National Service Dog Month
Service dogs are the unsung heroes who make life possible for many while simultaneously bringing love and joy to the people they meet along the way. With September being National Service Dog Month, we’d like to highlight a few sectors of jobs our canine friends are trained in and the crucial role they have in making our world run smoothly.
1. Mental Health
For those struggling with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more, dogs can assume the role of an emotional support animal. In this role, dogs are trained to help their humans cope with stressful or complicated feelings by offering a paw for comfort, switching on the lights and completing other stress mitigation tactics, reminding their humans to take their medications, and applying other tricks unique to their human to bring them back to calm.
2. Public Safety
This line of work involves dogs who are trained to protect the public. Whether it be sniffing for illegal substances and lethal weapons, or alerting the police and emergency professionals of potentially dangerous situations, these dogs and their handlers are trained to be on the frontlines. These dogs are drilled in agility, strength, and scent detection, and often retire at the age of 10.
3. Accessibility & Medical
The job for guide dogs and medical alert dogs is to be the eyes, ears, and body for their humans. These service dogs are often trained to help their human get across the street, listen for any danger, establish balance, or warn their human of seizures or low-blood sugar. It’s these services that help humans determine their next move and how best to navigate their daily lives in a safe and healthy way, all thanks to the work of their service dogs.
Although they are cute, (especially dressed in their little safety vests) it’s important you don’t approach or pet a service dog without asking permission from their handler first. These dogs have a very serious job to protect their humans as best as possible which is why distracting them from their duties could present a risk.
At Northstar Plastics, we are grateful to these dogs and the work they do to make the world a better, safer place for all of us. If you or someone you know is looking for custom dog products such as dog boxes, potty pads, or fleece vet bedding for their service dogs, please contact us and we’ll work with you to find the perfect fit!
To learn more about service dogs visit: