Clients
Clients working in partnership with a Service dog are also key to making the partnership work. Programs have responsibilities towards the clients and clients have responsibilities towards their dogs which are outlined in these standards.
Standards for Assistance Dogs Partners
The Service dog partners will agree to the following partner responsibilities: Treat the dog with appreciation and respect. Practice obedience regularly. Practice the dog’s skills regularly. Maintain the dog’s proper behavior in public and at home.Carry proper identification and be aware of all applicable laws pertaining to assistance dogs. Keep the dog well groomed and well cared for.Practice preventative health care for the dog. Obtain annual health checks and vaccinations for the dog.Abide by all leash and license laws.Follow the training program’s requirements for progress reports and medical evaluations.Arrange for the prompt clean up of dog’s waste.
Ethics for Clients
In keeping with our purpose of helping people with disabilities achieve greater independence and improve the quality of their lives, the member organizations of Better Together believe the following ethical criteria are essential to ensure that this mandate is reasonably and responsibly met.
- Clients have a right to be considered to receive a Service Dog regardless of race, sex, religion or creed.
- Clients have the right to be treated with respect and dignity at all times in their dealings with the member organization’s personnel and representatives.
- The client has a right to receive a sound educational program to learn how to use his or her Service Dog most effectively at home and/or in public.
- The client has a right to receive appropriate education on his or her role as a user of a Service Dog in the community.
- The client has the right to receive regularly scheduled team evaluation and follow-up support.
- The client has a right to receive information on or ask for assistance in the following matters:
- Additional training for the dog that is needed due to a change in the client’s functional level.
- A behavioral management problem with the dog.
- A major veterinary problem.
- Legal problems pertaining to the use and access of the Service Dog as allowed by law.
- The client has the right to expect that personal files will remain confidential and will not be disclosed unless he or she has given express prior permission.
- The community has a right to expect a Service Dog to be under control at all times and to exhibit no intrusive behavior in public, therefore the client has the right be partnered with an appropriate dog and taught appropriate handling techniques.
- The community has a right to receive information concerning BBCPTSDSDA Program Standards and Ethics.
- The community has a right to receive education on the benefits received by a person with a disability through the use of a Service Dog.
- No client shall be required to participate in fund raising or public relations activities without their expressed and voluntary permission.