TRIGGER: service dog death
You may have heard of the service dog who died at Disney World recently. Reportedly temperatures were in the 100s, and the heat index was 110. This is a good reminder that as service dog handlers, we need to put our dogs’ wellbeing above our own. Sometimes the right thing to do is to leave your service dog behind.
I went to Disney World with a group of other service dog handlers. We went in the wintertime so that it wouldn’t be too hot for our service dogs. One person even left her service dog at home, because she knew the environment would be too chaotic for her service dog to be comfortable.
I regularly leave my service dog at home when I’m going somewhere he will not enjoy, or if I know it will be too long a day for him. It is our duty to the dogs who give their lives for ours to make sure that they are always comfortable and happy.
Yes, I do have to use more of my service humans when I leave my service dog home, and I have to use other coping skills like a stuffed animal, ear defenders, etc. But it is worth it to know my service dog will always be safe and happy.
Leaving your service dog at home for these types of situations doesn’t mean our service dogs are any less valid than other service dogs. In fact, it means we are better handlers for putting our dogs first.
The picture is one of me in a Tinkerbell dress holding Felix the Japanese Chin at Epcot in Disney World with Moana and the Epcot ball behind us.