I thought my readers would be interested in this article posted at TheBark
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The legitimacy and training of service dogs has come up a lot recently, and many of the cases do not have clear solutions. But what about when someone is consciously taking advantage of the privileges granted to service dogs?
With the USDAA Cynosport World Games coming up in Scottsdale, Ariz., I’ve been talking to many of the local competitors about how they’re traveling with their dogs. Some are caravanning in their RVs and others are reluctantly putting their pups in cargo.
One of the more seasoned competitors mentioned that while she dutifully puts her dogs in cargo, she always sees fellow competitors passing their pups off as service dogs on the plane.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
As the husband of a woman who uses a service dog for seizure alert, I am appalled that some would exploit the ADA and threaten the entire service dog community by being so lazy and nonchalant.
Passing a service dog off is a felony in the State of CA and the penalty is jail time and a LOT of money.
PLEASE–leave service dogs for those who need them, and stop negatively impacting our service dog community.
By the way, I say it’s lazy because these same criminals could be doing something beneficial by putting out real effort to change the laws that govern where their animals can and can’t go.
By doing the illegal end-around, they potentially endanger the rights of the truly handicapped. (How do they sleep at night?)
‘Fake’ service dogs have little to no public access training. Say a ‘fake’ SD takes a stinky poop in a business. How will that impact the next blind man with a service dog that enters that business. Have some class. If you’re going to attack the handicapped community, please do it to our faces.
As someone disabled with a legitimate service dog, I was approached just a week ago with someone looking for tips on how to fly their “performance dogs” as service dogs. They went so far as to tell me that in their circle it’s done all the time - they create fake paperwork and bogus ID’s, slap a vest on their dog, and they are on their way. What was most apalling (to me anyway) was that they then participated in sporting events - earning money, awards, etc., all by trampling on the rights of someone physically unable to do that which they’ve exploited.
Supposedly they are rarely stopped and almost never caught. While I hopefully talked that one individual from ever attempting to do the same thing (I threw the term “felony” around frequently, as well as “criminal prosecution”), I’m sure it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
So what is the answer? Strong moral convictions and people who will just do the right thing? With as nice as that would be it’s awfully unlikely.
well if the pet restrictions and being what they are based on breed specific fear (calif-denver, murder dogs cause of the blood lines) and the airline “norms” for pets is more un ethical and if it was you (pre-patriot act) it would be concidered torture, and what if a blind persons dog pooped (their dogs poop too),then a hotel changed their pet policy and you have to sleep in your car during a snow storm cause the proprieters pejudiced opinion,… so yeah i can understand wanting the same life style for them selves or their canine family members because some who has a hearing aid and seems too need a dog,… i geuss the alternitive for my dogs rights only people, is lets see,… gov’t orginized testing? training? high “fees” for trainer cert. and dog cert. loss of doctor patient confidentiality, dog id? human id? should i shirt w/ my disability and doctors information on it in public, because uptight yuppie stay at home bloggers, cant stand the idea of some one using the same privilidges they enjoy,… heres an idea, put therapy dogs on the same level as service dogs then any one on psych meds (a majotity of americans) or that are coping w/ prior trauma, w/ out meds or head-shrinkers, or lives in a restrictive love less soul depleting routine or is exposed to main stream media, (the rest of america),… so all thats left to do if your dog acts incorectly you need proof of obiedience training before entering that buisness again.
yes ive a disability, the change in my life and quality of my dogs life is awsome and in retro spect kenneling (voulenteer in one of these for perspective) or cramming them in a cage and storing them in an unlit non temp.cotrolled belly of a plane in immoral and unethical and my belief an unchristian way to treat a well ajusted creation of god,…
so get off your high horse and advocate for animal rights and stop buying puppy mill dogs instead of harping on poeple who just want the same treatment for their family as yours
I am still questioned about my right to have a service animal. I think the people who are passing as fakes are actually helping the cause. Think about this store owners can’t disprove whether the dog is or isnt trained and its against the law for them to ask what the disability may be. If more people have service animal tags fake or not the chances of them being ignorant about the whole subject goes out the window. I am the guy who sued Prime outlet centers in Destin Florida and settled out of court because they had security say there was no such thing. I can assure you when anyone walks in now and says service animal they welcome them with open arms. 10 years ago if you were blind you were just full of sh*T in the eyes of anyone. Think on that for a while. The law is the law. Thank God
Seems we’ve veered off the heart of the question. Lying about a companion animal by saying they are service dogs, whereby illegally misrepresenting yourself as a disabled individual who was granted rights via the ADA, is illegal (unethical, immoral, etc.) That very simple fact is aside from how safe airline travel is for pets, the theological basis for animals in general, the percentage of the population who is or isn’t on psych meds (OR need to be), etc. There’s obviously a separate forum to attack puppy mill supporters, yuppies, bloggers (whether they be uptight or not) and yes, even people that ride “high horses” (giddy up).
