ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces some of the differences between assistance dogs and pet dogs and describes the experiences of assistance dog partners that frequently result when their working relationships end. It focuses on assistance dogs as described in the Department of Justice regulations and does not include Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), yet, clearly, partners with ESAs rely greatly on their animals and also experience severe grief at their loss. As with companion dogs, partners cannot avoid separation from assistance dogs. However, assistance dog partners may experience several different types of separation from their partnership that differ from that of a typical companion dog owner. Although assistance dogs differ from companion dogs, assistance dogs are considered as important family members and the impact of separation from assistance dogs shares some similar aspects as separation from companion dogs.
