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Service Dog Week IS HERE!!!
This week on Aywas, we're going to celebrate service dogs! Service dogs are extremely important and we feel like they need a little spotlight to show how awesome they are.
Service Dog Information
The first thing we'd like to shine light on is US regulations about service dogs. Since 90% of our community is from the United States, this is great information for the majority of you. Here's a link to the official ADA Frequently Asked Questions about Service Dogs! Some important information to note:
1. Service dogs do not need to be registered, nor do they need identification. Any US database for service dogs that charges handlers to register is a scam!
2. People with disabilities have the right to train their own dog as a service dog. They are not required to get a professionally trained dog.
3. Service dogs are permitted ANYWHERE the public is allowed. Staff are only allowed to ask two questions of a handler: 1) Is this a service dog required because of a disability?, 2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
4. Staff cannot request identification for the dog, ask about the handler's disability, or ask that the dog demonstrate its trained task. The dog does not need an ID card, a special vest, or any special harness, though many service dogs do wear vests.
5. If you see a service dog, do not pet or distract the dog in any way! Many service dogs are required to focus on their handler to ensure their handler remains safe. You can politely ask the handler if you can pet the dog, but respect their answer if it's a "NO."
Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Dogs and Therapy Dogs
Curious about the difference between service dogs and emotional support and therapy dogs? Check out this resource to learn more Click here!
Want to learn more about service dogs, or where to get your own service dog? Check out the links below!
Please Don't Pet Me
Assistance Dogs International
Canine Companions for Independence
Paws with a Cause
Service Dog Central
One of our administrators speaks very highly of their favorite service dog charity, Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD). This is a 501(c)(3) charity that we're excited to donate to during Service Dog Week!
For the duration of Service Dog Week (7/26 - 8/2), we will be donating 10% of our income from the USD Shop and GP Purchases to this suggested charity. We've been told by our admin that they really need the money right now due to surgery on one of their animals, and we definitely want to help.
On August 2nd, the last day of Service Dog Week, we will be running the Mystery Box. Consider this a head's up!
So let's get into what we have available for Service Dog Week!
Golden Retriever Service Dog | Labrador Service Dog
These are Service Dog Vests and what you'll need to collect to make the Service Dog SCCs shown above. If you collect fifteen Service Dog Vests, you can trade them in for one "metal" custom maker for one of the SCCs. These metal custom makers are currently stocking in the Event Shop.
These are used to make metal (coloring only, no edits) Service Dog SCCs.
So how do you get Service Dog Vests? Good question! The Trivia this week (7/26 - 8/2) has ten service dog related questions for you to answer, and for every one you get correct, you get one vest!
You can also write about your experiences with Service Dogs to earn one vest per 100 words you write, or you can color Service Dog SCCs for others to earn additional vests!
If you are interested in edited Service Dog SCCs, then head to the USD Shop to pick up some blue custom makers (50% edited) there for $5.00 each. These makers will be available until August 2nd 11:59 PM. All custom makers will be usable until August 31st, at which point they will be made into special collectibles.
So! As a recap:
- 10% of our income is going to our selected charity from 7/26 - 8/2
- Pick up Metal Service Dog items in the Event shop until 8/2, 11:59 PM
- Pick up Blue Service Dog items in the USD shop until 8/2, 11:59 PM
- The Mystery Box will open on 8/2 (so technically 11:59 PM of 8/1 to 11:59 PM of 8/2)
- All four custom makers will be functioning until 8/31 11:59 PM
- The Trivia will be available to earn vests until 8/2 11:59 PM
- The Coloring Thread and Experiences thread will be open until 8/2 11:59 PM
Enjoy Service Dog Week!
Posted by JAK
(#15) on Sat Jul 25, 2015 10:05pm
- ChaosAzeroth
(#43055)
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Posted on: Sat Jul 25, 2015 11:53pm
IDK I almost feel like the point of this is more to raise money and awareness then give out shinies for people.....I get being disapointed, I'm not likely to be able to get one either but I don't think this is an event per se. That being said, I think that's where a lot of bad feelings and stuff are going to be coming from the fact that I think a lot of people thought this was going to be an Aywas event type thing.
