News from Young Adults – Next Chapter
Across the country, organizations are working to train service dogs for a variety of roles. Some serve as Autism service dogs, trained to comfort and even sit down to keep young children from “running,” Others can detect the change in insulin drops in people with diabetes. And still others help with a variety of mobility issues and even help the blind or deaf to “see and hear.”
These groups do important work and in the state of Minnesota, they have a new law that protects people who train service dogs from paying more in rent. That law should increase the number of volunteer trainers and available dogs.
The biggest need is mobility dogs who assist by pushing elevator or door buttons, taking laundry out of the dryer or washer, and protect people with balance issues from falling. Seizure-assistance dogs can sense when you are about to have a seizure and provide help and comfort. They can be taught to retrieve or pick up things from the floor. Some can even pick up a coin or credit card!
Most service dogs are golden or labrador retrievers and are bred for the job. But even rescue pups can be trained! It’s estimated that the complete training, which is more than 2 years, costs around $45,000. So supporting organizations that do this will help all people with disabilities!
