It’s International Assistance Dog Week!

During International Dog Assistance Week (IADW), take some time to recognize and honor all the hardworking assistance dogs making life easier for humans with disabilities. Here are some things you can do:

Educate yourself. Before these dogs—many of whom are rescues—can effectively help their human companions, they must go through extensive behavior analysis and training. There are a variety of types of assistance dogs aiding people with many different types of disabilities. Learn more about what kinds of assistance dogs there are, and proper etiquette for handling them at Working Like Dogs.

Raise awareness. After you learn more about the types of assistance dogs out there and the things you should and should not do around them, spread the word to your family and friends.

Attend a local event. This week organizations in many towns are celebrating International Assistance Dog Week by throwing fun and educational events that anybody can attend. Check out the list of events to see what’s going on in your area.

Contribute. Shop online at Retro Pets for some cool IADW-themed products. 100% of the retail price of each item will go towards benefitting IADW and spreading awareness about the cause.

Learn more about IADW:

Tagged assistance dogs, International Assistance Dog Week, pet services