Expeditionary Service Dog River Roux in the field on the coast of Washington State.
One year ago today, when our coastal rainforest research began.
Having an Expeditionary Service Dog out in the backcountry where you’re going to run into others is no easy feat. Humans respond adversely when they see something they aren’t allowed to do, even if it’s for the greater good.
There’s a stigma attached to service dogs that they must be robotic in responses and training. Not for their handlers; but to appease the masses they encounter.
An expeditionary service dog is designed to accompany their handler out in field locations; not be a trained puppet to facilitate trips to the grocery store or be on display for public consumption.
My dog has her job; and her job is to allow me to do mine, despite my disabilities. Being disabled does not mean you are incapable. It means you need someone to be aware of the potential risk factors surrounding your disability. For me, I survived an occipital stroke at 37 years old. My dog keeps me safe so if my body were to head down that path ever again, she serves as my warning system. Good dog.
Barriers I have encountered over the years with River Roux by my side are society. If something doesn’t fit inside the box that society has created for that particular category, people flip out. Meaning, because I don’t “look” like I “need” a service dog; people have gone out of their way to make sure I knew their opinion. Woof - literally.
Needless to say, being disabled in today’s society is a challenge. From a mental health professional perspective, do you think that approaching a disabled person with a living, breathing, working prosthetic and attacking them is helpful? No. It’s very counterintuitive.
I’m aware that people take advantage of the system and those who do that are wrong. I also have seen peers that have gone above and beyond to soapbox their need for service animals; then, once a human partner enters their life, they’re magically cured and that dog becomes the family dog.
No. That’s not how this works.
Working service animals have a job, and that job is to be your companion for life. They don’t retire because you now have a wife.
Bottom line, don’t be a dick. Let service animals do their job.🐕🦺