Reasons The Disabled Do Not Get Service Dogs

OTHER THAN COST, these are the most common reasons people with disabilities are not able to get a service dog:

1. Limited Availability: There is very limited availability of trained service dogs, and a severe shortage of qualified trainers and organizations providing service dogs. Less the 1% of all professional dog trainers are qualified to train a Medical or Psychiatric Assistance Animal.
2. Eligibility Requirements: Legitimate service dog organizations have strict eligibility requirements, which can make it difficult for some individuals to qualify for a service dog.
3. Housing Restrictions: While it is illegal for landlords to bully or refuse to rent to tenants with service dogs, it happens all the time.
4. Lack of knowledge: Many people cannot even imagine how much happier and better their life would be if they had a service dog.
5. Health Conditions: Many with disabilities have health conditions that make it difficult or impossible them to care for a service dog.
6. Following Directions: Many individuals with disabilities may not be able to communicate effectively and follow directions, much less have a normal telephone conversation.
7. Personal Preferences: Often, an irrational belief system makes many hesitant to get a service dog, such as prioritizing getting a “hypoallergenic dog.”
8. Limited Support: Many disabiled people are isolated from friends and family, and lack support to help care for a service dog. Service dog organizations need to know you can care for your service dog ten years from now too.
9. Accessibility Issues: Some with disabilities have limited mobility or accessibility issues that make it difficult for them to care for a service dog.
10. Fear of Discrimination: Many people fear discrimination and stigma associated with having a service dog, and may be hesitant to disclose their disability to others.

These are the most common concerns and reservations we have before selling a service dog to a potential client:

1. 1. Compatibility: The dog we train and love cannnot go to a home with cruel people who hit their dog, scream at it, neglect it, or abuse it in any way.
   2. Ability to care for the dog: We need to be convinced clients can love, feed, groom, and provide medical care for their dog.
   3. Training ability: We need to be able to know the client can handle and train their service dog.
   4. Commitment to the dog: We need to be convinced our client won’t change their mind and is committed to owning a service dog for its entire life.
   5. Financial stability: We need to know clients have financial stability to care for their service dog, including being able to provide food, veterinary care, and other expenses.
   6. Physical and mental ability: We need to know that our client is not too sick, weak, depressed, anxious or delusional to care for our dog.
   7. Gut-Feeling Test: We need to ensure our dog is placed in a safe and appropriate environment, and will not give a dog to anyone we believe is a bad fit for us or our program.