This is one of the best interactions I’ve ever had.
Two school age kids: “Oh look at the big white puppy!”
Their mother: “Come here, let me explain something to you. That dog is a Service Dog. Whenever you see a dog in a store like this you can’t distract it cause it’s working.”
Two kids: “What do you mean he’s working?”
Mom: “He helps that girl. You know how at school your teacher tells you to be quite so you don’t get distracted doing your work? It’s the same thing with that dog. You can’t distract him.”
Two kids: “What does he help her with?”
Mom: “That’s her business. Your business is to not distract him so he can work.”
If children can understand so can you.
This is so sweet.
This is how you educate, destigmatise and support people with service dogs in a way that isn’t othering or ‘inspirational’. It’s giving able people a useful role, which is often where they struggle with interactions with disabled people. Your business is to let service dogs do their job. Why they need the dog is not your business.
knitting in the dark 