Throughout human history, dogs have performed service tasks for us. Some of the earliest documented cases occurred during the First World War, when, in the U.K. and Germany, guide dogs helped people with disabilities live fuller lives. In 1989 doctors discovered that a dog's nose, which harbors roughly 300 million sensors, could detect cancer cells with greater accuracy than lab tests, and scientists began to train service dogs to perform all manner of medical alerts by scent. Do Not Pet: A Service Dog's Graphic Tail follows the story of one such service dog, Ruby, who gave the author Joe Biel mobility, health, and companionship through the most difficult years of his life. This comic details their personal struggles with public awareness and accommodation and celebrates their remarkable interspecies bond. Topics include: the responsibilities and pitfalls of training a service dog, how to behave around service dogs in public, the difficulties of international travel, the history of working dogs in countries outside the U.S., the laws and regulations of various countries, and much more!
