What is an Emotional Support Dog?
An Emotional Support Dog is a dog that a licensed mental health professional has determined provides some benefit to an individual with a mental or emotional disability. Emotional Support Dogs are also commonly called Companion Dogs and are a specific type of Emotional Support Animal. They are not service dogs, and do not carry the same legal protections that service dogs have.
What is a Service Dog?
A service dog is a term used in the USA to refer to any type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities, such as visual impairment, hearing impairments, mental disorders (such as post traumatic stress disorder), seizures, mobility impairment, and diabetes. Service dogs are protected under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).
What is Pawz 4 Cause?
Paws 4 Cause is a program that offers low cost puppies and young adult American Bullies to veterans with disabilities. Our puppies and dogs will be offered to those who qualify for training as service dogs or an emotional support dogs. Because temperament, stability, and health are important characteristics of a dog with a role such as an ESA or SA, it is important to choose from a breeder who breeds for those traits. Temperament, confidence, stable mentality, and health of a dog are all genetic traits, so it is important that a potential ESA or service animal is from parents who were bred for those traits.