service dog.

Good news for Scooter Givens of Hillsboro, Ore. -- the 10-year-old autistic boy no longer has to leave his service dog, Madison, at home when he goes to school. After a three-year battle with the Givens family, Hillsboro School District officials have decided to allow Scooter to bring Madison to class at Patterson Elementary for a trial period. According to KATU Hillsboro, the debate over this pup hinged on whether Madison was, in fact, a "service dog" or a "therapy dog." Though the distinction may seem minor from the outside looking in, the service dog factor is apparently no small issue in the eyes of the law. Though service dogs are covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act, ...

Angelo Stevens Twelve-year-old Andrew Stevens and his best friend are looking forward to the start of a new semester. After mediation with the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, Andrew's parents have worked out an arrangement that will allow Andrew and his seizure-alerting service dog, Alaya, to attend classes. The school's refusal to allow Alaya in class garnered much media coverage including an article in Paw Nation. But after going through mediation with Andrew's father, Angelo Stevens, as well as Alaya's service dog trainer, the school's administration has agreed to a three-week trial period in which the Stevens family can prove that Alaya the service dog can get straight A's ...

A service dog named Alaya is making the life of a boy with epilepsy a bit easier. The dog not only senses the child's oncoming seizures (which can be as many as 20 a day), Ayala is trained to lick the boy, which brings a magnet in her collar in contact with a nerve stimulator on the boy's chest, lessening the impact of the seizures, sometimes even preventing them. For the first time in his life, the boy can go out to play without his parents by his side; he can use the restroom by himself because Alaya is there to watch over him. But the dog isn't allowed in his school, reports "Today." The boy, Andrew Stevens, is 12 years old but, according to his school, functions at a kindergarten ...

Kiya Gibbons / Special to The Detroit News Amos, a kind and lovable chocolate Lab in Michigan sometimes puts in long days at the courthouse. He's not sniffing for bombs or patrolling the grounds, but he is protecting and serving. Amos works as a canine guardian and comforter of sorts and helps reduce anxiety for children who have to appear in court. Amos has been trained to sit patiently near children for hours as they either wait to take the stand or testify in court, reports The Detroit News. Recently he accompanied two young victims who each testified for more than two hours against a defendant in a sexual misconduct trial. The dog is part of the Canine Advocacy Program (CAP), which ...

Jason LaVeris, FilmMagic Betty White Gets Two-Book Deal The "Hot in Cleveland" actress has inked a deal to write two books for G. P. Putnam's Sons., reports USA Today. The first, due out next year, is titled "Listen Up!" and will be filled with observations and lessons learned. But it's the second book we can't wait to get our paws on. "The Zoo and I: Betty and Her Friends" will feature White's stories and pictures at the Los Angeles Zoo, where she's a longtime member of the board. The second book is set to publish in 2012. Want Dog Owners to Pick Up After Their Pooches? Spray Paint The Poo An unusual plan to encourage dog owners to properly dispose of their pets' waste appears to be ...