How should people behave around an assistance dog?

The Americans With Disabilities Act guarantees people with disabilities the right to be accompanied by a service animal in all areas open to the general public. Service animal means any assistance dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Here are some tips to follow when meeting or approaching a working assistance dog and his or her partner:

• Don't be afraid of the dog. Assistance dogs from organizations like Canine Companions for Independence and other members of Assistance Dogs International are carefully tested and selected for appropriate temperament. They have been professionally trained to have excellent manners.
  
  
• Don't touch the dog without asking permission first! This is a distraction and may prevent the dog from tending to the human partner.
  
  
• Never feed the dog. It may be on a special diet. CCI dogs are generally on a feeding schedule as well. Food is the ultimate distraction to the working dog and can jeopardize the working assistance dog team.
  

• Speak to the person, not the assistance dog! Most handlers do not mind talking about assistance dogs and their dog specifically if they have the time.
  
  
• Do not whistle or make sounds to the dog as this again may provide a dangerous distraction.
  
  
• Never make assumptions about the individual's intelligence, feelings or capabilities.
  

• Be aware of potential architectural barriers to the individual. Be respectful of the assistance dog team. They are a working pair going about their daily lives.
  

Business owners: Some customers and employees may be anxious or nervous about an assistance dog in your establishment. Reassure them that the dog is thoroughly trained and has a legal right to be there under the ADA. People with assistance dogs deserve the same respect as any other customer.

Overheard in a conversation between God and St. Francis

God:
Francis, you know all about gardens and nature; what
in the world is going on down there in the U.S.? What
happened to the dandelions, violets, thistles and the
stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance
garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil,
withstand drought, and multiply with abandon. The
nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts
butterflies, honeybees, and flocks of songbirds. I
expected to see a vast garden of color by now. All
I see are patches of green.

St. Francis:
It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. They are
called the Suburbanites. They started calling your
flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill
them and replace them with grass.

God:
Grass? But it is so boring, it's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, bees or birds, only grubs and sod
worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do
these Suburbanites really want grass growing?

St. Francis:
Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it has grown a little,
they cut it....sometimes two times a week.

God:
They cut it? Do they bale it like hay?

St Francis:
Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and
put it in bags.

God:
They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they
sell it?

St. Francis:
No sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw
it away.

GOD:
Now let me get this straight. . . they fertilize
it to make it grow and when it does grow,
they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

St. Francis:
Yes, sir.

God:
These Suburbanites must be relieved in the
summer when we cut back on the rain and
turn up the heat. That surely slows the
growth and saves them a lot of work.

St. Fran
You aren't going to believe this Lord, but
when the grass stops growing so fast, they
drag out hoses and pay more money to
water it so they can continue to mow it and
pay to get rid of it.

God:
What nonsense! At least they kept some of
the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius,
if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves
in the spring to provide beauty and shade in
the summer. In the autumn they fall to the
ground and form a natural blanket to keep
the moisture in the soiland protect the trees
and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves
becom compost to enhance the soil. It's a
natural circle of life.

St. Francis:
You'd better sit down, Lord. As soon as
the leaves fall, the Suburbanites rake
them into great piles and pay to have
them hauled away.

God:
No way! What do they do to protect the
shrubs and tree roots in the winter
to keep the soil moist and loose?

St Francis:
After throwing the leaves away, they go
out and buy something called mulch. They
haul it home and spread it around in place
of the leaves.

God:
And where do they get this mulch?

St. Francis:
They cut down the trees and grind
them up to make mulch.

God:
Enough! I don't want to think about
this anymore. Saint Catherine, you're
in charge of the arts. What movie have
you scheduled for us tonight?

St. Catherine:
"Dumb and Dumber," Lord. It's a really
stupid movie about. . .

God:
Never mind--I think I just heard the whole story
from Saint Francis!

It's OFFICIAL....I've GRADUATED!!!!!!!

Dear Constance,

On behalf of Humboldt State University, congratulations on earning your degree! Your official date of graduation is 20-May-09.

You can expect to receive your diploma in the mail within 4-5 weeks.

Congratulations again, and best wishes for future success and personal satisfaction.

Hillary A. Dashiell

Registrar

Humboldt State University