Service animals more than sight dogs

Those dogs wearing special harnesses following owners everywhere like an extra pair of limbs are not pampered pets but service animals performing what the disabled cannot do alone.

Yet some businesses refuse entry to people with dogs. However, since 1992 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits privately owned business serving the public from discriminating against the disabled.

ADA requires businesses with a "no pets policy" to make an exception for service animals. The only time they may be excluded from a facility is when they pose a threat to the safety of others, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Web site.

But for Foothills residents Bill and Libby Westphal and their service dog, Budley, the welcome mat is not always at their disposal.

Libby has severe peripheral neuropathy, a disability that affects the nervous system and can make it difficult to walk.

Yet since drafting Budley into service four months ago, the Westphals have encountered a sweeping lack of knowledge of what a service animal is and at times have been refused entry into a favorite tavern even though he was initially accepted.

"We've had comments such as, 'You can bring the dog in as long as we're not busy,' or 'You ain't blind and that ain't no service dog,'" Bill said. "I think there is an opportunity here to educate the folks about service animals."

Budley, a 95-pound golden Lab/retriever, helps Libby keep her walking disability under control. She works as a volunteer at the Sunrise Elementary School library three days a week and relies on her dog to get to get there safely.

"If you look at me I look just fine. But I have no feeling in my legs and my feet are numb. I'm probably the only person with a prescription to have my dog walking around with me."

It was only in the past year Libby's disability worsened and she has taken several spills. Her dog has a harness she grips for support and can stop her if she loses balance.

Often accompanying her husband while he flies his model airplanes, their dog came to the rescue recently.

"Budley was able to catch me when I stumbled at the Yuma Aero Modelers' Flying Field," Libby recalled. "He can help me getting up and pick up things I drop - my cell phone if I need to call for help."

A major obstacle is that many people are unaware it is not just the blind who need service dogs. The dogs also help the deaf, those suffering seizures, assisting the ambulatory with balance problems, pulling wheelchairs and retrieving objects out of reach.

ADA defines a service animal as one trained to provide assistance to the disabled regardless if they have been certified by a local or state government. Yet Budley has been trained and received the American Kennel Club's obedience certification.

In fact, his demeanor is so compatible with people that he also serves as a therapy pet. A therapy pet's principal function is to cheer up the lonely or disabled. Many visit nursing homes and schools.

For the past five months every Tuesday morning, Budley has been greeting seniors at Copper Hills House, an assisted living facility.

"He's very calm," said Coleen Lovato, Copper Hills sales manager. "He brings a sense of peace. He reminds them of the pet they used to have and he helps residents with depression. It shows another living being cares about them."

Budley is also helping some remedial readers at the Sunrise Elementary School to get up to speed. He visits the school once every two weeks, where struggling students are empowered by reading aloud to the dog who does not make them feel self-conscious, said Judy Amick, first-grade teacher.

"He just so laid-back, all the kids swarm him. It's a fun way to learn, and the dog encourages them to read more than they would if just the teacher instructed them."

Most businesses welcome the Westphals with their dog, including the airlines such as US Airways, the carrier that will take them to Hawaii this summer. But they feel some have not yet gotten the message of how critical these special dogs can be.

"I hope people become more familiar with different kinds of service dogs and more accepting were they to need one," Libby said.

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William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858