Cause for the Paws Bangor woman seeks to educate public about psychiatric service dogs

Sariel, a 100-pound bundle of canine energy, has been trained for a special mission in life. His owner, Joan Koehler of Bangor, depends on the energetic pooch to keep her safe during the frequent panic attacks she has when dealing with stressful situations.

Koehler says she needs her dog to function in the outside world. She brings him and Leena, a 12-week-old Shiloh shepherd she calls a “service puppy in training,” to businesses and other public places she frequents. On some occasions, Koehler gets escorted back out again and told not to return with the tail-wagging animals, a fact that fails to deter her from getting a message out.

The public needs to be educated on the rights of psychiatric service animals and their owners, according to Koehler. To that end, she recently took on her local pharmacy about allowing her dogs into the business and won a round at the local level. She is about to file a grievance against a counseling agency where she goes to see a therapist. Staff at the agency refuse to let her dogs in without proper certification, although her therapist insists Koehler needs the animals with her at all times.

“Business owners don’t know their rights and responsibilities,” regarding service animals, Koehler said. The Bangor resident said she wants the rules laid out “so owners of service animals can be empowered as well as business owners.”

A friendly mongrel – he’s part Rottweiler, Newfoundland and Labrador retriever – Sariel occasionally misbehaves in a playful manner, greeting strangers with sloppy licks and thumping tail wags. As a psychiatric service dog, he has been trained by Koehler to perform certain tasks to keep her safe and to bring her gently back to the moment when a panic attack strikes.

He braces his sturdy body for Koehler to lean against if she feels weak or as if she’s going to faint.

He automatically starts slathering her face with kisses to rouse her from any altered state of consciousness that may occur with a panic attack. The dog stays close by and parks in her lap if she’s sitting on the ground, an act of protection.

Under federal law, service animals are allowed into all businesses open to the public, and business owners can ban them only in very rare and specific instances.

Store owners may ask if the animal is a service dog and what tasks he performs, but handlers cannot be ordered to show certificates or other proof that their animals are trained service dogs, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Certification of psychiatric service animals like Koehler’s is admittedly informal. Most owners train the animals to their specific needs. Only a doctor’s note is required for proof of classification of a psychiatric service animal. Other service animals, such as Seeing Eye dogs for blind people, may be state certified.

Helen Bailey, public policy director for the Disability Rights Center in Augusta, said use of psychiatric service animals is increasing in Maine. Some are cats that awaken owners with sleep apnea; others are dogs that provide a comfort zone around people who panic in crowds.

It takes about a year to fully train a psychiatric service dog, Koehler said. She said she consulted with a trainer of psychiatric service animals in New York to assist her.

Diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, Koehler, 25, said she would be house-bound without the help of a service dog. She is agoraphobic and claustrophobic and credits Sariel with getting her out of her apartment.

When she moved to Bangor in 2000 with her boyfriend, Koehler said she “stayed inside for an entire year without realizing it.” When she finally tried to go outside, she panicked on the staircase. The chance to “dog sit” for a neighbor finally got her out of her Fourth Street apartment. Koehler adopted Sariel last fall, ensuring her outdoor activity will continue.

Service dogs come in many shapes and sizes from Chihuahuas to Great Danes. “They’re not only German shepherds like many people think,” Koehler said. Service animals also include cats, horses, and pigs.

Service animals are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and a more specific state “white cane law” dealing with Seeing Eye dogs. They may accompany handlers into restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores. They may accompany handlers to hospitals, medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks and zoos.

Two weeks ago, Koehler, accompanied by Sariel and Leena, went into the Rite Aid at the corner of Third and Union streets in Bangor. She said staff there said the dogs would have to go outside and threatened to call the police when Koehler insisted on keeping the dogs with her.

An assistant manager reportedly talked with Koehler and explained that people with allergies who frequent the store might react to the dogs’ presence. Fear of dogs also was mentioned, Koehler said. Both are “not valid reasons to keep service dogs out of the store,” Koehler said.

Determined to make a point, Koehler went back to the store about a week ago, puppy Leena by her side. The police were called this time. Undeterred, Koehler handed the patrolman a copy of federal and state laws on service dogs. After reading the material, the officer told store officials to allow Koehler inside with her dog.

Jody Cook, spokesperson for Rite Aid Corp. in Pennsylvania, said Wednesday she did not know of the incident in Bangor. She said it is Rite Aid’s policy to allow service dogs in its stores.

Her intent is not to antagonize store owners, Koehler said. “I just want them to wake up to the fact that service dogs are not pets; they are needed by their owners and have laws to back up their functions,” Koehler said.

Some instances have turned extreme, but these aren’t the typical interactions Koehler and others are concerned about.

Three years ago, Charlotte, a 300-pound Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, ran amok on an airliner bound for Seattle. The pig, whose owner said she was needed to relieve her stress, “relieved more than stress and tried to invade the cockpit,” according to a story in The Miami Herald.

In another instance, Cuddles, who lived with his coastal Maine owner and was reported to be the world’s first guide pony, “made a deposit” while on a flight to Chicago to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show, according to a story in Chicago’s Daily Herald. “The plane smelled like a barnyard,” complained one passenger.

The pig incident prompted some rule changes so airlines can distinguish between true service animals and owners who just want a free ride for their pets.

According to Koehler, business owners have a right to eject service animals that are unruly and not kept under control by handlers.

The animal also can be removed if it poses a threat to others.