When it comes to passing someone with a dog on the street, that animal may not be a family pet.
Service dogs, of which there are an estimated 500,000 in the U.S., according to Share America, the U.S. government’s website, provide a growing amount of assistance to people with various disabilities.
Obstacles on the sidewalk many might not give a second thought — such as benches, planters, street signage or construction zones — can be a barrier to mobility for the blind or visually impaired, said David Steinmetz, a member of the Phoenix Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues.
