure-Alert Dogs

Seizure-alert dogs have been trained to advise their companion of an oncoming seizure. These dogs typically will alert by exhibiting significant behavior changes such as circling, barking or pawing. Being responsive to the alerting behavior of the dog is an important component of a seizure-alert dog's effectiveness.

Seizure-Response Dogs

Seizure-response dogs have been trained to seek help for their companion during or after a seizure. However, one thing should remain clear - seizure-response dogs are not always seizure-alert dogs. They stay close for the seizure duration while their owner is most vulnerable. After the seizure, they can bring medications, a phone or a helper.

Identifying Preceding Signs of Seizure

There is no substantial research evidence to suggest animals can actually detect an oncoming seizure. There is, however, evidence that dogs can be trained to recognize specific changes in an owner's behavior and respond to those, according to the National Institutes of Health's abstract of an article by V. Strong, S.W. Brown and R. Walker (1999). The article on seizure-alert dogs reported on training successes in support animals and noted that Support Dogs, a charitable dog training agency, successfully trained animals to detect their owner's unique changes that signified an oncoming seizure. All individuals have specific seizure profiles that include preceding signs. Alert dogs may not be detecting the seizure, but instead are recognizing these changes in their companion's behavior and body. Some specific signs that may be detected by the animal include scent changes, speech differences, confusion and disorientation in their owner.

Cost and Training

Successfully training a seizure dog takes significant time, money and dedication. Though there are many service dog training facilities/organizations in the United States, not all of them work with seizure dogs. It can take up to two years to ready a seizure dog for the duties required. The amount of rigorous training involved drives the cost of these animals up, ranging from $10,000 to $25,000.

How to Find Seizure-Alert Dogs

To find a seizure-alert dog, contact organizations that train service dogs or, if you're an experienced dog trainer, consider training your own service dog.

Assess your specific needs. Some people with seizure disorders do not need seizure-alert dogs. Seizure-response dogs are more common and easier to train than seizure-alert dogs.

Contact organizations that train seizure alert dogs and pair them with human handlers. Organizations in this field include Little Angels Service Dogs, Canine Partners for Independence, Assistance Dogs International and Paws with a Cause.

Research the organizations that interest you. Use the internet to search for reviews from people who received seizure-alert dogs from these organizations. If you find a negative review that worries you, ask the organization for an official response.

Apply to be partnered with a seizure-alert dog. This will typically require an application, application fee, essay, references and proof of your ability to care for a dog. You may be required to participate in a phone or in-person interview and learn more about the organization’s operation. If you are accepted, you will need to attend training with your service dog and pay a fee that may range anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. Lastly, be prepared to have your name on a waiting list for a service dog. Waiting time could be a few months to 5 years or more, depending on the number of individuals being serviced by the organization.

Breeds

A good service dog is from a breed that is people-oriented, confident, easy to train, not protective and not overactive. While dogs from the working group are easy to train, they might be too overprotective to make the grade. The most commonly used breed for service dogs are Golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers, and with good reason. Other breeds can make excellent service dogs, according to Service Dogs America, although there are common traits that might make it difficult.

American Disabilities Act Recognition

There is not a national service dog certification awarded by the ADA. The ADA is very clear in its recognition of service dogs trained either professionally or by their owners. To qualify as a service dog and receive the full protection of the law, the owner must be legally defined as disabled and the dog must be trained to perform specific tasks to assist with that disability. Federal law does not require a service dog to be certified, but each individual state may have its own laws regarding this. Know your rights. According to the Department of Justice's Americans with Disabilities Act (revised March 15, 2011) the rule defines "service animal" as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The rule states that other animals, whether wild or domestic, do not qualify as service animals. Dogs that are not trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability, including dogs that are used purely for emotional support, are not service animals. The final rule also clarifies that individuals with mental disabilities who use service animals that are trained to perform a specific task are protected by the ADA. The rule permits the use of trained miniature horses as alternatives to dogs, subject to certain limitations. To allow flexibility in situations where using a horse would not be appropriate, the final rule does not include miniature horses in the definition of "service animal."

