OPERATION FREEDOM PAWS CANADA 1-250-954-5552

Service Dogs’ Capabilities

About Service Dogs

A Service Dog is any guide dog, hearing dog, or other dog trained to perform
tasks for the benefit of an individual with a physical or mental disability..

What is…

A Rescue Dog:

A Rescue Dog is a dog that has been placed in a new home after being abused, neglected, or abandoned by its previous owner. These are dogs that will come from shelters, humane societies and private rescues that meet the requirements for our program.

 

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What is…

A Service Dog vs a Therapy Dog:

A Service Dog is trained to take a specific action whenever required, to assist a person with their disability. The task the dog performs is directly related to their person’s disability. A Therapy Dog is sometimes called “comfort dog.” They support people’s mental health by providing attention and comfort.

 

THE TEAM

Service Dog Capabilities

Service Dogs are considered as belonging in one of five categories:

Hearing Dogs

(“Signal Dogs”) Alert deaf or hearing-impaired people to important sounds

Psychiatric Service Dogs

Help with mental health disabilities such as PTSD, Major Depression, Panic/Anxiety, agoraphobia, schizophrenia, and the like

Mobility Dogs

Perform tasks and provide support and balance for ambulation for those with limited mobility

Medical Alert Dogs

Trained to be sensitive to medical events or conditions, including diabetes, seizures, and cardiac conditions

Guide Dogs*

(“Seeing Eye Dogs”) Guide blind or visually impaired people around obstacles

What kind of tasks can Service Dogs perform?

The list is long. Here are some examples:

Blocking (creating space around an individual), Opening doors, drawers, and refrigerators Retrieving specific objects (videotapes, keys, remotes, etc.) or dropped articles, Getting help, Pulling on command, Turning lights on or off, Barking to alert of danger, doorbell, or telephone, Stopping at certain objects, Finding doors or access/egress, Finding scents, Walking slow to lead, Carrying objects.

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Barb Ashmead

Working with Veterans, First Responders and Non-veterans has been the greatest experience of my life. Watching a team bond and save each others lives is phenomenal and an incredible life changing experience.

BARB ASHMEAD | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ken

Made for success, Purpose for everyone. Goal for every person. A dog for every person. A dog for every goal. A community for all.

KEN |OFPC MEMBER

Jessie

Life Changing.

STEVE |OFPC MEMBER

Tia

Such a wonderful program. Gracie and I are so thankful to be in it. The instructors are so amazing.

TIA |OFPC MEMBER

OFP member Tiffany holding her service dog Atlas

A hundred years of thank yous still wouldn’t feel like enough to explain how grateful I am to OFPC and its supporters. I have seen first-hand the amount of people that have had their lives absolutely changed and filled with hope again. Thank you for reminding me there is life after trauma and how to trust my dog.

TIFFANY |OFPC MEMBER

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