Happy Memorial Day

Topic: Service

In this week's dialogue, James, Alexia, and Sundance will discuss Canine Service and their contributions to society. 

L.A. Sheriff Holiday

Sundance: Just like humans, my fellow brother and sister canines are happy to be of service and work for what is right. They spend many hours providing safety and therapy daily for people who need help and seek assistance. 

Abby the Service Dog

James: That's right! When your mama and I worked at the UCSC pool, we were very fortunate to have met Nugent. Nugent, described by her owner as "Nooge the Scrooge," was a Seeing Eye dog, a.k.a. service dog, for one of the pool's patrons. He would wait patiently on the pool deck as his owner would count the number of strokes from wall to wall. He was of valuable service to his master and worked vigilantly, always making sure he did not lose his focus and maintain dignity, good judgement, honor, courage, and integrity all the time. 

Therapy Dog Sundance & George

Sundance: Is Nugent part of the reason why I have been trained to become a Therapy Dog, and am currently training to become a Search and Rescue dog?

James: That is some of it. Your temperament is ideal and one more reason why your mama and I selected a golden retriever.

Sundance: When you see a dog with a vest on, does that mean it's friendly and you can pet it and I can play with it?

James: Not necessarily. It means you need to stand back and respect what it's doing. We can ask the owner if we may approach, but we have to always assume that the dog is providing a service and must not be distracted. These dogs are trained to follow protocol, and if they deviate from the task they are providing, it can be costly or dangerous for the handler.  

Sundance: What about therapy dogs? Are they service dogs? What's the difference? 

James: Therapy dogs and Service dogs provide a service. This is where they share the same similarities. Both have been trained with specific reasons in mind, but do not share the same hours of training. Seeing Eye, Bomb Detection and Search and Rescue service dogs have been trained to aid handicap people or for safety specifications. Therapy Dogs, just as important to the overall scheme, carry the task of helping children read, bringing joy to the sick and elderly, creating a healthy and stable mind for those fighting post traumatic experiences and severe depression, in addition to simply providing joy to people who otherwise have limited contact with nature and animals.

Sundance and Alexia at Graduation reading

Sundance: So because these Service Dogs do such a great service for the community and nation as a whole, Mama does not have to go to work tomorrow?

James: Yes! In honor of all those Officer Canines who have come before us and continue to lead the way for our safety and health, we honor them with a Memorial Day.