Now that you've taken a few minutes to think about your ability to care for a dog, its time to look at how much support you have. There are few disabilities that would make it impossible to benefit from a Service Dog if you have the support of your family and friends. How do your family, friends, and coworkers feel about you having a Service Dog? Be sure to ask -- don't assume you know what they'll say. Ask each member of your family to answer the questions on the "Family Member's Page." Then discuss their answers with them. Be sure to listen carefully and address all of their concerns. Talk with your friends and coworkers. The amount of support you have will make a difference in how quickly you and your Service Dog are accepted as a working team.
My family that lives with me . . . My family is encouraging me to get a Service Dog. My family says a Service Dog is too expensive. I cannot care for a Service Dog without help. My family says they will eagerly take on its care. I cannot care for a Service Dog without help. My family says they can't take on the extra work involved. My family will willingly jump in and care for my Service Dog when I am ill and can't walk my dog. My family doesn't want to take on the added responsibilities of a Service Dog. My family thinks I'll spoil the Service Dog rotten so it won't work. My family will spoil the Service Dog rotten so it won't work. My family doesn't think I'm responsible enough to take care of a Service Dog. Getting a Service Dog is my family's idea. My family doesn't think I am strong enough to handle a Service Dog. My family has mixed feelings about a Service Dog in the house. Not everyone agrees that it is a good idea. My family doesn't think a Service Dog would help me. I think it will be okay with them. My family says its okay, but the responsibility of a Service Dog is all mine.
My family that doesn't live with me (i.e.: visiting Mom, etc.) . . . Talk with each of your family members that you visit and spend time with. Ask them how they feel about a Service Dog for you. Add their reactions to this page. Dogs aren't allowed in my parent's apartment or condominium complex. My sister is allergic to dogs. My cousin is terrified of dogs. One of my relatives has a really neat Service Dog that everyone in the family loves. My uncle thinks I get too much attention already. My brother just shrugs and doesn't say anything. Other: _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
Family Member's Page (To be filled out by each person who lives with you) Yes / No Do you support the idea of having a Service Dog as part of your household? Yes / No Are you willing to integrate the Service Dog into your family as another family member? Yes / No Are you willing to care for the dog if it's primary caregiver is ill? Yes / No Are you willing to clean up after the dog inside your home and out in public? Yes / No Are you willing to take the dog for walks in the rain or snow so it can relieve itself? Yes / No Are you willing to exercise the Service Dog daily if it's primary caregiver is unable to do so? Yes / No Do you have time to care for (brushing, bathing, exercising) a Service Dog? Yes / No Are you aware of the expenses involved in having a Service Dog? (See Appendix and Financial Section for more information.) Yes / No Has your family completed the Financial Section of this workbook and discussed your budget? Yes / No Will you support the Service Dog's training (not feeding it at the table, not allowing it to pull on the leash, etc.)? Comments: ________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
How will my friends react to a Service Dog? My friends are okay with the idea of me having a Service Dog. My friends don't understand why I need a Service Dog when they are around to help me. My friends criticize my ability to handle a Service Dog. One of my friends has a Service Dog. My friends don't think a Service Dog can help me. One of my friends thinks it is cruel to force a dog to work. My best friend doesn't want a dog in the house. My friends are enthusiastic about a Service Dog. One of my best friends hates dogs. Other: _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
How will a Service Dog be accepted at work? My boss doesn't know I have a hidden disability and I'm afraid I'll lose my job if I tell him. My boss says that only guide dogs are allowed at work and I'm not blind. My co-workers think I already get too many "accommodations" for my disability. My boss says a Service Dog will be too distracting for everyone. A coworker is allergic to dogs, so I can't bring my Service Dog to work. I'm afraid I'll lose my job if I try to take a Service Dog to work. My boss likes the idea. I work for the state and my boss says, "No!" My boss said it would be okay if I have an "officially" trained Service Dog from an "official" training center. My boss said that he'll decide after he's seen my Service Dog behave and not disrupt the office. My boss can never make up his mind about anything. My boss thinks the Service Dogs on television are pretty incredible. Other: _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
Bringing a Service Dog into your life will change all of your relationships. No matter how close you may feel to family and friends, your Service Dog will, in some ways, come between you. If you've had a pet dog, you are aware of how much of your time is occupied by walking, exercising, training, and playing with your dog. Having a Service Dog requires a lot more of your time than a pet does. Family members that start out half-heartedly supporting your efforts, may begin to resent the attention that your Service Dog is getting from you. If you cannot care for your Service Dog completely on your own, your family and friends must be willing to help you. Depending on people who are not eager to help, will strain your relationships. Family On the "Family in my Household" page, did you check, "My family says its okay, but the responsibility of a Service Dog is all mine?" Are you sure that it really is okay with them? Or, did you talk them into it? Are they willing to take care of your Service Dog when you are ill? Will they walk your dog in the rain? Will they support your training efforts? Or, will they treat your Service Dog like a pet, feeding it table scraps, letting it jump up on people, etc.? Did you check, "I think it will be okay with them?" If you did, you need to spend some more time talking with your family. It is not a good idea to take on the huge responsibility of a Service Dog without knowing how the people you are living with will react. Extended Family You will also need the support of your family that doesn't live with you. If someone in your extended family doesn't think a Service Dog is appropriate for you, you may find yourself the center of family disputes. When invitations go out for a family reunion, a wedding, or a birthday party, you may find that you are invited but your Service Dog is not. Give very careful thought to this section. Friends If your friends are hesitant in any way before you get a Service Dog, they may drift out of your life after you get a Service Dog. If a friend is afraid of dogs or hates dogs, don't count on their "coming around" after you get your Service Dog. If a friend is allergic to dogs, you will have to choose between a dog that doesn't cause an allergic reaction and your friend's friendship. Workplace Support in your workplace is also an important factor when making a decision about getting a Service Dog. If your boss and co-workers are behind you in this decision, bringing a Service Dog to work will be a relatively simple task. You will need to think about where your dog can safely stay while you work. If necessary, you may need to ask for breaks so that you can walk your young or elderly dog outside periodically. But, if your boss doesn't know that you have a hidden disability and you don't want to tell him, then you cannot consider taking a Service Dog to work with you. How would you explain the need for your dog to be there? If your boss and co-workers are sitting on the fence about a Service Dog at work, consider if a bit of gentle education will improve the situation. Arranging for a working demonstration from an experienced Service Dog team or sharing a video tape about Service Dog work may help improve the situation. If your boss and co-workers have a negative attitude about Service Dogs, you must decide how important it is for you to have a Service Dog at work. The Americans with Disabilities Act gives you the right have a Service Dog with you at work. But, are you willing to fight with your employer to have your Service Dog with you? Are you willing to chance turning your workplace into a hostile environment? Are you willing to loose your job and then go to court to fight about it?