00:00 — Intro and guest welcome
00:34 — Renee describes her new sitcom Minding the Family — faith‑based, small‑town slice‑of‑life series.
01:41 — Haven and The Haven Chronicles — post‑apocalyptic series inspired by earlier work.
03:05 — Awards and recognition — Branson International Film Festival and Bare Bones Trailblazer Award.
03:48 — How Renee uses two service dogs on set — Harper (experienced, semi‑retired) and Finn (younger, learning).
06:30 — Training approach — on‑the‑job reinforcement and ongoing practice.
07:24 — Bringing a service dog to set — how crews react and how Renee coordinates with productions.
09:45 — When to disclose a service dog to casting/production — job‑by‑job approach; travel is non‑negotiable.
14:14 — Advice for prospective service dog handlers — define needs, budget, temperament testing.
18:26 — What Renee wishes people knew — service dogs are working; don’t distract them.
20:58 — Policy and education goals — stronger state laws and better public/business education.
21:59 — Where to find Renee — Actors Access, IMDb, and social: Actress with a Service Dog on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram.

On storytelling: “I have a sitcom that I'm working on... Minding the Family.” On public etiquette: “If you see a dog out... assume it's a service dog and ignore it.”

Service dogs are medical equipment. Respect their space and handler privacy. Training never really ends. Everyday outings are opportunities to reinforce skills. Disclosure is situational. Renee recommends telling productions when travel or long absences are involved. Policy change matters. Stronger state laws and education would reduce fake service‑animal misuse.

Facebook: Renee Michaels / Actress with a Service Dog YouTube, TikTok, Instagram: @ActressWithAServiceDog Casting/professional: IMDb | Actors Access

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share—especially with anyone who works with animals or in casting and production. Help spread the message: service dogs are working dogs.

Host Rahn Springer sits down with Deni Elliott — vision-impaired handler, ethics professor, and lifelong advocate for independence — and Graham Buck, a veteran guide dog trainer with over 30 years at Guiding Eyes for the Blind and founder of Buck's Best Dogs. Together, they co-authored *Catching Sight: How a Guide Dog Helped Me See Myself*, a rare dual-perspective look at the guide dog partnership told by the person who lived it and the trainer who shaped it.

This one goes deep. Humor, heartbreak, and hard-earned wisdom... from both sides of the harness.