Open Enclosure for Service Animals to Increase Access
For centuries, service animals have been an invaluable resource to individuals with disabilities. From guiding a blind person in a public space to ensuring an autistic person has an emotional support companion, service animals offer a variety of assistance to a myriad of people who need it. Unfortunately, service animals face certain obstacles that can limit their ability to properly assist their owners. One such impediment is the lack of suitable housing that provides an open environment suitable for service animals. By creating open enclosure housing standards for service animals, access to the necessary medical, emotional and physical support they provide may be improved.
The number of Americans in need of service animals has grown significantly in recent years. According to a recent study, 28.5 million adults in the United States currently own service animals for a variety of reasons. Various disabilities, including visual impairment, hearing loss, mobility issues, cognitive disorders, anxiety and depression, can be managed more effectively with the help of service animals. Unfortunately, not all areas are equipped with the proper housing to accommodate service animals. Traditional apartment and housing complexes can be restrictive when it comes to their animal policies, and these locations are often further limited by space constraints.
The main challenge for service animals is finding suitable accommodation in a variety of outside situations. Many traditional residences and other public spaces are not built to accommodate the specific needs of service animals, making it difficult for them to perform the important duties they are tasked with. For example, apartment owners and gated communities have been known to limit the presence of service animals due to the large amount of space they would need to accommodate them. Additionally, private residences can be limited by the number of rooms available, or the placement of necessary entrances and exits for service animals, further complicating the matter.
The best solution is to create open enclosure standards specifically designed for service animals in all areas that are open to the public. These open enclosures can allow service animals the necessary freedom of movement and access to resources they require to function in various public and private spaces. These enclosures can include a variety of items to accommodate the size and needs of each service animal, from outdoor play areas and secure partitions, to resources such as blankets and toys. Additionally, open enclosures can also provide access to items such as emergency services, food and water for the animal, and areas for the animal to rest and relax.
The installation of open enclosure standards for service animals can allow for more freedom of movement and access to resources in a variety of situations. Apartments, housing complexes and other public spaces can be made more suitable for service animals and the specific needs of their owners. Traditional complexes can utilize wide open hallways and multi-level entries, while open enclosure standards can be installed in outdoor locations to accommodate larger service animals. With the creation of proper open enclosure standards, service animals are no longer limited to the confines of traditional dwellings, and have greater access to the resources they need.
Open enclosure design can be a great benefit to service animals, allowing them to provide the necessary medical, emotional and physical support to the owners they serve. With the installation of open enclosure standards, service animals can traverse the world with greater confidence and safety. By providing service animals with the proper resources in various public and private spaces, their needs are met and their owners can access the necessary support they need.
