A New Year of Access, Partnership, and Purpose
The start of a new year always invites reflection. More importantly, it invites intention.
At Highland Canine Connect, 2026 is about something very clear: building understanding, strengthening partnerships, and expanding access together.
This year, we are stepping forward with a renewed commitment to help our local businesses, community partners, and neighbors better understand service dogs, access rights, and the responsibilities we all share in creating welcoming, inclusive spaces.
This work is not about enforcement. It is about education, clarity, and collaboration.
Helping Businesses Get It Right
Most access issues involving service dogs do not come from bad intentions. They come from uncertainty.
Questions like:
•What am I allowed to ask?
•What if another customer is afraid or allergic?
•Do service dogs need documentation?
These are common and understandable questions, and this year Highland Canine Connect is committed to helping our community answer them with confidence.
Through our social media education, and direct outreach, we will be sharing clear and practical information about ADA guidelines and service dog access. This information is designed specifically for businesses and public facing organizations. Our goal is simple: fewer misunderstandings, stronger trust, and safer access for everyone.
We believe that when businesses feel supported and informed, inclusion becomes second nature.
Honoring Our Law Enforcement Partners
January also gives us the opportunity to recognize an essential part of our community.
January 9 is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and we want to take a moment to acknowledge the vital role our law enforcement partners play, not just in safety, but in understanding and supporting working dogs of all kinds.
From K9 units to therapy dogs supporting officers, first responders, and community outreach efforts, dogs are powerful partners in law enforcement. At Highland Canine Connect, we are proud to support this work and to stand alongside those who serve, both human and canine.
We are deeply grateful for law enforcement professionals who understand the role of working dogs, respect service dog access, and help model calm and informed responses in public spaces. Their leadership matters more than they may ever realize.
A New Year Is Also a Call to Serve
Of course, none of this work happens without people. A new year is often when people ask themselves:
How can I give back?
Where can I make a difference?
At Highland Canine Connect, volunteerism is at the heart of everything we do. Whether it is Waggy Tales, where dogs and handlers help children build confidence and a love of reading, or Paws in Training, where volunteers help raise future service dogs one day, one skill, and one bond at a time, there is a place for people who want to serve without needing to commit their entire lives to it.
Our volunteers do not just show up. They educate. They advocate. They model what access, compassion, and connection look like in real life.
