For more than 20 years, OCTA has offered therapy and service animals and their handlers an opportunity to experience public transportation together during a full, free day of boarding, riding, and learning. Animals that are comfortable with the sounds, movement and layout of a bus or train increase the independence and confidence of their handlers.
Our spring Service Animal Training Day was held last weekend at the Anaheim-ARTIC Metrolink Station and attracted more than 150 trainers, and 100 service animals of all sizes and shapes. The fall event will be held on October 1.
To learn more, we talked to Scott Watt, the OCTA Operations Instructor in charge of the event, about what makes the program unique and two special dogs named Pebbles and Becket.
How has the Service Animal Training Day changed over the years?
It’s grown from once to twice a year, and we made that change based on trainer feedback. Service animals are usually in training for about six months, so offering it twice a year affords every animal a chance to attend. We welcome alumni and working animals for a refresher, and a chance to network with other trainers. It’s become a hub for service animal trainers.
Tell us why the route is important.
Hosting at ARTIC adds the experience of stairs, escalators, and elevators into their training. Participants can also incorporate a Metrolink train ride into their day. Our training route takes them to Downtown Disney and the Garden Walk for the experience of crowds, busy streets, restaurants, and retail stores.
Do you have a favorite story about the event to share?
Pebbles meets Becket. At our April 2014 event, our smallest dog (Pebbles) met and became friends with our biggest dog (Becket). Pebbles is disabled and unable to walk without the aid of his specially made wheelchair. Becket was the only Great Dane there, too big to fit under a bus seat like other animals, but remained fully attentive to his trainer’s coaching nonetheless. They both touched the hearts of everyone there, as Pebbles practiced using our wheelchair ramp to board and alight the bus in his wheelchair, and Becket watched with great encouragement, trying not to block the aisle with his long legs and huge paws. Both Pebbles’ and Becket’s confidence and enthusiasm inspired everyone at the event, and made us feel that all things are possible when we believe in ourselves, and when we work together in support of such a great event. Pebbles and Becket working together, in a small way, represent how trainers and OCTA work together, to meet the needs of our disabled customers.
