What happens when a hurricane hits and you're evacuating with a service dog and a wheelchair user in the car?

That's the world Catherine Mann brings to life in her novel The Sweet Tea Odyssey, a dual timeline story that weaves a present day hurricane evacuation with the true history of the Wheels of Justice march that propelled the Americans with Disabilities Act into law in 1990.

But Catherine isn't just a novelist. She's a ten year volunteer with PAALS, Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services, an Assistance Dogs International affiliated service dog training organisation in South Carolina. She's fostered dogs, taken them into hospitals, schools and public spaces, and watched firsthand as dogs find their destiny with the people they're partnered with.

In this episode Catherine and Tim cover:

• The real history behind the ADA, and the moment people crawled up the Capitol steps that changed everything
• What hurricane evacuation actually looks like when you have a service dog and a disability
• Practical tips every service dog handler and pet owner needs before disaster strikes
• Why so many dogs don't complete the two year training journey, and what that means for demand
• The financial case for service dogs that insurance companies need to hear
• How to spot a legitimate service dog organisation, and the red flags to watch for
• Why regulation of the service dog industry matters globally, not just in North America

This episode is for anyone who loves dogs, believes in disability rights, or wants to understand the world behind the vest.

🎧 Follow Paws on Point — Canada's service dog podcast 🐾 Learn more or donate: pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca 📩 info@pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca

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