I am in the process of preparing to obtain a service dog to assist me with my disability. I’ve always been passionate about social justice, so when I learned about how Therapy Dogs International is discriminating about people that rely on service dogs, I was interested.
Therapy dogs are dogs that are specially trained to do things like visit patients in hospitals, residents in nursing homes, and other people that can benefit from the non-judgmental, affectionate presence of friendly dog. Therapy Dogs International is an organization that certifies therapy dogs, along with their owners. Therapy Dogs International (TDI) has instituted a new policy which prohibits disabled people that have service dogs from certifying their service dogs as therapy dogs, which effectively prevents many disabled people from participating in TDI’s therapy dog program.
I’ve always enjoyed doing volunteer work, and in fact, I’ve volunteered in the past in nursing homes, a home for the severely disabled, a summer camp for disabled children, and in a classroom for special needs children. Being able to do volunteer work with my service dog would be wonderful. But it won’t be possible under the auspices of Therapy Dogs International.
While the president of TDI, Ursula Kemp, has made some rather contradictory statements regarding the organizations policies regarding people that rely on service dogs, none of her statements support their involvement in the organizations. The organization’s website states that, “People with disabilities requiring a service dog cannot use the service dog as a therapy dog. However, they can be tested with another dog which is not a service dog. The service dog and the pet dog must go through the testing procedures at the same time.” Ms. Kemp has also stated that people with service dogs will be required to purchase costly liability insurance coverage for their service dogs in order to participate in any TDI programming.
How Does This Policy Discriminate Against Disabled People That Rely on Service Dogs?
In essence, the policy imposes different standards for disabled people that rely on service dogs. It requires them to take the therapy dog certification test with two dogs, a pet dog they want to certify as a therapy dog and their service dog. Handling two dogs at once requires different skills than managing only one dog and it is unfair to require disabled people to possess different skills than non-disabled people in order to pass the test.
The policy also imposes costs on disabled people that rely on service dogs that are not imposed on others. Disabled people that rely on service dogs are required to own and care for two dogs, their service dog and a therapy dog. Two dogs means two times the expense. In addition, TDI requires disabled people that rely on service dogs to purchase costly insurance policies covering their service dogs, which is another expense not imposed on non-disabled people with therapy dogs certified by TDI.
While some people with disabilities earn good incomes, others live on Social Security and have limited funds. Even if they can afford the additional expenses, though, federal law prohibits charging disabled people additional fees simply because they require service dogs. For instance, if a landlord typically charges an additional deposit if tenants have pets, this deposit cannot be charged for service dogs. TDI’s policies place an unfair financial burden on those that rely on service dogs, a burden which would render me unable to participate. I am by no means the only one.
Kirsten Richards, who enjoyed participating in a program at her local library in which children practiced reading to her service dog Cole, was surprised and disappointed to learn that TDI will not certify Cole as a therapy dog. Kirsten explains, “Despite my disability, I have the same social needs as any other person. I need the opportunity to participate in social activities where I am just Kirsten, not ‘that girl with the dog.’ Finding such opportunities with a service dog in tow is difficult because the dog sticks out. One way to fit in is to participate in dog-related activities, such as competitive dog sports or making therapy dog visits. When everyone else also has a dog, I’m not singled out as the misfit.” Kirsten plans to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, as she believes TDI’s policy violates her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal law that, among other things, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities that rely on service dogs.
Isn’t This Kind of Discrimination Illegal?
Yes, of course it is. At least, that’s what many advocates for the disabled believe. A complaint has been prepared and will be filed with the U.S. Department of Justice, the agency tasked with enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act., just after Memorial Day. The agency will assess the situation and make a determination about the legality of TDI’s policies.
But Can Service Dogs Really Be Good Therapy Dogs? Can They Pay Attention to Two People at Once?
The president of Therapy Dogs International says their policy of not allowing service dogs to be certified as therapy dogs is necessary because it’s unfair to ask a dog to serve in both roles. This statement suggests she is not very knowledgeable about service dogs and the variety of services they perform. Some service dogs need to pay very close attention to their handlers constantly and stay right by their sides. Others do not. For instance, a person with a physical disability that relies on a service dog for assistance with mobility and balance could simply take a seat upon entering the playroom of a hospital or children’s reading area of a library, in which case she would not require any further assistance from her dog as long as she remained seated. The dog would then be free to visit with patients in the playroom or lie beside young readers and listen to them read aloud.
Ursula Kemp has also stated in an email that, “A dog cannot give its all and concentrate on two people at once.” Apparently she assumes that if a service dog that is also certified as a therapy dog is sitting beside an elderly person in a nursing home, the dog will be unable to notice if its handler starts to have a seizure and respond appropriately as it has been trained to do. But dogs are not oblivious to their surroundings and would certainly notice something like a seizure taking place. Anyway, therapy dogs often work in group settings as well as working with patients one-on-one, and in group settings they are expected to pay attention to more than one person at a time. Surely Ms. Kemp is aware of that.
The fact that a number of other reputable therapy dog programs, including the Delta Society, do certify service dogs as therapy dogs makes TDI’s policy seem even more questionable.
For More Information
For more information about Therapy Dog’s International and its policies, you can contact them at:
Therapy Dogs International http://www.tdi-dog.org
88 Bartley Road
Flanders, NJ 07836
Phone: (973) 252-9800
You can also learn more about the claim being filed with the U.S. Department of Justice by visiting Service Dog Central http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/568, a website dedicated to educating people about issues relating to service dogs.
Sources:
Service Dog Central. http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/node/486. Therapy Dogs.
Therapy Dogs International. http://www.tdi-dog.org/HowToJoin.aspx?Page=Testing+Requirements. Testing Requirements.
Service Dog Central. http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/568. Breaking News: Therapy Dogs International Discriminates Against Disabled.
U.S Department of Justice. http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm. Service Animals.
Correspondence with Kirsten Richards, advocate for people with disabilities and service dog handler.
Correspondence with Ursula Kemp, president of Therapy Dogs International.
