The Los Angeles City Council on Sept. 5 recognized September 2025 as National Service Dog Month and heard presentations from Canine Companions, Guide Dogs of America and service dog recipients describing how trained dogs increase independence for people with disabilities.

Councilmember John Lee introduced the item, noting the 50th anniversary of Canine Companions and the ongoing need: “More than 70 million adults in the United States live with a disability, but only about 16,000 service dogs from accredited programs are currently in place,” Lee said.

Belen Amaya Morales of Guide Dogs of America described the nonprofit’s work training and matching dogs with people who are blind or visually impaired, veterans and children with autism, and urged the public not to distract working dogs. Paralympic equestrian and disability advocate Alanna Flax Clark described her own service dog, Nico, and credited the animal with restoring independence and confidence, saying the partnership “gave me the courage to go out into the world and try new things.”

Kyle Kenzing, public relations and marketing manager for Canine Companions, said the organization has paired more than 8,300 service dogs with recipients since 1975 and noted programs in the region, including facility dogs placed with local police departments.

Speakers emphasized service-dog etiquette and legal protections under federal law. “Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service dogs are permitted to accompany their handlers in public places,” Flax Clark told the council, and staff may only ask two questions of a handler: whether the dog is a service animal required because of a disability and what tasks the dog is trained to perform.

Councilmembers on the dais thanked the organizations and raised the role volunteers and puppy raisers play in training the animals. The council presented certificates of recognition to the organizations in chambers.