Living Life Fully: The Helping Power of Service Dogs

Casey and Max.

Dominique and Tripp.

Kate and Charlie.

Amazing humans and the amazing therapy dogs that help them live life fully.

At the advice of a friend, I reached out months ago to dog whisperer/trainer Casey Buckley to learn about the world of service therapy dogs and the role they play in helping humans stay physically and mentally healthy.

Casey & Max

I learned that service dogs are indeed amazing, trained to alert and assist with so many important aspects of life—medical emergencies, balance and mobility, and psychiatric service work. I learned that training a service dog doesn’t happen quickly—it can take hundreds and hundreds of hours over the course of one and a half to two years. There are significant costs involved as well. When properly trained, however, therapy dogs allow people with disabilities live full lives, and this is the motivating factor for Casey to do the work.

To show the dog’s remarkable impact on the quality of life of a human, Casey and I decided to document a training “field trip” with clients Kate and Dominique (and their dogs Tripp and Charlie) as they ventured out into the world together, exploring public spaces. We met at Dilworth Park, a park alongside Philadelphia’s City Hall, and then traveled as a group to The Franklin Institute, where the group took in activities and exhibits. Both activities would have been unimaginable for Kate and Dominique before their service dogs became part of their lives.

Dominique & Tripp

Kate and Dominique were effusive about how their dogs have enhanced their lives but were equally effusive about the role that Casey played in the successful training of the dogs. Casey’s background as a licensed medical social worker brings an additional understanding about human behaviors to these relationships.  Kate explained that “Sometimes we don’t even know really what we need or what we’re experiencing or how a dog may be able to assist, and Casey can bridge that gap.”

Being out in the world filming with three amazing service dogs on a lovely summer day is also an education in service dog etiquette. Many, many people wanted to interact with the dogs. Casey, Dominique and Kate fielded dozens of questions about the dogs with grace and patience. I could imagine, however, how these queries might be challenging every day.

The handlers offered some wise words of advice. According to Casey, “service dogs are classified under ADA law as medical equipment. That means it’s the same as having a wheelchair, a cane, crutches, any of those things.” Dominique added, “I think it’s important for people to know that service dogs are more than just pets. if someone does have a service dog, they serve a vital function in that person’s life and that people should treat the dog as an extension of the person.”

Kate & Charlie

“Yes, she’s my dog and I love her,” said Kate, “but when she’s working, she is an assistive device. So, if someone is talking to me, they should talk to me as if she’s not actually present.

“I don’t think people mean to be rude or disrespectful, but a lot of times people will try to talk to her or make sounds at her and that is distracting because she’s working.”

Recovery Diaries Executive Director Gabe Nathan calls this film “a warm, wet, slobbery canine kiss. Seriously; what an affectionate, informative, and big-hearted tribute to these three animals and these three humans.” (Gabe and his wife Kavita are dog lovers, for sure. Their dog, Sadie has been featured in many a Recovery Diaries social media spot). I’m delighted to introduce you to handlers Casey, Dominique and Kate and their spectacular dogs Max, Tripp and Charlie.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Gabriel Nathan | EDITOR: Glenn Holsten | DESIGN: Leah Alexandra Goldstein | SITE ORIGINATOR: Bud Clayman