Acceptance

[dusty_sdit]

At some point in every service dog handler’s life there will come a moment when a friend or family member will say, “Do you have to bring the dog?” or, “Are you sure it’s a good idea to have a dog in this situation?” Not only does this hurt, it can be very disheartening

Comments

[emusician]

This is a very powerful entry. I hope no one has said that to you recently to inspire it. :(

The ending is very moving. I wish Dolce weren't so reactive to other dogs so he could be my public access dog. I can't wait for Zenzi to mature enough to go with me in public. However, I also would very much like not to need a service dog for my social anxieties in the first place.

[dusty_sdit]

This was inspired by a conversation on facebook between several service dog handlers. We were offering advice on how to handle these types of conversations. Unfortunately they happen all the time.

Having a service dog is one of those life choices that has HUGE repercussions on you, your family, your friends, and the dog in question. But it's the kind of decision that only the disabled handler can make. Like glasses or contacts, cane or forearm crutches, paper or plastic, credit or cash.

I hope Zenzi grows to become the dog you need.