How Did the International Assistance Dog Week Come to Be?
The International Assistance Dog Week was celebrated for the first time in 2009. The event was crafted by Marcie Davis, who sustained a spinal cord injury and was paired with a service dog. She established the week to raise public awareness and inspire others to recognize the work of assistance dogs and the dedication of their trainers, and the invaluable support of volunteers.
When Do We Celebrate the International Assistance Dog Week?
The International Assistance Dog Week is celebrated each year beginning on the first Sunday of August and running for one week. Different organizations around the world mark the same week with local events, awareness campaigns, and advocacy efforts timed to the first Sunday of August. The consistent timing helps dog trainers, puppy raisers, breeders, advocacy groups, service dog recipients, and the public plan coordinated activities that highlight the role of assistance dogs. An integral topic during the week is the rights and access issues that affect service dog teams.
Why Do We Celebrate the International Assistance Dog Week?
The International Assistance Dog Week was established to recognize and honor the devotion and life-changing work of assistance dogs (also called service dogs), their trainers, puppy raisers, and the people they serve. The celebration aims to raise public awareness, keep a record of service dog accomplishments, and educate communities about assistance dog roles and access rights.
The initiative was created and promoted through the efforts of disability advocacy groups and individuals within the assistance/service dog community. Over time, coalitions such as Assistance Dogs International, the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, and national service dog training organizations have adopted and amplified the International Assistance Dog Week to establish shared standards, encourage volunteer support, and coordinate global messaging about the social, practical, and legal impacts of assistance/service dogs.
How Can We Participate in the International Assistance Dog Week?
There are many practical ways individuals and organizations can participate. You could volunteer with local assistance-dog organizations to help with puppy raising, socialization, or fundraising. You could attend or help run local International Assistance Dog Week events. You may use social media to share stories that educate the public about assistance dog functions and access rights. You should underestimate the impact of a personal story with an assistance dog shared online.
Organizations often run advocacy campaigns during the week to ask businesses and communities to respect assistance-dog access, as that directly translates to respecting the access rights of their paired disabled individuals. The International Assistance Dog Week is a great occasion for you to donate to accredited service dog trainers, supporting non-profit organizations, approved breeders, and puppy raisers.
Suppose you find that there are no local events planned for the International Assistance Dog Week. In that case, you may want to try working with your local city council and municipality to improve awareness about service dogs and their amazing skills. Hosting informational sessions at your local school, workplace, or community center to explain how assistance dogs help people with disabilities and how the public should interact with working teams is an amazing opportunity to connect with local businesses and improve service dog reception.
