Did you know?

that almost 35% of the dogs we produce become Service Dogs, TherapyDogs, Or Personal support dogs for Autism, PTSD, Anxiety and more.
‍
‍Therapy, Service and Support Dog
‍Therapy, Service and Support Dogs can be all kinds of levels of training.  Emotional Support Dogs do not require training.  You can train your own service dog.  Service or support Dog owners may require to have any doctors note. Therapy dogs are required to be accessed for temperament to be considered a therapy dog.
‍Therapy  Dog Therapy dogs are dogs that are used to bring comfort and joy to those who areill or under poor conditions, such as those who have been affected by a naturaldisaster. Many people are able to connect with dogs and feel the love that theyprovide, and this has a therapeutic effect on them. Therapy dogs are generally very calm and well-behaved, so that they do notupset or make uncomfortable those around them.‍
Many people confuse Therapy Animals with Service Dogs. A therapy animal is most commonly a dog (but can be other species) that hasbeen obedience trained and screened for its ability to interact favorably withhumans and other animals. The primary purpose of a therapy animal is to provideaffection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes,schools, hospices, disaster areas, and to people with learning difficult ties. Therapy animals are privatelyowned and tend to visit facilities on a regular basis. A therapy animal is onlyhalf of the equation, however. A responsible, caring handler is an importantmember of the therapy animal team. At the end of a visit, therapy animals gohome with their owners. Most commonly, therapy animals are dogs that have shownthey like people and have the temperament to work with them.Although therapy animals provide a very important therapeutic service to allkinds of people in need, they are NOT considered “service animals” and they andtheir handlers have no protections under law (Housing Act, Air Carrier AccessAct, etc.). Some places, however, have laws that afford therapy animals andtheir handlers rights and protections.Programs like The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program offer screeningfor therapy dogs.This program reaches out to thousands of people across Canada on a daily basisbringing comfort, joy and companionship to members of the community who aresick, lonely, reside in long-term care and mental health facilities; are inhospitals, schools and library settings. Program participants reap thetherapeutic benefits of the unconditional companionship of a four-legged friend.
EmotionalSupport Dog
‍An emotional support animal (ESA) or support animal,is a companion animal (pet) that a medical professional says provides somebenefit for a person disabled by a mental health condition or emotionaldisorder. Emotional support animals are typically dogs, but are sometimes catsor other animals.‍
People who qualify for emotional support animals have verifiable psychologicaldisabilities that substantially interfere with major life activities, such asanxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, or panic attacks.‍
An emotional support animal differs from a service animal. Service animals aretrained to perform specific tasks[1] (such as helping a blind person walk),while emotional support animals receive no specific training. (It thereforestands that in the setting of mental illness, whether or not the animal is a“service animal” vs. an Emotional Support Animal would hinge on whether the dogis formally trained to do something specific to mitigate the mental illness.)Any animal that provides support, well-being, comfort, or aid, to an individualthrough companionship, non-judgmental positive regard, and affection may beregarded as an emotional support animal.[2]

