(upbeat music) - Hi, my name is Angela Pestello.

- And I'm Kathleen McLeod, and we are the sisters.

We wrote "Faithful, Furry Friends, Service Dogs" because there was a lack of education in the community surrounding service dogs and the tasks that they perform.

- In 2015, my son joined the Navy and we decided we wanted to do something in order to give back and help with the community since he was starting his service work as well.

So we started training service dogs and we have a couple of them here with us today.

Axel, he is an eight month old Labradoodle.

He will be trained for Diabetic Alert.

And then we also have Percy.

And Percy is a Golden Doodle nine week old puppy.

He will also be trained for Diabetic Alert and he's going to go all the way to the West Coast, into California in about a year when he's completed his training.

In our home, we have two pets, Memphis and Poppy.

Memphis you can think of as the host of the home.

It's her job to make sure the dogs learn their manners.

They learn what they are allowed to do and not allowed to do, how they are supposed to behave in the home, and that's her primary role.

Poppy's role is to make sure that they have fun, that they play, that she shows 'em, you know, all the toys and where all the bones are buried.

- Service dogs play an important role in our lives, because we have many veterans and or servicemen in our family.

My husband is a veteran of 24 years in the US Army.

- And now I have three sons that are in the military two in the Navy, and one is a Marine.

Service dogs are very important for veterans that are coming back from active duty because a lot of times veterans have PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, and what the dogs do is they allow them to have their life back where they don't have fear about going into the community.

It just helps 'em get through the day and feel like they're back to their normal selves.

The service dogs are very expensive.

Their prices can range from 18,000 to 50,000 dollars depending on what they're being trained to do and the tasks that they're being trained to perform.

There are lots of organizations that help provide these amazing service animals to veterans that are little and sometimes even no cost.

- We started our own publishing company in order to maintain the rights to our story.

That was very important to us.

We just felt a need to let children know the do's and don'ts of service dog interactions, as well as educating the adult that would be reading to the child.

And now I'd like to read "Faithful Furry Friends" and share our story with you.

Today I'm going to read "Faithful, Furry Friends", written by me and my sister, and illustrated by Alyssa May.

"Hello, my name is Ranger.

"I'm a service dog.

"Have you ever seen a dog wearing a vest like mine?

"If so, they are a service dog too.

"We spend lots of time training "to do special jobs that help people.

"We are very different than your dog at home.

"Service dogs are not pets.

"My vest is very important.

"It's called a service vest "and it lets everyone know I'm at work.

"When I wear my vest, "I can go almost anywhere with my owner.

"If you see a dog wearing a service vest "do not disturb them.

"Their vest means "that they are paying attention to their job.

"I love my job and if you pet me, "I might get distracted.

"Never pet a service dog.

"There are many types of service dogs.

"Some can be seizure alert, mobility support, "police dogs, guide dogs, and many more.

"We'll meet some more of these dogs and learn what they do "at the end of this book.

"My friends and I start training "when we are just eight weeks old.

"Sometimes we live in a foster home for a year or more.

"Our foster families teach us how to be good puppies.

"Then we go to advanced training with amazing trainers.

"They teach us how to perform special tasks "so we can help people.

"Training is very hard "and can take up to two years to complete.

"Do you know what to do if a service dog "with a vest comes up to you without their owner?

"Tell an adult right away.

"Service dogs are trained to go get help "if their owner is in trouble.

"Remember, if you see a service dog like me, "just look at them with your eyes.

"If you have questions, "you can always ask the service dog's owner.

"They would be happy to talk to you "about their dog and how they help them.

"Now, what did we learn?

"A service dog is not a pet.

"Service vests are important "because they show when I am working.

"Do not pet a dog wearing a service vest.

"Service dogs spend years in training "and if you see a service dog "without their special person tell an adult.

"Hi, my name is Poppy and I'm a guide dog.

"My job is to help Brie.

"She is blind and she cannot see.

"My service vest has a handle for her to hold onto "so that I can lead her from place to place.

"I'm trained to look both ways when crossing the street.

"I cross the road at crosswalks, "I find things like phones and keys "and I can even open elevators.

"I tell her when there is a step up or a step down.

"Brie depends on me to keep her safe.

"My name is Max and I am a hearing dog.

"I'm trained to help Casey because she is deaf.

"That means she can't hear.

"My job is to listen for doorbells, smoke alarms, "alarm clocks, ringing phones, and much more.

"I nudge her with my nose "or I put my paw in her lap to get her attention.

"I am allowed to go everywhere with Casey "as long as I wear my service vest.

"My name is Scooter and I'm a mobility assistance dog.

"My job is to help Dan navigate while using his wheelchair.

"I bring him the phone when it rings, "open automatic doors, and pick things up if he drops them.

"I can even help Dan get up "if he falls out of his wheelchair.

"Hi, I'm Memphis.

"My sense of smell is so good "that I can tell when somebody's blood sugar "is too low or too high.

"My job is to help Walter who has diabetes.

"I alert him by pawing or nudging him.

"I'm also trained to get help "if Walter is too sick to care for himself.

"Hello, my name is Avery and I'm trained to find help.

"if Katie is having a seizure.

"I can also alert her if she's about to have one.

"I lay down next to Katie "to prevent injury while she's seizing.

"I know how to push a button that signals an alarm "to notify others when she needs help.

"My job is to keep Katie safe.

"I'm Chief and I help Carlos.

"He suffers with PTSD from serving in the military.

"My friendship helps Carlos "when he is sad or feeling nervous.

"I also remind him to take his medicine.

"When we are around a lot of people "I help Carlos to feel safe and to stay calm.

"My name is Bella.

"I help a little boy Theo, who has autism.

"Sometimes he runs away "and he doesn't understand dangerous situations.

"I have been trained to be tethered to Theo.

"When we are tethered together "Theo cannot run away and I protect him from harm.

"We spend a lot of time together "and I help Theo to stay calm.

"My name is Charlie and my super sensitive nose "has been trained to detect allergens.

"Braxton is my owner "and he is severely allergic to peanuts.

"With my help he's able to avoid anything "that might contain peanuts.

"When I smell them, I make sure Braxton does not eat that.

"I go everywhere with Braxton, even to school.

"Hi, my name is Rosie "and my job is to cheer people up when they are sad.

"I go any place where people need cheering up.

"Like hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.

"I'm a therapy dog, which is different than a service dog.

"I am encouraged to interact with everyone.

"If you see me "you are allowed to pet and hug me all you want.

"I am Ranger, a police dog.

"I can sniff out drugs and bombs "or chase the bad guys.

"I'm trained to help find someone if they are lost "and I protect my partner from dangerous things.

"My vest is bulletproof.

"My job is to keep my partner and the community safe."

I hope you've enjoyed listening to "Faithful Furry Friends".

I know I love our furry friends.

(upbeat music)