Training Standards

Service dog training includes three main areas; obedience, tasks and public access. In addition, a service dog must relieve himself on command and to ignore people while working. Each service dog must also be able to perform three tasks to assist with his owner's disability.

Certification

Your service dog can be certified after his training is complete. Again, certification is not required, but having your service dog identified as "certified" with the tags and harness can be helpful in public places. The Delta Society offers a list of training and certification programs. The certification evaluation should include the proof of your disability, testing your dog's manners, obedience and socialization skills; and demonstration of at least three tasks beneficial to your specific disability. Any certification program that does not include these standards could be unreliable.

Service Dog Self Certification

A dog with an appropriate temperament could become an effective service dog. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as "any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability ... regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government." Service dogs can be owner-trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, but it is recommended that a professional trainer certify your dog.

Choosing a Dog

Seek professional guidance when evaluating your pet or selecting the animal you plan to train as your service dog. Assistance dogs can begin as rescues or pets, or as dogs bred for this purpose, but not all dogs have the proper temperament. Your best bet is to either choose a puppy whose mother has the temperament for service work or choose an adult dog from a stable home environment that already has the right temperament.

Health and Temperament Screenings

The Delta Society explains that service dog candidates must pass entry screenings "for aptitude and health with consideration for age, physical soundness, soundness of temperament ... size, expected longevity and behavioral issues."

The dog must pass a physical exam performed by a veterinarian, be vaccinated, spayed or neutered, not underweight or overweight, physically suited to tasks and work conditions and have an expected working life of at least six years.

The dog must be screened for temperament appropriate to required tasks and working conditions. Service dogs should be confident, friendly, but not overly so, be willing to interact with people in unfamiliar environments, not have inappropriate fear reactions to ordinary experiences and not be excessively submissive or assertive.

Obedience Training and Owner Training for Self Certification

An owner trained and self-certified service dog has the same access rights as a dog from a service dog program. Even if you have trained dogs before, you should work with a professional dog trainer or participate in a program that helps you train your own service dog. Complete professionally supervised obedience and socialization classes. Service dogs must receive training in three areas--obedience, tasks and public access. The dog must never exhibit behaviors such as aggression, inappropriate barking, biting, snapping, growling, begging or inappropriate jumping on or sniffing people.

Paperwork and Proof

Proof of certification is not required in the United States and many states lack training programs for certification. The Department of Justice uses an "honor system." The primary way to differentiate between a service dog and a pet according to the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners is that the service dog must be trained to perform on command to assist a disabled person, rather than certification ID. Under the ADA section 35.136 Service Animals "A public entity shall not require documentation, such as proof that an animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal."

Service Dog Requirements in California

Assistance dogs, sometimes called service dogs, assist individuals who have physical disabilities. In California, specific laws have been enacted to assist those who use a service animal. The California Penal Code provides regulations for service dog, specifying when and where the dogs may be used.

Identification Requirements

According to California Penal Code 30850, service dog must have a service dog identification tag verifying that the animal has been properly trained as a service dog. Tags may be applied for at the county clerk's office or at the animal control department. The law further states that identification tags must be returned after the death of a service dog.

Location Requirements

According to the California Penal Code, disabled people with service dogs may not be refused access to a "common carrier, airplane, motor vehicle, railway train, motor bus, streetcar, boat, or any other public conveyance or mode of transportation operating within this state." Furthermore, service dog owners may not be refused admittance to hotels, facilities, schools, amusement parks, resorts or any other place that accepts the public. The owner cannot be assessed additional charges because of the animal. Any business or person who refuses access may be found guilty of a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $2,500.

Rental Requirements

Rental agencies are not permitted to refuse accommodations to disabled individuals on the basis of their assistance animals. Reasonable modification, at the lessee's expense, may not be refused, though fees may be assessed for removal of modifications at the end of the lease. If an individual with a disability has additional animals that are not classified for assistance, then fees may be charged, or the individual may be refused the rental if a "no pet" policy is in place.

Liability Requirements

Although individuals with assistance animals may not be refused accommodations or services available to the general public, that does not mean that this individual is not liable for any damages caused by a service animal. Businesses are not responsible for providing additional accommodations that would not be offered to regular guests.

