Twice a year, OCTA goes to the dogs with a free program that pairs service animals and their trainers with experience riding public transportation. One of the only programs of its kind in the country, OCTA’s Service Animal Training Day encourages participants to board and ride OC Buses and Metrolink trains again and again. When service animals are comfortable with the sounds, movement and layout of a bus or train, it increases the independence and confidence of their handlers.
Earlier this month, more than 200 trainers and their companion animals traveled to the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) to experience the sights and sounds of Anaheim. More than 30 organizations from across the nation participated, including GO Team and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Attendance increases every year as word spreads about this exceptional event. The next Service Animal Training Day will take place in early April.
