service dogs in training

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/service-dogs-watching-billy-elliot-theater_n_5d57d824e4b0d8840ff3be13

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The group of dogs attended one of the Stratford Festival’s “relaxed performances.”

The shows are “specifically designed to welcome patrons who will benefit from a less restricted audience environment,” according to the festival’s website

Laura MacKenzie, owner of K-9 Country Inn Working Service Dogs, where the animals are being trained, explained to CBC Radio how the theater “gives us the opportunity to expose the dogs to different stimuli such as lights, loud noises and movement of varying degrees.”

The dogs curled up quietly at their handlers’ feet or under the seats during the performance, MacKenzie told HuffPost on Saturday.

“The photo was taken after the show, with the handlers standing nearby, but surely they would have stayed that way throughout the show if we let them,” she noted.

“The positive reaction to our outing is both shocking and amazing,” MacKenzie added. “We are hoping that our adorable photo will be a good opportunity to educate the public about service dogs and accommodating people with disabilities.”