‍Emotional Support DogsMost CommonReasons Listed For Emotional Support Dog Needs.
‍Stress Related, Adjustment Disorders, Generalized anxiety disorder, Social anxiety disorder, Phobias, Panic disorder, Post-traumatic stress disorder,Separation anxiety, Dissociative Disorders, Factitious Disorders. EatingDisorders, Impulse-Control Disorders, Mental Disorders, NeurocognitiveDisorders, Mood Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Personality Disorders,Psychotic Disorders, Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders, Sleep Disorders,Somatoform Disorders, Substance Related Disorders, Suicidal Thoughts.
Most Common Reasons Listed For Service Dog Needs.
‍Arthritis, Ataxia (Poor Balance), Autism, Blindness (or Poor Vision), Cancer,Cardio/ Pulmonary Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Deafness Or Hearing Impared,Diabetes, Medical Alert Needs, Multiple Sclerosis (MS),Pain Related, PTSD,Physical Mobility Issues, Psychiatric Disabilities, Seizure Disorders, SevereAllergy Alert, Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord/Head Trauma, Stroke,Why a Lakewood Puppy? What makes them suitable service dogs....‍
In the US, disabled people with emotional support animals are exempted fromcertain rules against having animals in most housing and travel situations. Tobe afforded protection under United States federal law, the owners of emotionalsupport animals must meet the federal definition of disability and must have aletter from their healthcare providers stating that they are being treated fora disabling condition and that their emotional support animals improve orbenefit some component of the disability.  ‍
‍
In Canada the rules are regional.
‍Emotional support animals in Canada have the right to travel with their ownersfor free but don't have any of the other access rights to public spaces thatservice dogs do. This is largely because there's no guarantee they've beentrained to behave themselves in public.Although many areas in of the emotional support animal Canada laws are grayareas, here is a guideline to get you started on finding out more about yourESA rights in your province:Alberta:Human Rights Act Section 5British Columbia: Human Rights Code Chapter 210Manitoba: Manitoba Human Rights Code Chapter H175New Brunswick: Human Rights Act of New Brunswick Chapter H11Newfoundland and Labrador: Human Rights Act Chapter H14Nunavut and Northwest Territories: Human Rights ActNova Scotia: Human Rights Act Chapter 214Ontario: Human Rights Code Chapter H19Prince Edward Islands: Prince Edward Islands Human Rights Act Chapter H12Quebec: The Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms & QuebecHandicapped in the Exercise of their RightsSaskatchewan: Saskatchewan Human Rights Code Chapter S24.1Yukon: Yukon Human Rights Act

‍Most Common Reasons Listed For Emotional Support Dog Needs.
‍Stress Related, Adjustment Disorders, Generalized anxiety disorder, Socialanxiety disorder, Phobias, Panic disorder, Post-traumatic stress disorder,Separation anxiety, Dissociative Disorders, Factitious Disorders. EatingDisorders, Impulse-Control Disorders, Mental Disorders, NeurocognitiveDisorders, Mood Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Personality Disorders,Psychotic Disorders, Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders, Sleep Disorders,Somatoform Disorders, Substance Related Disorders, Suicidal Thoughts.
‍
Service Dog
‍Service dogs are dogs that havebeen individually trained to perform a specific task for individuals who havedisabilities. The disabilities can vary greatly, and so do the tasks that theservice dogs perform.‍
Service dogs are often identified by wearing a service dog vest or tag, lettingthe public know that it is a service dog; otherwise, their handlers will findthemselves having to explain everywhere that they go that their dog is a service dog.Service dogs can be trained by their owners or in any other manner the ownerdesires to assist them ‍
‍
Most Common Reasons Listed For Service Dog Needs.
‍Asthma (or other breathing problems) Allergy Alert Blindness (& partialblindness) Cancer Deafness (& partial deafness) Cardio Vascular StrokeDiabetes Dizziness/Balance problems Epilepsy General Hearing DifficultyMobility Problems Neurological Problems Paralysis Physical Weakness SpeechProblems Seizures General Medical AlertService dogs can be trained by their owners or in any other manner the ownerdesires to assist them.
ONTARIO RULESOntario.ca‍Guide dogs and service animals If you havea guide dog or other service animal, they must be allowed to staywith you when you receive services in: restaurants grocery stores taxisIf yourguide dog/service animal does not wear a vest or harness, you canshow documentation from one of these regulated health professionals:audiologist or speech-language pathologist chiropractor nurse occupationaltherapist optometrist physician or surgeon physiotherapist psychologistpsychotherapist or mental health therapist In some cases, the law does not allow service animals. Allow service animalsThere are various typesof service animals besides guide dogs that  support people with various types ofdisabilities, such as: vision loss epilepsy autism anxiety disorder There areno restrictions on what type of animal can be used as a service animal tosupport a person with a disability. An animal is considered a service animalif: it can be readily identified as one being used because of the    person’s disability e.g. if it wears a harness, vest or other visual    indicator or the person with a disability provides documentationfrom a regulated health professional Sometimes you might be able toidentify that an animal is a service animal because it helps a person with adisability perform certain tasks, like opening a door, or picking up a droppedobject. Don’t make assumptions. If you cannot easily identify that the animalis a service animal, you can ask the person to provide documentation (forexample, template, letter and forms) from a regulated health professional. Thedocumentation must confirm that the person needs the service animal for reasonsrelating to their disability. Welcome service animals into public areas ofyour workplace or business. In cases where the law prohibits service animals,provide another way for the person to access your goods, services orfacilities. Service animals have a job todo. They are not pets. Avoid touching or addressing a service animal. Yourcustomer is responsible for the care and supervision of their service animal.When creating your policies: clearly identify the areas of your premises thatare open to service     animals evaluate how you should adapt yourpractices to provide services to     people who have service animalsthink about how else you would provide your services if the law    prohibits a service animal from an area in your workplace or business

