Young Cancer Patient Loses Service Dog

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Today I read an article about a nine year old child battling brain cancer in NJ.  She had a german shepherd trained as a service dog that was with her to help stabilize her during periods of dizziness and weakness.  In March, the service dog bit the six year old girl next door in the face requiring 100 stitches.  Below I posted the article regarding the incident and one detailing the fate of the service dog now.

http://www.examiner.com/pet-rescue-in-national/service-dog-s-fate-t...

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/04/27/young-brain-cancer-patient-i...

 

This situation is heartbreaking and I can understand and sympathize with both families.  What do you think?  Was this a poorly trained service dog that should not have been given to such a young handler?  What should happen to a dog like this?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I saw this in the news for days. I agree with you but there were conflicting stories about the actual occurrence. Yet the GSD did bite the child and apparently was unprovoked. I think not only training was needed but the dog should have been in a fenced area. I certainly understand the pain on both sides but although my first thoughts were about the dog, I realize that if the bitten child was mine, I'd want the dog removed from next door.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There is no doubt in my mind that this was not a true service dog, properly trained through a recognized organization. Many people are confused about the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog, but if this dog was being used to perform physical assistance, that would be a service dog, and you will look long and hard befroe you find any 14 month old dog working service dog from a reputable organization. The dog wouldn't have wearing a "choke chain", either.

I am further persuaded that this was not a true service dog by the absence of comments from the organziation that placed him, or any service dog agency.

There are all kinds of people out there claiming that they train dogs for service and selling untrained unsuitable dogs to unsuspecting people. In this case, we have three tragedies- one child was badly bitten, another child loses her companion, and the poor dog maybe loses his life.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree, I don't think this was a true service dog. The good news is the dog will be placed temporarily with friends, according to the news. Then there was a suggestion that the dog might become a military dog. Go know. At least it sounds like she will be spared. Certainly both kids were traumatized.

[Adina P]

Remember, though, there are NO guidelines or requirements for how a 'service dog' is trained, where it's trained, or by whom it is trained.  As long as someone claims their dog is a service dog...then legally it is.  Makes no sense to me...but the American Disabilities Act is kinda loose on this.  The service dog owner MIGHT have to be able to state specific services it does, but there is no test it has to pass--not even a CGC type test to prove it is safe in public.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There may not be any legal requirements or guidelines, but there are recognized organizations that do their due diligence regarding selecting, training, and testing dogs before they are placed. If this is your child, how much investigating and researching would you do before obtaining a "service" dog?

I hope everyone will take a look at this link to the Canine Companions for Independence website to get an idea of the kind of training and testing a "true" service dog should have.

 

[Adina P]

Not disagreeing with you.  Just saying that the law surrounding 'service dogs' are worthless and allow any dog to be a 'service dog' regardless of actual temperament and training.  If I actually needed a real working service dog I certainly would get one from a reputable training organization.   There should be some kind of test a service dog should pass that shows their public working ability as well as their ability to fulfill the service their person requires.  Although 'emotional support' can be anything.  I saw an emotional support dog at walmart recently ....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

All anyone has to do is read through a couple of discussions here to see that most of our DK doodles are "emotional support" dogs, lol!

[Leslie and Halas]

A woman on our flyball team trains CCI puppies.  She usually has Labs.  It's amazing how calm and obedient they are at such a young age.  She does a great job with them.  She has them for that 1st 15 month period they mention on the website, and then they go on to more specialized training.  Most of the ones she's trained end up getting placed, but I remember one that didn't get placed.  I can't remember the exact details, but it had something to do with the dog showing some signs of irritation or maybe actually growling or snapping during the rigorous testing.  I don't remember how she said they tested the dog, but I remember thinking that most dogs wouldn't put up with the stuff they were doing.  That's what they have to do to make sure something like the sad event above doesn't happen.  It sounds like the GSD probably didn't go through such rigorous testing.  It would be sad to have a dog not be able to finish the CCI program, after so much time and effort has been put into it, but it's so much worse to have something like this happen years down the road when the handler and dog have become so attached.  I feel horrible for everyone involved in this.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I agree, Karen, there is a lot more to this story than we are being told. This was not a well screened and trained service dog.   I am glad the dog's life was spared but this seems to have been a disaster in the making..

[Adam, Emily and Butters]

I agree with Karen and Jack.... this dog was not trained.  And was definitely not trained to be around kids.  We are looking to get Butters in to be a therapy dog, he's only 8mths so we have to wait a while till he is of age.  But just in working with training classes and my own work with having him sit to be petted, playing with little kids, and having lots of kids running around, he has never been allowed to jump on them, nip, mouth, anything.... and sometimes it has been hard when the kids are the same size and running and jumping themselves.  We have even gotten to the point were we don't lick the hands coming at our face because I have noticed that sometimes it makes the children more nervous to pet him.  I can't tell you the number of little fingers that have been stuck in his nose or eye and there is high level of expectation on him not to react.  Even with that, I am sitting next to him, watching him and the kids very closely to make sure that nothing happens or that I can intervene before something does.  These are animals who can't tell us how they are feeling and you always have to be on alert.... ESPECIALLY around children

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

I agree with what everyone else has said.  I guess this raises another issue...why are there seemingly more strict guidelines for therapy dogs than service dogs when ultimately service dogs are under more stress, have more significant responsibilities, and are allowed in areas where even therapy dogs are not permissable?  It seems like I could turn either of my dogs into a "service" dog by having a doctor write a note that I need my dog with me for some reason or another.  I think that does a horrible disservice to those who truly need a service dog and particularly those dogs that are properly trained but not respected due to the actions of others. 

[Adina P]

It SEEMS that there are stricter guidelines for therapy dogs...but there are not.  Not by state or federal law anyway.  The guidelines are only set by the organizations that register therapy dogs but there are no laws that require a dog to pass a test either.  The strictness comes from the fact hospitals and other places therapy dogs visit usually require the dogs to have some certification.  But the American Disabilities Act in order to protect against discrimination has left the subject kinda loose and undefined.  I think recent changes require a service animal to be a dog (vs. A cat) but I'm not positive.