Page 1020 - Total War on PTSD

time Kodiak has been lunged at by a fake Service Dog (which the owners always think is cute, that their small dog is defending themselves against the bigger dog) costs Kodiak and I. The costs are loss of faith (Kodiak helps me, but in return I guarantee to her that I will keep her safe) and extra training (the Service Dog will be hesitant and need additional training to prevent the event from scarring them from being able to be worked). There are Service Dogs that had to retire early (think of the investment in time and money lost) because someone decided to buy a vest and fake credentials online to keep their pet with them. It’s the equivalent of breaking someone’s walker or wheelchair, and then they have to either spend $20,000 or invest three years of their time training and bonding with a new dog just to get back to where they were.
I do wish that people wouldn’t go crazy when they see a Service Dog in public. There are times that I want to ask with they coo over a wheelchair or a walker, which are also medical devices that assist people that are disabled lead a regular life. Yes, Kodiak is cute and I understand that, but she is with me because I need her to be there. If I didn’t have her with me, I most likely would not be out in the public doing normal things that other take for granted, such as grocery shopping or going to a medical appointment. With that being said, I do enjoy positive interactions with people concerning Kodiak and Service Dogs in general. I am more than happy to pass on what I know about the ADA to others, and the training that Kodiak has gone through. I will allow people to pet her, depending on a few factors such as how crowded the area is (I don’t want to get mobbed or stuck there), how I am feeling at that particular moment in time, and how Kodiak is feeling as well (we all have days when we don’t want to be bothered at work, that goes for dogs as well). All that I ask is that people be cognizant of the fact that I may have to say no. When I do allow people to pet her, I use it as a teaching moment and explain that all of her tasks are reactive (I give her a command) as opposed to proactive (such as watching for signals
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