By Julieanne Acosta, March 10 2023—
The College of Calgary’s pets on-campus coverage regulates the presence of pets on the primary campus to make sure that no well being hazards consequence from the pet. Nevertheless, the coverage clarifies that “pet” doesn’t seek advice from service animals.
“A service animal is an animal that gives an important service to individuals with disabilities or individuals who require help because of a medical situation,” learn the coverage.
Hope O’Keefe — a pupil on the U of C with a service canine herself — touched on her experiences being a pupil with a service canine on campus in an interview with the Gauntlet.
“Final 12 months — upon coming right here — there have been some points with getting my service canine registered with Alberta, so I needed to depart him for a month which triggered some points with my well being,” stated O’Keefe. “Regardless, I ended up getting him right here and since I’ve been right here, I discover that not many individuals are educated on etiquette round service canine.”
Alongside her service canine — a Nice Dane named Forest — O’Keefe has confronted a number of experiences which have proven her that extra schooling surrounding service canine etiquette is required.
“I’ve been engaged on discussing with individuals on how one can correctly advocate for service canine and attempt to work on constructing a greater group right here in order that it’s extra inclusive to individuals with disabilities,” she stated. “The newest factor that occurred to me was that I used to be standing on the elevators with my service canine within the library and I had pressed the button when a bunch of individuals got here in entrance of me. When the door opened, all of them rushed into the elevator earlier than me and didn’t depart me room. The one purpose the elevators are listed below are to accommodate individuals with disabilities.”
O’Keefe has been vocal about several types of disabilities individuals can should advocate and educate others about invisible disabilities — fighting invisible disabilities herself.
“Are you able to take a look at somebody and inform they’re deaf? Are you able to take a look at somebody and inform that they undergo seizures? Are you able to take a look at somebody and inform that they’ve a fainting dysfunction? Most disabilities for individuals with service canine are invisible,” stated O’Keefe.
It will be significant that the campus group is aware of what to do when coming throughout a service canine and the way appearing in any other case negatively impacts not solely the service canine however the handler as O’Keefe explains.
“No contact, no speak, no eye contact — no eye contact may be very large. You possibly can actually distract a service canine from doing that,” she stated. “Please give us six ft of house within the hallway. If you happen to see somebody having an episode, they may not at all times need assistance. It’s actually good to offer them house to allow them to end their episode. They’ve a service canine there for a purpose and they’re medically skilled to help with these duties however they want some house and a while to do it and be sure that they’re not distracted whereas doing so,
“There’s no have to make exaggerated actions — that’s simply primary canine etiquette. Please don’t leap up and down and squeal round any canine as a result of for those who try this round a canine that’s not skilled, you may get damage,” continued O’Keefe. “However that alone could cause a service canine to lose focus of their proprietor and miss a job. Due to this fact, you’re placing the handler’s life in peril as a result of that’s our lifeline — that’s what we depend on.”
Although she acknowledges that some persons are uncomfortable or fearful round canine, O’Keefe explains that these canine are skilled and are solely centered on their house owners.
“I simply need individuals to be extra snug round us. I really feel so upset for those that are scared within the hallways as a result of they’re not educated sufficient about service canine to really feel assured strolling previous me,” stated O’Keefe.
In her concluding ideas, O’Keefe talks about her gratitude for what her service canine has executed for her and the way these service canine change individuals’s lives and need to be revered.
“What these canine do is life-saving and we have to respect what they do and take a look at them as extra of a human that’s a nurse strolling beside somebody. I’d love for individuals to have conversations about this and be capable to advocate for schooling,” stated O’Keefe. “There are those that prepare their canine to do this however don’t count on them to mechanically do these items. There are completely different avenues of several types of service canine.
“I don’t attempt to put anybody in an uncomfortable place with my canine being current. He’s solely there as a result of if I don’t have him with me, I couldn’t be doing the issues that I’m doing in the present day. He’s right here to forestall medical emergencies from occurring. I attempted to go to college beforehand and I needed to cease. I deliberate to get a service canine earlier than I ever got here again to college as a result of I knew it might make the most important distinction for me — he has made this occur for me,” continued O’Keefe.
To study extra about service canine, go to the Alberta web site. To study extra about O’Keefe and Forest’s story, go to their linktree.
