Schools also feel they are being unfair to children who would like to bring a pet to school. They feel that it's contradictory if an organization can bring a service dog in training on the premises. Many would argue, however, that they two are two separate issues entirely.

Across the country, service dogs have been welcomed not only by hospitals, but by workplaces ranging from law firms to military bases to universities. But now a longtime source of devoted puppy-raisers for Canine Companions — Orange County Public Schools — has ruled it will ban dogs in training from its classrooms.

Recruiting volunteer puppy-raisers, it turns out, is a big task. At Canine Companions, they must attend training, fill out detailed monthly journals on the dogs and teach them 30 basic commands, laying the foundation for more intricate professional training to come.

Both organizations are, at times, desperate for dedicated volunteers. Canine Companions needs at least 100 of them at any given point.

“We have about 1,600 puppy-raisers nationwide, and we're not aware of any other school district that has not permitted us to be in the classrooms,” says Jeanine Konopelski, spokeswoman for the national headquarters of Canine Companions.

“It hasn't come up,” says Sherri Owens of Lake County Schools.

In Orange, the policy change was triggered by an incident this spring at Dr. Phillips High School, when a 10th-grader brought a service dog in training on campus.
The district's legal team then became involved, ultimately recommending that no such dogs be allowed on campus with school employees when they're on the clock, nor by students while they're attending classes.

For Rosin, the longtime puppy-raiser, it's more than unfortunate. “Animals teach empathy to kids,” she added.

We're pleased that the school ban has been isolated to one school district and are hopeful that it will end there. But it's unfortunate this had to happen to such a wonderful organization that dedicates itself to training service dogs.

In time hopefully things will change, because as Rosin stated, teaching service dogs skills at schools not only helps the pup, but it teaches children how to be compassionate. Read more about the ban on Orlando Sentinel.