How to apply for a California Assistance Dog Tag

Service dogs are trained to do a variety of tasks that are of benefit to their disabled partners. If you live in California, are disabled and use the services of a service dog you can receive your dog license in the form of the California Assistance Dog tag at no cost.

According to federal guidelines your assistance dog or service dog is classified as "durable medical equipment" this means that your local animal control agency (no matter what state you are in) cannot charge you a fee to license your assistance dog!

If you are not required to register and pay a fee for your wheelchair, walker or cane you cannot be required to register or pay a fee for your assistance dog!

Tag Application Instructions

You may be required to prove you are disabled in order to qualify for a free license from animal control for your service dog.

Go to your local animal control office with your service dog's rabies certificate and ask to fill out their application for an service dog tag.

Some animal control agencies are not as well informed of the laws pertaining to service dog as other agencies are, so do not be surprised if they seem totally clueless here.

The animal regulation code that orders them to comply with this regulation is the California health and safety code 30852. Assistance dog tag; use by person with disability or trainer; shape, size and color

(a) The tag identifying a dog as an service dog shall be used only by a person with a disability or a trainer of an service dog and shall be of such uniform statewide shape, size, and color as to be easily recognized.

(b) The Department of Food and Agriculture, in consultation with the State Department of Health Services, shall specify the shape, size, and color of the tags. This subdivision shall not be subject to the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Fill out the affidavit that states that you are disabled and that your dog is your service dog.

California Penal Code section 365.7 states that any person who knowingly and fraudulently represents themselves to be the owner or trainer of any canine licensed as an assistance dog, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Your local animal control agency can ask for proof of disability, if you have disabled license plates for your car or a disabled parking placard you can show this or give them a photocopy to meet this requirement.

You should never disclose your particular medical condition. If you receive SSDI you can show proof of disability by showing them your award letter.

You may also show proof by having a prescription by your doctor for your service dog.

They are also permitted to ask you what tasks your Service Dog does for you. You do not need to give any information that identifies your specific medical condition.

To meet this requirement you can tell them that your dog alerts you to a change in your medical condition, picks up dropped items, provides mobility support and balance assistance, carries objects for you, opens doors, etc.,

How to Register Your Dog as a Service Dog

A service dog is a canine that has been trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate its owner's disabilities. These tasks can range from guiding a blind person to alerting a deaf person to a ringing door bell. They can also include picking something up for a person with a mobility disorder or alerting an epileptic to an oncoming seizure. While there is no officially recognized way to register your dog as a service dog, you can take steps to make sure it qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Registration Instructions

Ensure that your service dog has had proper training. This includes learning specific tasks to mitigate your disability as well as proper manners for being out in public places. Even if your dog performs an important task for you, business owners can ask you to remove it if the dog is causing a problem as a result of bad behavior.

Be prepared to explain the task that your service dog is trained to perform. Under the ADA, you don't have to disclose the nature of your disability. However, you can be asked to disclose your service dog's specific task. If you don't want to repeat it frequently, have business cards printed up that explain the task your dog performs. When asked, simply hand one to the business owner or other person requesting the information.

Purchase or make a service dog vest for your dog. Even though vests are not legally required to identify an animal as a service dog, they often give it an appearance of legitimacy. Because there is no official registration for service dogs, you can purchase a vest from any vendor or simply make one yourself.

Register your service dog with a free registration organization. These organizations will provide an official-looking registration card or letter and information on service dog rights. Some provide other materials such as a service dog tag or vest, but these typically charge a fee. Beware of registries that will provide credentials for any dog without proof that it is a legitimate task-performing service dog, and don't pay a fee unless you are purchasing additional materials like a vest or tag.

Find a training program. In every state, there are various training programs for service dogs. These are different from obedience or other training sessions that a family pet may undergo and focuses on helping your dog become a working animal.

Designate your dog. Though there are no universally agreed to methods to designate your dog as a service animal, you may find it convenient to purchase a special harness that helps your dog assist you as well as offers a way for business owners and other people to identify your dog as a service animal and not a pet.

*PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE ARE GUIDELINES ONLY AND VERIFIED FOR CALIFORNIA. YOU WILL NEED TO VERIFY THE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS GOVERNING YOUR OWN STATE.