Today, you see more and more service dogs out in public places that help people struggling with disabilities. What a wonderful idea! It's not just for people with physical disabilities, either. Many people with mental health conditions (such as PTSD or Schizophrenia) enjoy using service dogs. It can give someone their life back and help them gain/maintain independence.
Here is a children's book that I recommend that is based on a real-life service dog:
"Mitchie the Service Dog Gets a Job!" by Diane Petrozzo (as reviewed by me on Readers' Favorite):
Mitchie the Service Dog Gets a Job! is a heartwarming story by Diane Petrozzo. It begins in Colorado with an elderly man named Mel, who is losing his eyesight. Upon hearing the news from his doctor that he will eventually become blind, he feels hopeless, alone, and in great despair. In the meantime, a black Labrador puppy named Mitchie is training to become a service dog in Upstate New York. He is nervous that he won’t do a good job and that people won’t like him. Yet he ends up excelling in service dog school and is at the top of his class. He is still a little unsure of himself, though. Soon he is assigned to become Mel’s service dog out in Colorado. When Mel comes to the service dog school to visit, he is instantly impressed and more hopeful about his situation. Together, they set out on a journey full of growth, joy, and an unshakeable bond between man and dog.
Mitchie the Service Dog Gets a Job! is such an inspirational story filled with hope and encouragement. Diane Petrozzo teaches children in a way they can understand about the gift of perseverance, helping someone in need, and believing in yourself. A situation is never hopeless, and there is always room to grow. I love stories like this that educate us on how animals can help people with all kinds of disabilities. We need them just as much as they need us to take care of them. This story also raises awareness of this valuable service and can help increase its availability to people. The characters are very well-developed and relatable. Diane does a great job of showing the emotional bond between Mel and Mitchie. The beautiful illustrations by Lauren Zurcher express this even more vividly. Both children and adults will love looking at the bright and colorful illustrations (especially of adorable Mitchie!). Diane also does a wonderful job of showing how someone can grow if they learn to trust themselves and open their hearts to others. The rewards are endless. Trust the process of life, and remember that there’s always a way forward. Who better to teach us that than the unconditional love of an animal? I highly recommend this book for children of all ages.
Speaking of service dogs, a family member recently told me that she learned in a documentary that Charles Schultz, creator of the "Snoopy" character from the Peanuts cartoon, constructed a service dog school back in 1975 called "Canine Companions for Independence (CCI)."
What an incredible accomplishment! CCI is a free service for people with various disabilities that are looking for a service dog to help them navigate life.
What is your opinion on this? Do you know of anyone who has a service animal?
One Final Note...
I do hope, however, that more public places allow service animals for emotional support. Mental health is just as important as physical health! What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!
