Service Dog Certification and Registration
Service dogs undergo extensive training to properly perform their designated tasks, but without such thing as service dog certification, or even there being an official registry of service dogs, there exists no such thing as legitimate service dog certification. Unfortunately, many dog owners fall victim to this scam and believe that they can easily certify their dog as a therapy animal in order to skirt all the regulations surrounding service animals. To be honest, it is not quite that easy. Many organizations and individuals exist with an agenda to make a profit by putting on a show of pretending to care about animals when in reality they have no interest whatsoever. The government has been slow to react to this issue because they don’t want to alienate any of their potential customers who wish to better understand the responsibilities of owning a pet.
There are many things you should keep in mind when deciding whether or not your dog needs service dog certification. First, you need to understand that the dogs that assist people with disabilities will most likely be working dogs. They are not pleasure pets that enjoy cuddling up to everyone and playing fetch. Second, you also need to realize that there are different levels of certifications. There is the International Society for Therapy and Rehabilitation of Animals (ISAR) certification, which is given by the Canadian Pet Insurance Corporation (CPIC). There is also the American Kennel Club (AKC) dog badge which can only be issued by the AKC-approved veterinarian in your area.
While dogs with disabilities may be allowed to participate in some activities with other dogs, they are not entitled to receive any kind of monetary compensation or benefits under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Rather than allowing dogs with disabilities to participate in sporting events or other activities with other animals, the United States Department of Education requires schools to accommodate their disability as much as possible. If you want to allow your four-legged friend to participate in extracurricular activities, you must meet the special needs of your pet. This includes feeding, grooming and shelter. For example, if your dog has a physical disability that requires special feeding or access to a feeder, you will need to provide these services for your pet on an equal basis to those of other children.
In addition to providing their four-legged friend with care and assistance, owners of service dogs or guide dogs must maintain regular training for their pets. To maintain its bond with its owner, a service dog or guide dog must know to stop and stay for a person who is in distress. To teach dogs to understand human behavior and not to bite, professional service dog training courses provide mock service dog certification. When service dogs successfully complete the training, they are awarded service dog certification.
For owners who do not want to obtain service dog certification or fake identification cards, it is advisable to look into other options, such as pet id cards. Although these do not provide information about the owner’s service dog, they do help prevent fraud. Pet id cards do not need a photograph. The number of animals displayed on the card and their age will determine whether the card qualifies as a legitimate ID card. As with fake service dog certification and registration cards, id cards are only obtainable after undergoing training. However, id cards are no longer the only way to ensure that your dog has a legitimate registration.
Many service dog owners find it challenging to find legitimate trainers who will provide the necessary training to register their animals under the National Association for the Self-tenance of Retrievers (NASSR). However, in recent years, many fake service dog certification and registration cards have surfaced, giving everyone the opportunity to try to pass off an animal as their own. Rather than rely on fake identification cards, it is always best to rely on NASSR to ensure that your pet can be registered by another legitimate agency. If you don’t do this, you could end up unknowingly allowing a thief to steal your dog.