Comments on: Should states license Service Animals??? New Service Animal Laws???

By: Nicole Maria

Nicole Maria — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:31:59 +0000

I have mine registered at a national registry. If the states start doing this it will cost money that many people don’t have.
My dog has a tag and number on it plus some patches that are on her vest.
Don’t start making things harder on the handicapped, they have enough to deal with.

By: Cathy O'Connor

Cathy O'Connor — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 06:00:01 +0000

My dog came from a school that specifically trains service dogs. He is officially recognized by the government and his identification has his and my picture on it, as well as his registration number. I just like the idea of having the government officially recognize us as a team. It gives me more “clout” when I’m dealing with companies, hotels/motels, restaurants, etc., who try to deny us entry onto their premises. Just my two cents’ worth.

By: David

David — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:37:15 +0000

WOW!!!,, tough crowd,,lol, we should be sticking together.

By: SDFL

SDFL — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:11:34 +0000

We all know how well the governement tracks disabled parking cards.
–I know a few that are just photo copies.

Many Alert dogs are trained for seizures, how would the gov test for them?
As there are so many ways the dog can help, no one, except the handler can say if the dog helps them. Which is how the ADA is written. The dog is for the handler, the handler decides if it is working correctly or as they wanted, putting all the pressure of proper training on that dogs original trainer or school.

The ADA was written in a way to keep the GOV out of the issue. The gov believes that the industry will sort itself out, and that the bad apples will be pushed out through education and lawsuits. The laws are already in the books for fraud, the states just have to enforce them. A federal judge is the only authority that has the right to demand your medical records and your dogs training records to prove that: #1 you are legally disabled, #2 the dog has been individually trained. The handler is the one that states if the dog meets their needs.

By: SDFL

SDFL — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:01:20 +0000

I’d say most schools and professional trainers all follow the ADI guidelines for service dogs. Most countries regulate dogs, the US is behind, but has a harder time because of how the privacy laws interfere.

In short, we just need to inform the public and businesses at should any service dog misbehave to have it ejects, as mentioned in the ADA. If there is a fake service dog, that is actually behaving, it’s not causing a problem and is a non-issue (other than being illegal and criminal fraud).

To John Smith #18, your right you could just go get a vest and take your dog out. The problem you will face is the lack of training will give you away, at some point your dog will misbehave and you will be caught.
If you lie and say your disabled, you might get away with it, should the issue persist or worse the police get involved, they WILL press charges.

Certification by the gov won’t help.
http://www.servicedogsfl.org/docs/fakers.shtml

Florida, like most states has strict laws on fraud, which are applied to fake service dogs and fake disabled handlers.

By: Vanya Peterson

Vanya Peterson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:29:37 +0000

In order to protect the individual with a disability and the service animal against unscrupulous individuals – a state or federal registry is needed. We are experiencing an increase of fake service animals in our area and the general public is afraid to ask questions. As an advocate for persons with disabilities and the parent of an adult son with a certified seizure response service dog, this form of action is warranted along with stiff fines for those caught – even jail time!

By: Ted

Ted — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:28:21 +0000

No, this will just keep the scam going just like they are now!!! The government does not make it right!!!

By: penny

penny — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:08:30 +0000

Mark, I believe you are trying to apologize to me ; well, how about that….by the way how are you? I haven’t read any of your criticizing comments lately…I am just joking…I really need to stay focused here on the topic at hand. talk to you soon

By: Tamandra

Tamandra — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:41:59 +0000

Mark, my statement isn’t “wrong”, per se. I have in fact heard this from SD org people. Personally, I am on the same page as Guide Dogs for the Blind, because I know how much the breed has been ruined. American lines shouldn’t even be called German Shepherds. The folks who are breeding true working GSD are breeding for Schutzhund, so those lines are going to have extremely high drives. That’s what I was thinking when I said that.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:25:33 +0000

Tamandra RE: post #36 “German Shepherds are used much less for Guide Dogs, because it is more difficult to deal with drives, eliminate, or squash them.” <—–to my knowledge this is an inaccurate statement. I questioned Guide Dogs For The Blind on this subject when they phased out their last German Shepherds. I was informed that German Shepherds have always made great guide dogs as long as they were from good healthy intelligent stock but they could no longer find sufficient quantity of QUALITY breeding stock so they were FORCED to phase the breed out STRICTLY due to AVAILABILITY and in NO WAY to reflect the attributes of the breed. The Professionals of one of the ORIGINAL guide dog schools of America would disagree with your statement and HAVE already stated a different reason for why they phased them out, therefore I believe your source of information is FLAWED. Sorry, no disrespect intended….just calling it as I see it. We are, after all, here to “help each other”, as Penny reminded me in her recent reply…