Examples of when a lawprohibits a service animal:
‍Pauline is a supplier for arestaurant and she uses a service animal. Although the restaurant must allowservice animals in the public dining area, another law prevents animals fromentering the restaurant’s kitchen, where the manager usually meets withsuppliers. When Pauline comes for her meeting, they use the office upstairs. Acharity runs a cooking class. It does not allow service animals in to itskitchen as this is a place where food is prepared and stored. Instead, the charityoffers a person with a service animal a safe place where their animal may waitduring the class. At the same time, an employee provides assistance as asighted guide to the person attending the class without their service animal. 
‍
‍Definition of a service animal
‍According tothe AODA’s Customer Service Standards, one of two conditions mustapply for your animal to be considered a service animal: the animal is easilyidentifiable as relating to your disability   (for example, it is a guidedog or other animal wearing a vest or harness) you can provide documentationfrom a regulated health professional confirming the animal is required due to adisability Service animals are not pets. Additional fees or requirements thatapply to pets do not apply to service animals.

‍What youneed to know under the law
‍You are allowed to bring yourservice animal into areas that are open to the public unless the animal isexcluded by another law. Some municipalities may also have by-laws restrictingcertain breeds of animals or dogs from the municipality. In cases where anotherlaw prohibits service animals from entering the premises, the business ororganization must provide another way for you to access their goods, servicesor facilities.
‍
‍Documentation and certification
‍Under theOntario Human Rights Code and the AODA, service animals donot need to have certificates oridentity cards.
However, you may be asked to provide acceptable documentation.
This includes: documentation from a regulated health professional anidentification card from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General forpeople who are blind and use a guide dog

Therapy, Service and Support Dog
Therapy, Service and Support Dogs can be all kinds of levels of training.  Emotional Support Dogs do not require training.  You can train your own service dog.  Service or support Dog owners may require to have any doctors note. Therapy dogs are required to be accessed for temperment to be considered a therapy dog.

Most Common Reasons Listed For Emotional Support Dog Needs.
Stress Related, Adjustment Disorders, Generalized anxiety disorder, Social anxiety disorder, Phobias, Panic disorder, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Separation anxiety, Dissociative Disorders, Factitious Disorders. Eating Disorders, Impulse-Control Disorders, Mental Disorders, Neurocognitive Disorders, Mood Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Personality Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders, Sleep Disorders, Somatoform Disorders, Substance Related Disorders, Suicidal Thoughts.

