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Can My Child Take Their Medical Alert Dog To School With Them?

How to Protect Your Self-Trained Service Dog — Before It’s Too Late

Training your own service dog is one of the most empowering things you can do for your independence. But as I’ve learned the hard way, you also need to legally protect your dog and its value—because if something happens, the burden of proof is entirely on you.

In May, my dogs and I were poisoned by an agricultural drone. My personal service dog—who had been my lifeline—developed lymphoma and died. Another of my service dog candidates is now showing bizarre symptoms that mirror the early stages of what I saw before. I never imagined I’d have to use my own legal training advice to fight for justice, but here I am—living the exact scenario I used to warn others about.

So, if you’re training your own service dog, here’s what I’ve learned you must do to protect yourself and your animal.

1. Document Every Step of Training

Courts and insurance companies don’t care about labels—they care about evidence. To prove your dog is a legitimate service dog, you must show task-based training. Keep meticulous logs with:

  • Dates and duration of training sessions

  • Specific disability-related tasks (retrieving medication, alerting, mobility work)

  • Behavior notes and progress updates

  • Public access exposure (grocery stores, clinics, etc.)

Video documentation is gold. Regularly film your dog performing tasks reliably and calmly in public settings. I now wish I had even more footage of my late service dog at work—it’s one of the strongest pieces of evidence in court.

2. Keep Health and Behavior Records Organized

Healthy, stable behavior is part of the legal definition of a service dog. Save everything: vet reports, vaccination histories, and even texts or emails with trainers or vets.

If your dog is ever harmed—as mine were—document symptoms from day one. Get toxicology results, photographs, and veterinarian statements linking the cause to the event (like exposure to agricultural chemicals). Those records are now central to my legal fight.

3. Establish Financial and Functional Value Early

Your service dog is not “just a pet.” It’s adaptive medical equipment that replaces the need for human help. You’ll need to prove its worth in numbers. Collect:

  • Training costs, including your time and professional support

  • Equipment receipts (harnesses, alert gear, etc.)

  • Replacement or retraining estimates

  • Expected working lifespan and task value (what a person would cost to perform those same services)

I never expected to calculate the financial value of my dog’s life—but you should do it before tragedy strikes.

4. Build a Team of Experts

Form relationships with trainers, veterinarians, and disability professionals who can verify your dog’s skills and importance to your independence. Their testimony can make or break your case later. Have your dog evaluated annually by a neutral expert.

Bottom Line:
My story proves it can happen to anyone. Whether it’s environmental poisoning, an attack, or a challenge to your dog’s legitimacy—your preparation determines your outcome. Protect your service dog’s legal status, document everything, and value it as the life-changing medical partner it truly is.

If you would like to donate to support us while we go through the challenges of suing the idiots who poisoned our dogs, you can donate using our GoFundMe or using Venmo or Cashapp using the username servicedogacademy

POTS / DYSAUTONOMIA ALERT DOG

Matilda is a trained POTS alert dog. She is a Labradoodle from our first Imprinted Puppy Puppy Litter. Find out how you can get a puppy like her to train for your child.