ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Often a furry coat and wet nose draw people to a friendly-looking dog. But some have vital work to do.
That's why Lehigh County is helping to recognize September as National Service Dog Month.
“For many people with disabilities, these special canines have given them the possibility to lead independent lives,” the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners said in a recent resolution.
While the four-legged helpers can be cute, handlers say this is a good time to remind people of the key role they play in day-to-day activities.
“I can tell you that these dogs change lives,” said Melissa Allman, the advocacy and government relations specialist at The Seeing Eye. She not only works for the service dog-training nonprofit organization, but she too is blind and guided by one of the animals.
“I’ve been blind since birth, and I have a genetic diagnosis. It's a rare genetic condition called Leber's congenital amaurosis,“ she explained. “I wanted to move a little bit more efficiently and quickly than I felt like I was doing with my cane and I wanted to have that extra little safety check.”
“I can tell you that these dogs change lives.”Melissa Allman, advocacy and government relations specialist at The Seeing Eye
Allman said being united with her dog Luna in 2017 has improved her quality of life significantly.
“She guides me safely around obstacles and these dogs are also trained to stop at landmarks such as crosswalks and at stairs, so that you know that they're there and you don't fall down them,” she said.
The dogs also are trained to intelligently disobey, she said.
“If the dog sees a car, for example, that's turning in front of you and it is not going to be safe to go, the dog is trained to intelligently disobey and that's when you really know the power in what the dog can do to keep you safe.”
A heavy investment
According to Lehigh County's resolution, approximately 64 million adults and children have a disability and only 16,000 service dogs from accredited training programs exist nationwide.
Commissioners said the need for service dogs is growing. In addition to The Seeing Eye, other organizations such as Canine Companions, Dogs for Better Lives and ECAD — Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities — train these specialized animals.
The Seeing Eye has a puppy-raising club in the Lehigh Valley and trains dogs for people across the country.
“It is an investment of time, of love, of discipline, to be able to not only learn how to work with a seeing-eye dog, but to maintain and develop that bond and be able to work together and maintain the dog's training by just doing things consistently every day,” Allman said.
Safety first
She wants people to remember that these animals are not simply there for companionship, but play a critical role in their handler’s overall safety.
“If you see a dog and you think it might be a service animal, it's very important not to engage with the dog," she said. "Always, always engage with the person, because you don't want to distract the dog from its very important work, and that extends to everything from petting, talking, and even that deliberate eye contact."
As the need grows, The Seeing Eye encourages people to become a puppy trainer. Those interested in learning more can visit The Seeing Eye website.
National Service Dog Month aims to educate communities about service dogs and the laws protecting them, according to the Lehigh County commissioners.
