From The Courier, Spring 2003, p.11

EDITOR'S NOTE

RESPONSES TO SOME GRADUATE COMMENTS

All of the comments made by CCI graduates in the survey were very helpful as our participant program department continues to evolve. As editor of the Courier, I would like to address two concerns that were mentioned numerous times.

Access and etiquette

One of the most significant ways all CCI supporters can help graduates is to educate friends, family members and acquaintances on the basics of service animal access and etiquette. Dogs that make it through the rigorous CCI program have been specially trained to assist people with disabilities - they are not novelty acts or circus animals.

In public, assistance dogs are considered "service animals" as defined by the Americans with Disability Act, and CCI service, skilled companion and hearing teams have full rights of access. Facility Dog handlers do not, since they generally take the dogs only to places such as schools, hospitals and rehabilitation facilities that have agreed to host the team.

Laws governing the access rights of puppy raisers vary from state to state and interpretation of those laws tends to vary greatly within states; Canine Companions for Independence advises its puppy raisers to check first before assuming that those yellow capes are allowed.

CCI has a section on its Web site devoted to assistance dog etiquette and the responsibilities of CCI teams - what we expect from every graduate when they are out in public. Go to www.caninecompanions.org/etiquette.html.

The Department of Justice has an excellent site dedicated to the ADA, and a section dealing with service animals: www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/animal.htm. For information on Assistance Dogs International, the coalition that sets standards for our industry, go to www.adionline.org.

Contacting CCI

A number of graduates indicated they were unaware Canine Companions for Independence has a toll-free number - it is 800-572-BARK, or 572-2275. It connects the caller with their nearest regional training center

Graduates who are unsure about who to e-mail should start by sending their inquiry to info@caninecompanions.org. All messages will be forwarded to the appropriate regional or national staff member.

-Pete Rapalus