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Service Dog Week

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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

Comments: 62

Previous | 1 2 3 4 [ 5 ] 6 7 | Next

MishaBaby (#48211)

Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 9:42am

This was a lovely idea, but I am disappointed that I won't be able to get the custom maker on my own merit. There need to be more ways for everyone to get the vests.

Arinaya Rutherford (#34865)

Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 9:56am

Just sayin, I LOVE this event! My service dog has a particularly UGLY past because of human cruelty, but she's like my best friend now. She's a wonderful animal and I love her to pieces. Don't know where I'd be without her, really. Thanks for putting this on!

Prof JaMEW (#2712)

Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 10:03am

I agree to what Lucille Lucille (#759) suggested. This way more people would also be able to claim other peoples metal designs.
the way it is now, ther will only be few people who in the end actually need a metal design.
maybe offer to give vests also to people who upload blue edits of the two PSDs to the edit repository. Since blue vests can be actively bought, I guess more people would be in need of edited veryions. I guess at least.

Maeglin (#69206)

Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 10:52am

Is it just me, or does the psd file for the Golden Retriever not work on FireAlpaca for anyone else? I can't afford proper photoshop so FireAlpaca is my go-to program for it.

I mean, I want to do some designs 'cause I need eight more jackets, but I'd prefer to do four designs of each, along with the design for when I get my custom, which I'd hope to be the Retriever.

Hikaru (#15577)

Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 11:06am

I made a suggestions thread with ideas on how to gain additional jackets.

whimsical-cupcake (#69094)

Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 3:36pm

I don't know if anyone else is having this problem, but I'm using firealpaca to do my colorations, and the PSD for the golden retriever doesn't load or open. I don't know if perhaps there's some kind of file error going on, but if someone could help me figure out why it's not working that would be wonderful.

Koaf (#57119)

Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:01pm

if only there was a easier way to get to 15 vests fast

🍂ENGINE🍂 (#8701)

Posted on: Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:56pm

JAK (#15)

Question. if we allow one person to claim multiple designs is that okay as long as long as we only count them as one claim? because some colors are "basic" dog designs and i don't want to recolor them over and over again lol (for those colors that are all the same dog type)

Admiral (#55523)