- Broken
(#1464)
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Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:06am
ChaosAzeroth, I'm with you it seems like anymore practically every 'event'/special items are all about who can spend RL money on the site and not the 'normal' user base. SMH
- 👽Frosty Nips🎏
(#47422)
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Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:11am
I don't see it as necessarily an event but it's sort of half/half it seems, i mean giving some somewhat easy ways to gain the jackets is good but then it's not enough to get even one metal pet? I mean at the very least if a 10/10 had given everyone a chance to get a metal that would leave a lot of room for those who colour. But now there's going to be most people with 10 or less just floating around, this leaves room for item and gp selling which detracts from the original event i think. I mean, why not make it like our other supporting events where it's straight up donation to gain the scc? It just seems odd to almost tease people with the thought of gaining it only to leave us with nothing.
I mean i MIGHT get paid before this event is over and will be willing to spend the $5 to get a blue custom maker which then goes towards supporting it, but in a way i'd rather donate like $20 and have the ability to get just a couple of metal custom makers. I suppose it just seems like this event/awareness issue could have been better planned.
All just personal opinions and all as I totally understand this is supposed to be for awareness but it just seems like an odd middle ground that doesn't really seem like it works?
- Satin & Chenille
(#10)
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Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:13am
idk i think its kind of appropriate that people with experiences with service dogs have an advantage here, because more than likely it would be someone who actually has/had a service dog...in other words, people with disabilities/conditions that service dogs help with. it feels weird to see complaining about not having any experiences with them to utilize for a freebie petsite item. also i think chaosazeroth is right in that comment above, the point is more to raise money/awareness than to be a shiny event.
- Satin & Chenille
(#10)
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Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:15am
my comment posted before i saw Ecto ♛ Frost's but thats a good point also
- 👽Frosty Nips🎏
(#47422)
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Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:15am
But how does it raise awareness if those who already are involved with them are the only ones who can really contribute to the event...that's entirely the opposite of what we want, we want those who aren't aware to be more involved so they do know of the great benefits of these animals?!
- 👽Frosty Nips🎏
(#47422)
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Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:19am
Not meaning to sound like complaints so I do apologize if it sounds whiney but I believe firmly in the companionship and use of service animals in general and their benefits elsewhere so I think raising awareness for this is great, but we need to make sure we're targeting those who are unaware not those who already know all about it.
And there's not enough of that kind of targeting in this 'mini event' i think seems an appropriate word for it :) perhaps a forum with people discussing what they personally believe the benefits of service pets would be good and maybe a broader way to include the general aywas public?
- Satin & Chenille
(#10)
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Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:23am
i mean there are links in the newspost for questions about service dogs and like...people are probably googling about them to answer trivia questions. there could be more info linked up there, sure. but the point i was making there was that awareness is being raised about service dogs because they help certain people, so it seems fitting to me that those people would have an advantage and its weird to complain about not having that advantage because its as though by extension people are like "not fair, i dont have any health condition or disabilities that would give me experience with service dogs" like i know thats not anyones intention but it comes off that way and ppl should probably put more thought into what theyre saying before complaining about that portion of the event. the rest of what youre talking about i agree with tho
- Satin & Chenille
(#10)
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Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:26am
unfortunately a good portion of the "awareness" depends on people voluntarily clicking the links and reading information about service dogs themselves. but i do think for a more personal look at it, people should take a look at what others are writing in their experiences with service dogs. a forum for that is also an excellent idea.
Posted on: Sat Jul 25, 2015 11:41pm
I agree, there's not a great chance of many people getting vests and only so many people are going to want/need the free colourings because it's so hard to get the vests in the first place...I think we need at least one other way to get some more vests otherwise this event isn't very fair for everyone on aywas.