Most Common Reasons Listed For Service Dog Needs.
Arthritis, Ataxia (Poor Balance), Autism, Blindness (or Poor Vision), Cancer, Cardio/ Pulmonary Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Deafness Or Hearing Impared, Diabetes, Medical Alert Needs, Multiple Sclerosis (MS),Pain Related, PTSD, Physical Mobility Issues, Psychiatric Disabilities, Seizure Disorders, Severe Allergy Alert, Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord/Head Trauma, Stroke,
Why a Lakewood Puppy? What makes them suitable service dogs....
‍
Therapy  Dog
Therapy dogs are dogs that are used to bring comfort and joy to those who are ill or under poor conditions, such as those who have been affected by a natural disaster. Many people are able to connect with dogs and feel the love that they provide, and this has a therapeutic effect on them. 
Therapy dogs are generally very calm and well-behaved, so that they do not upset or make uncomfortable those around them.
‍
Therapy Dogs
Many people confuse Therapy Animals with Service Dogs. 
A therapy animal is most commonly a dog (but can be other species) that has been obedience trained and screened for its ability to interact favorably with humans and other animals. The primary purpose of a therapy animal is to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, disaster areas, and to people with learning
difficulties. 
‍
Therapy animals are privately owned and tend to visit facilities on a regular basis. A therapy animal is only half of the equation, however. A responsible, caring handler is an important member of the therapy animal team. At the end of a visit, therapy animals go home with their owners. Most commonly, therapy animals are dogs that have shown they like people and have the temperament to work with them.
‍
Although therapy animals provide a very important therapeutic service to all kinds of people in need, they are NOT considered “service animals” and they and their handlers have no protections under law (Housing Act, Air Carrier Access Act, etc.). Some places, however, have laws that afford therapy animals and their handlers rights and protections.
‍
Programs like The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program offer screening for therapy dogs.
‍
This program reaches out to thousands of people across Canada on a daily basis bringing comfort, joy and companionship to members of the community who are sick, lonely, reside in long-term care and mental health facilities; are in hospitals, schools and library settings. Program participants reap the therapeutic benefits of the unconditional companionship of a four-legged friend.

Emotional Support Dog
An emotional support animal (ESA) or support animal, is a companion animal (pet) that a medical professional says provides some benefit for a person disabled by a mental health condition or emotional disorder. Emotional support animals are typically dogs, but are sometimes cats or other animals.
‍
People who qualify for emotional support animals have verifiable psychological disabilities that substantially interfere with major life activities, such as anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, or panic attacks.
‍
An emotional support animal differs from a service animal. Service animals are trained to perform specific tasks[1] (such as helping a blind person walk), while emotional support animals receive no specific training. (It therefore stands that in the setting of mental illness, whether or not the animal is a “service animal” vs. an Emotional Support Animal would hinge on whether the dog is formally trained to do something specific to mitigate the mental illness.) Any animal that provides support, well-being, comfort, or aid, to an individual through companionship, non-judgmental positive regard, and affection may be regarded as an emotional support animal.[2]
‍
In the US, disabled people with emotional support animals are exempted from certain rules against having animals in most housing and travel situations. To be afforded protection under United States federal law, the owners of emotional support animals must meet the federal definition of disability and must have a letter from their healthcare providers stating that they are being treated for a disabling condition and that their emotional support animals improve or benefit some component of the disability.  
‍
In Canada the rules are regional.
Emotional support animals in Canada have the right to travel with their owners for free but don't have any of the other access rights to public spaces that service dogs do. This is largely because there's no guarantee they've been trained to behave themselves in public.
‍
Although many areas in of the emotional support animal Canada laws are gray areas, here is a guideline to get you started on finding out more about your ESA rights in your province:
‍
Alberta: Human Rights Act Section 5
British Columbia: Human Rights Code Chapter 210
Manitoba: Manitoba Human Rights Code Chapter H175
New Brunswick: Human Rights Act of New Brunswick Chapter H11
Newfoundland and Labrador: Human Rights Act Chapter H14
Nunavut and Northwest Territories: Human Rights Act
Nova Scotia: Human Rights Act Chapter 214
Ontario: Human Rights Code Chapter H19
Prince Edward Islands: Prince Edward Islands Human Rights Act Chapter H12
Quebec: The Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms & Quebec Handicapped in the Exercise of their Rights
Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Human Rights Code Chapter S24.1
Yukon: Yukon Human Rights Act
‍
Most Common Reasons Listed For Emotional Support Dog Needs.
Stress Related, Adjustment Disorders, Generalized anxiety disorder, Social anxiety disorder, Phobias, Panic disorder, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Separation anxiety, Dissociative Disorders, Factitious Disorders. Eating Disorders, Impulse-Control Disorders, Mental Disorders, Neurocognitive Disorders, Mood Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Personality Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders, Sleep Disorders, Somatoform Disorders, Substance Related Disorders, Suicidal Thoughts.

