For quite sometime I have watched one of my best friends slowly give in to a unforgiving disease called MS. She has been fighting a brave fight and has had to muster strenth that very few could endure. Sure he has had some low times, but for the most part she has fought this with the heart of a lioness. About a year ago she was accepted into the service dog program. She spent many weeks in a special school in training personally, and with the dog she was given. The dog is a lively little black lab female dog that is so giving and has a desire to serve. This dog is trained to do many daily tasks for her and will do many more for her as she slowly loses  dexterity. My friend eats and sleeps and spends every waking hour with this dog. The dog has two levels of energy. When she has her work harness on she is a dosile and working. When my friend take off that harness you can see a totally different dog. She is playful and lovable, and full of energy. The difference is unimaginable. She is truly and WORKING DOG.

On May 12th of this year, my friend had a call that her daugher had been in a car accident here in our county. When she went to the hospital she tells me she was given attitude by the ER nurse in regard to this dog being with her. She tells me that she was finally allowed into ER with this dog but not after suffering through some rude dialogue with an ER nurse that didn't like the concept of this work dog in her ER. Not only did my friend have to suffer the thought of her daughter in this car crash, with her injuries, but to have to argue with them about her work dog being with her as well, it was traumatic for her.

 This is not the first time this has happened to my friend. She has been told to leave with her dog on more than one occaision in a large chain retail store now in this area. These dogs are no different than that of a seeing eye dog. It is against the law to deny these dogs in our stores and cafe's. There are laws against it. I believe it would be best if these retail stores, food chains, clinics and hospitals would educate their employees of the situations that can arise with these dogs. And the penalty they could suffer if they don't allow them in.

I believe it important to get the word out about these type dogs. Blind people are not the only ones with service dogs. When you see a service dog at work, don't try to make contact with the dog or distract it. They are trained to service only the owner. When you call it or try to pet it, the dog won't be as committed to service. Watch these dogs work. It is truely amazing.