A fellow Orthodox Christian blogger writes about service dogs and her life with the one she recently acquired. Here is her page on service dogs. Click on: http://turtlemom3.wordpress.com/service-dogs/ And here is her blog which describes her life with a service dog: http://livingwiththewoof.wordpress.com/
Many of the saints interacted with animals in mutually supportive ways. At times God directed animals to serve saints, such as bringing food to them. Here is a post, Saints and Animals on SAFCEI by an Orthodox Christian, Stephen Hayes, on the subject, with a list of references at the end: http://safcei.blogspot.com/2008/06/saints-and-animals.html
Here is a brief description of the book, Animals & Man: A State of Blessedness by Joanne Stefanatos, from the Holy Cross Bookstore: http://store.holycrossbookstore.com/anandmastofb.html
Finally here is another story about service dogs from AssociatedContent.Com:
Arms Open Wide 
I deeply regret being so late responding to your comment on my post, and coming here to comment on some of your posts.
You mentioned the Canon forbidding dogs from Orthodox Churches. This was decided when dogs were not clean, not well thought of, There were Old Testament Biblical proscriptions about dogs, and Revelation says dogs will be prohibited from Heaven.
Yet, dogs are a creation of God, just as bears (St. Sergius of Radonezh and St. Seraphim of Sarov), and ravens (St. Elijah). Just as hinds (St. Basil the Elder and St. Macrina), and lions (Saint Mammes); otters (St. Cuthbert); stag (St. Eustathios); leopards (Abune Gebre Menfes Kiddus); snakes (Abba Aregawi). There are numerous other examples.
As far as dogs and saints, there is Paul the Hermit who was accompanied by a wolf.
A blog by a woman who has researched the Orthodox Church and animals:
http://members.tripod.com/~Near_to_God/ – especially the post:
http://members.tripod.com/~Near_to_God/AllThings.html
In our parish, a blind woman brings her guide dog to services. There is no scandal as the dog leads her up to receive Holy Communion.
Much about dogs in church depend upon the individual priest and bishop.
Anyway, that’s what I’ve gleaned. I have not taken my service dog to church because I am physically unable to attend services. But, should I become able to attend, I will take Emmy. She is the soul of discretion and good behavior – as are most service dogs.
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