Service DogService dogs are dogs that have been individually trained to perform a specific task for individuals who have disabilities. The disabilities can vary greatly, and so do the tasks that the service dogs perform.
‍
Service dogs are often identified by wearing a service dog vest or tag, letting the public know that it is a service dog; otherwise, their handlers will find themselves having to explain everywhere
that they go that their dog is a service dog.
Service dogs can be trained by their owners or in any other manner the owner desires to assist them
‍
Most Common Reasons Listed For Service Dog Needs.
Asthma (or other breathing problems) Allergy Alert Blindness (& partial blindness) Cancer Deafness (& partial deafness) Cardio Vascular Stroke Diabetes Dizziness/Balance problems Epilepsy General Hearing Difficulty Mobility Problems Neurological Problems Paralysis Physical Weakness Speech Problems Seizures General Medical Alert

Service dogs can be trained by their owners or in any other manner the owner desires to assist them

ONTARIO RULES

Ontario.ca

‍Guide dogs and service animalsIf you have a guide dog or other service animal,they must be allowed to stay with you when you receive services in: restaurants grocery stores taxisIf your guide dog/service animal does not wear avest or harness, you can show documentation from one of these regulatedhealth professionals: audiologist or speech-language pathologist chiropractor nurse occupational therapist optometrist physician or surgeon physiotherapist psychologist psychotherapist or mental health therapistIn some cases, the law does not allow serviceanimals.Allow service animalsThere are various types of service animals besides guide dogs thatsupport people with various types of disabilities, such as: vision loss epilepsy autism anxiety disorderThere are no restrictions on what type of animal can beused as a service animal to support a person with a disability. An animal isconsidered a service animal if: it can be readily identified as one being used because of the     person’s disability e.g. if it wears a harness, vest or other visual     indicator or the person with a disability provides documentation from a regulated health professionalSometimes you might be able to identify that an animal is aservice animal because it helps a person with a disability perform certaintasks, like opening a door, or picking up a dropped object.Don’t make assumptions. If you cannot easily identify thatthe animal is a service animal, you can ask the person to provide documentation(for example, template, letter and forms) from a regulated health professional.The documentation must confirm that the person needs the service animal forreasons relating to their disability.Welcome service animals into public areas of your workplaceor business. In cases where the law prohibits service animals, provide anotherway for the person to access your goods, services or facilities.Service animals have a job to do. They are not pets. Avoidtouching or addressing a service animal. Your customer is responsible for thecare and supervision of their service animal. When creating your policies: clearly identify the areas of your premises that are open to service     animals evaluate how you should adapt your practices to provide services to     people who have service animals think about how else you would provide your services if the law     prohibits a service animal from an area in your workplace or businessExamples of when a law prohibits a service animal:Pauline is a supplier for a restaurant and she uses a service animal.Although the restaurant must allow service animals in the public dining area,another law prevents animals from entering the restaurant’s kitchen, where themanager usually meets with suppliers. When Pauline comes for her meeting, theyuse the office upstairs.A charity runs a cooking class. It does not allow service animals intoits kitchen as this is a place where food is prepared and stored. Instead, thecharity offers a person with a service animal a safe place where their animalmay wait during the class. At the same time, an employee provides assistance asa sighted guide to the person attending the class without their service animal. Definition of a service animalAccording to the AODA’s Customer Service Standards, one of twoconditions must apply for your animal to be considered a service animal: the animal is easily identifiable as relating to your disability     (for example, it is a guide dog or other animal wearing a vest or harness) you can provide documentation from a regulated health professional     confirming the animal is required due to a disabilityService animals are not pets. Additional fees orrequirements that apply to pets do not apply to service animals.What you need toknow under the lawYou are allowed to bring your service animal into areas that are open tothe public unless the animal is excluded by another law.Some municipalities may also have by-laws restricting certain breeds ofanimals or dogs from the municipality.In cases where another law prohibits service animals from entering thepremises, the business or organization must provide another way for you toaccess their goods, services or facilities.

‍Documentation and certificationUnder the Ontario Human Rights Code and the AODA,service animals do not need to have certificates or identitycards.

However, you may be asked to provide acceptabledocumentation.

This includes: documentation from a regulated health professional an identification card from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General for people who are blind and use a guide dog