10 Unexpected Things That Happen When You Have a Service Dog
1. You will undoubtedly have the chance to say something like, “You cannot pet my dog right now because he is peeing.” That will likely happen.
2. You might discover that “dog-friendly” is a double-edged sword — especially when you hear the barks of the purse-sized dogs reverberating through the department store after they see your dog.
3. People could think you’re an expert on things like dog training and service dog laws… and you might not have any idea how to answer their questions.
4. People will tell you their entire history with dogs. I love dogs, too (obviously!), but this always seems to happen at the most inconvenient times.
5. You might traumatize the employees at a local restaurant who have never encountered a service dog before — fun times! We did receive the fastest service ever, although I think they just wanted us out of there.
6. You will likely become even more puppy-obsessed than you already were. Because honestly, what’s the only thing cuter than a puppy? A “working” puppy in a teeny tiny vest!
7. People will know your dog’s name but might forget yours. And you won’t mind because you might do the same.
8. “Does your dog bite?” will be something you hear on a regular basis.
9. You will possibly encounter a TSA agent at the airport who is afraid of dogs and clogs up all the other lines when someone else has to be brought over to pat down your dog.
10. Most unexpected of all: these interesting predicaments won’t bother you at all. In fact, you’ll see them as opportunities to share the great things your service dog assists you with.
Follow this journey on Still Can’t Be Silent.
The Mighty is asking the following: Create a list-style story of your choice in regards to disability, disease or illness. It can be lighthearted and funny or more serious — whatever inspires you. Be sure to include at least one intro paragraph for your list. If you’d like to participate, please send a blog post to community@themighty.com. Please include a photo for the piece, a photo of yourself and 1-2 sentence bio. Check out our Share Your Story page for more about our submission guidelines.
Natalie is an adult with Moebius syndrome and the social media coordinator for the Moebius Syndrome Foundation. She works in libraries and has a background in disability literature and theory. Her passions include theatre, horses and her service dog.
natalie-abbott