Devoted, Protective, and There Every Day.

Thanks to her friend Emma, Robin Campman of New York is not afraid to go to the mall or to be home alone. People are also friendlier and less intimidated by her wheelchair. These days, Ms. Campman, a mother of 4 and a former flute player, is busy introducing schoolchildren to Emma, her service dog.

Dogs like Emma are trained professionals. They pull wheelchairs up ramps; braced in place, they steady and support people as they transfer to and from a wheelchair or rise from a seated position. They walk alongside people with unsteady gait providing balance, and they help people get up from falls. With their acute sense of smell, dogs can locate objects, places, and people.

Like the more familiar guide or "seeing eye" dog, service dogs are allowed in many public places that ban pets. The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees this for service dogs even if state law specifies "guide dogs". Theoretically, service dog users don't have to show anyone documentation of their disability or the dog's training, but it can help to carry your dog's training certificate. Sometimes a special harness or leash will make it easier for the public to identify your dog as a working animal. State laws about service animals are sometimes different from federal regulations--some states give them more privileges--so it makes sense to find out about your state's legislation. Be aware that no one has to accommodate a service dog if it is disruptive or appears to be dangerous.

Cindy Teal of South Carolina began using a service dog in 1983 and is now a certified Master Dog Trainer. She trains dogs for others and is now training her own third companion. She remembers fondly her first service dog, Murphy, who won the Society's Applause for Paws award in 1995. Murphy came to the family's rescue when, after a day of zigzagging through San Diego shopping and sightseeing, everyone was quite lost. Not Murphy He led them directly to their hotel, without having to retrace any steps.

Service dogs are usually large, commonly Labradors and Golden Retrievers, but not all tasks rely on size. Laura Cooper's dog is a Jack Russell terrier who rides in a backpack on her power chair. Dot Com retrieves, fetches, and barks on command to summon help when Ms. Cooper needs it. No one will ever blindside her while Dot Com rides shotgun, but Ms. Cooper, a legal consultant to the National MS Society, is always patiently educating others that Dot Com is a working dog.

Would a service dog give you more mobility and independence? Could a dog perform tasks so you could conserve energy?

Would the other members of your household accept a dog? Can you make a long-term commitment? You, not someone else, must feed and care for the dog so it will depend on you, and, because the dog needs exercise and work, you won't be able to hide at home. (But you'll soon discover how friendly people are when a dog is around to break the ice.)

If you decide yes, you do want a service dog, don't expect to snap your fingers and have one. It may take from 6 months to 2 years to find and train a dog to match your needs. Training is more extensive than pet obedience training, and it is not something you'll be able to do alone. In fact, pets can be difficult to train because of their existing relationships with their owners and rarely become service dogs.

Be a good consumer and dig in. You'll need a qualified dog trainer or an organization to match you with a dog. Start by contacting one of the organizations in the box below for information and lists of trainers in your area. Check with your Society chapter and local animal groups. There may not be a qualified trainer near you. Robin Campman had to go to another city for a 2-week training course before Emma could come home.

Because there is no standard certification for service dog trainers, always ask for references and affiliations. Be sure the dog is trained in a method you can use, and ask for a written guarantee and a complete breakdown of the costs. In turn, you will be interviewed and may need to produce medical and financial records.

Not surprisingly, service dogs cost thousands of dollars. But some nonprofit organizations charge nothing, while others have fees from $150 to $300. You might be asked to find sponsors to defray the organization's additional costs. And don't forget the continuing costs of food and veterinary health care. The love is free.

RESOURCES

Delta Society's National Service Dog Center Resources. Tel: [phone]; fax: [phone]; web site: www.deltasociety.org

Canine Partners for Life. Box 170, Cochranville, PA 19330. Tel: [phone]; fax: [phone]; web site: www.chesco.com/k941ife/

International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP). P.O. Box 1326, Sterling Hts, MI 48311. Tel: [phone]; web site: www.ismi.net/iadp/

NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services, Inc.). P.O. Box 213, West Boylston, MA 01583. Tel: [phone] (voice/tty); web site: chamber.worcester.ma.us/neads/