By Jordan L.
A service dog in a harness is helping a blind person walk
down the street. 

Training Service Dogs
Service dogs help people with disabilities in their daily
activities. These dogs are trained at a special facility, usually with other
types of assistance dogs. After the service dogs have been trained specifically
for their soon-to-be owner’s needs, the owners go to the facility to train with
their dog for about two weeks. After the dogs are trained, as long as the
training has gone well, there will be a graduation ceremony, and the dog will
go home with his/her owner.
How to Act around a Service Dog
When you are around service dogs and their owners, it is
always best to talk to the owner, not the dog. Ignore the dog as to not
distract him or her from their work. If you want to pet the dog, ask the owner,
and wait until they say it’s alright. If you want to know about the dog, ask
the owner.
Service Dogs for America
Service Dogs for America, or SDA, was created by Ed Duden,
Steve Powers, and Michael Goehring in 1989. It is a nonprofit organization that
assists those with disabilities in their daily lives by providing them with
highly trained service dogs. SDA headquarters is located in Jud, North Dakota,
and is the only nonprofit service dog provider in North Dakota. It aims to help
physically injured people be more independent by using a trained assistance
dog. According to its website, “We hope to see a society where disabled
individuals are empowered to fully participate in social, educational, and
occupational opportunities.”