Melanie Harris has been a volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) since the age of 9. The experience for her gave an unspoken understanding that she was bound to be a part of a calling that would change the lives of people for the better. Continuing as a volunteer throughout her life, it led her moving to GDB’s national headquarters in California.

“While my time as a childhood puppy raiser wasn’t all work, it provided a dog lover like me with immense joy on a daily basis, it did inform my adult view of the importance of dogs and humans working as part of a unit that is stronger than its individual parts.”

Harris nowadays works as a Senior Guide Dog Mobility Instructor training dogs to help other people in need especially for those who are visually impaired. But, along with her colleagues, they get dismayed that guide dogs are misperceived as emotional support dogs. So owners of ESAs shouldn’t represent theirs as service dogs as it leaves an undesired reputation for those in the guide dog community. Especially if animal misbehaves in a public or business setting.

Article source: Huffingtonpost.com

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

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