When you’re asked to accommodate a service animal in the office, things may appear more challenging than they are. However, most service dogs are highly trained, very professional, and rarely behave like the average dog. Start here to learn more about Guide Dogs.
What does someone with a visual disability use a service animal for?
There are dozens of reasons why someone with a visual disability or someone who is blind might need a service dog. However, only 5% of blind people rely on a guide dog. Whether they were born with a disability or acquired it due to accident or illness, remember that it is not appropriate to ask about a person's disability.
In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, the two questions you can ask someone who uses a service animal are:
- is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and
- what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require that a service animal be registered or tagged as such.
Guide dogs, or service dogs for the blind, have a multitude of uses. They can help the handler avoid hazards and navigate their surroundings, including crossing roads, and they can also help with day-to-day tasks in the home and office. A service animal in the office might fetch a ringing phone, pick up things that are dropped, and help the handler navigate the office without injuring themselves.
Service dogs can also help employees fight social isolation and reduce stress and anxiety. However, employers should always be mindful that service animals are not employed to calm others. Service animals are present to perform a task and work exclusively for their owner.
What are service dogs like in the office?
Service dogs are not like regular dogs; they are expertly trained and very well-behaved. They often take pride in their work and have a single-minded focus − their handler. Most of the time, you shouldn’t pet a service dog while they’re working, as it distracts them from their handler.
Nevertheless, service dogs are still dogs, and they will need toilet breaks and exercise. The dog’s handler is responsible for exercising the dog well before and after work so that they are calm enough to behave in the office. Service dogs are very well socialized and are not easily spooked by loud noises or lots of people.
How do I prepare my team when service animals are present?
Everyone loves a service dog, so integrating them into your team shouldn’t be too hard. Your cleaners and people with allergies to animal dander might have issues, though. The best way around this is to let them know in advance. Find out who has allergies and how severe they are, and develop a plan for managing the dander. You might need to consider keeping a separate space for the dog or keeping staff with allergies on the opposite side of the office. You can even tape a line across the floor to delineate where the dog should go and where it shouldn’t. You can then ask the handler to train the dog to understand this line or simply ensure it can be felt underfoot by the handler.
Adding a service dog to your team doesn’t have to be a challenge. Learn more about service animals using this Department of Justice (DOJ) guide, and you’ll be able to accommodate a service dog with minimal disruption to your company’s daily activities.
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