Dogs are loving creatures, often considered “Man’s Best Friend.” They are commonly known to be fun-loving and affectionate creatures that hold a special place in the hearts of many. However, some take on even larger responsibilities, acting not just as friends but as aides. These are known as “service animals.” Service animals can be trained for many things, ranging from companionship to performing lifesaving tasks for their owner. Due to this variety, service animals come in all sizes. For example, a Shit Tzu may support a person with depression, while a German Shepherd may be a guide dog. 

Service dogs go through official training for 1 to 2 years, but calmer dogs go through their training faster than more hyper or aggressive dogs, as they tend to follow orders more easily and consistently. A misconception about their training is that once a service animal has finished training, it does not need more. However, service animals are constantly being trained because they must complete complex instructions to guarantee their owner’s safety. Some owners take their dogs to professionals for training, often when the dog is responsible for their physical safety, while others choose to train their dogs themselves. Both methods have high success rates, with an 80% graduation rate for service dogs in training. These dogs play an important role in our community, especially in the lives of the following people. 

Ms. Romes Curtiss teaches Robotics and Digital Manufacturing to students at Heatherwood Middle School. As she teaches, she paces the classroom inspecting students' work and giving them valuable feedback. Behind her trails a ball of white fur, prone to being mistaken for a cloud or a plush pillow. But it is neither. This is Minnie, a 6-year-old Pomeranian, and Ms. Curtiss’ service animal. She used to be a breeder dog, a dog notorious for coming from abusive situations. This was until she was rescued by Romes, where she has stayed for the last 2 years. 

Minnie is a “velcro” dog, meaning she closely follows Ms. Curtiss, making sure she is safe. However, Minnie is blind in one eye, leading to confusion and frantic sprints around the classroom. But Minnie perseveres and has been a great service dog. This is due to the strong bond between Ms. Curtiss and Minnie, created during Minnie’s training, which Ms. Curtiss administered directly. She presented situations to Minnie and rewarded positive behavior with positive reinforcement, mostly consisting of treats. Minnie was an easy dog to train, as she is mild-mannered and loves to learn. Thorough training created Minnie’s response, which is to paw at or jump onto Ms. Curtiss when there is a situation. Once at home, Ms. Curtiss signals to Minnie that she is off-duty. This is the time when service animals become normal animals, free to run and play. But even when not working, Minnie is a caring creature. Refusing toys, Minnie plays with Ms. Curtiss’ three kittens. As she plays, Romes trains her other dog to become a service animal. While training has gone well, this dog is more unruly, so training will be longer. Thus, Minnie will remain Ms. Curtiss’ service animal, completing her duties indubitably. 

Another member of our community, who elected to remain anonymous, has a service animal. Her service animal is Olaf, a 5-year-old first-generation Goldendoodle. Olaf was originally trained to work for a young girl as a diabetic-alert dog, which detects when a person’s blood sugar is not normal. However, the family decided against it, meaning Olaf was back on the market. Olaf’s current owner was recommended a service animal but never wanted a dog. However, she gave it a chance and organized a meeting with Olaf. 

After meeting Olaf, she connected with her and decided to purchase Olaf. The name stuck, as the new owner wanted to honor Olaf’s impact on the young girl. For the last 4 years, Olaf has diligently served her owner. Olaf has been trained for many situations, so she is always alert. For example, Olaf is trained to respond to seizures. A seizure is a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain and it can have physical effects, like twitching or limpness. A person experiencing a seizure may also fall. When Olaf detects signs of a seizure, she goes into action, demanding her owner’s attention. If her owner becomes weak, Olaf becomes a crutch, preventing a fall that can lead to injuries. This is common for her breed, as a larger dog would be necessary when supporting the weight of a human. 

Due to the nature of Olaf’s job, she was trained professionally, using more rigorous techniques to incorporate behaviors. After her current owner purchased her, the trainer came to the owner’s workplace for some months, ensuring everything ran smoothly. Even now, Olaf attends weekly training sessions, honing her skills and capabilities. Just like Minnie, Olaf is off-duty upon reaching home. However, much unlike Minnie, Olaf enjoys playing with toys, her favorite being balls. Olaf is vital to her owner’s safety, and we are all very thankful for her work.