Yes, I also am cared for by a Service Dog for “Med Alert”..I have encountered people in Stores with their Pets, saying they are “Service Dogs”..these dogs Bark at people, some Snap,Tug at the End of the Strap , etc. but I have Noticed the People trying to pass them as “Service Dogs” usually act about the same as their pet!
I have Never seen or heard of a “Service Dog” poop in the store, but certainly have the “Fakes”.. Well, I suppose in a way those people really are Disabled…In The Brain!
I have a friend who has a little yorkie that is very friendly,never barks or snaps at anyone and has never pooped in a store. this ladys life has been extended by having her dog with her constantly.It lets her know when someone comes around her home that she might not notice and keeps her laughing most of the time.
I have a friend who has a little yorkie that is very friendly,never barks or snaps at anyone and has never pooped in a store. this ladys life has been extended by having her dog with her constantly.It lets her know when someone comes around her home that she might not notice and keeps her laughing most of the time. She has shown more life now than she has for years because of her dog.She is on oxygen constantly but sometimes she stops getting enough and her yorkie somehow knows when she isnt breathing right and starts to lick her in the face until she corrects the problem. She is seldom depresed anymore because of her yorkie and I am convinced the pup has greatly improved her quality of life.She takes him everywhere with her.I dont know if the dog is papered as a service dog but he should be because of the joy he has restored to her life and his constant vigilance to her welfare.IS HE A SERVICE DOG OR NOT
Wayne: the definition of a service dog is a canine that has been trained to execute TASKS and BEHAVOIRS that MITIGATE a legal DISABILITY.
Wayne: your friend just needs to get papers that declare her legally disabled and look into a little public access training. It would be very easy for her to ‘go legal’ and get that Yorkie working properly.
Here’s a checklist to see if a service dog team is legal:
#1 Are you legally disabled? If not, you cannot legally have a service animal. This is how the courts will get you. If you are challenged with your fake service dog, the cops write you a ticket, you show up to court and have to prove to the judge that you are legally disabled.
#2: The animal must be trained for public access. Remember: EVERY service dog team represents every other service dog team. If a ‘faker’ has a bad experience with a ‘gatekeeper’, that ‘gatekeeper’ will forever be biased toward service dogs. If a team presents a questionable presence, is refused a hotel room, a table at a restaurant or whatever, and the ‘faker’ accepts their fate and walks away, then the gatekeeper will feel that they can deny public access rights to real disabled persons.
If you continue to think that you can ‘fake’ a service dog, I question your morality and your humanity. I’m sure you probably park in a handicapped spot when you’ve had a long day, too.
My wife pointed out that the doctor’s paperwork must state the person is disabled, and that the dog also needs to be trained to mitigate the disability.
This is interesting, I can honestly see why they would do it. Airlines can seriously LOOSE your beloved pet, and not be held responsible. I would not want that to happen to my dog, whom I cherish like a member of the family, not just an animal. Is it ethical? Yes and No, no it is not right to fake anything that is meant for those who really need it, but at the same time they are saving their dogs misery and possibly being lost like luggage, never to find their way home again.
I can also see why people would do it when they move, many places will not allow dogs, and with our current economy many people are loosing their jobs and houses, forced to choose between their dogs and a place to live, especially if they have a dog on the “restricted” list. As a owner of a Pit Bull I know first hand how unfair this list is and how difficult it can be to find an affordable home and still have my dog. He has never once shown any aggression to another living creature and almost lost his life to a golden retriever, who I must add did not sustain any injuries because my dog did NOT bite back. So again, back to the subject, I see why people do it, it is because for responsible dog owners there are no rights for having a well behaved dog you get treated the same as those with out of control dogs and the only way to get around it would be to make them a service dog. Someone mentioned earlier we could fight for better rights for dogs, sure we could and many are, but nothing will be changed for our dogs in their lifetime, it is still unfair for them today.
Well..
Even though I understand your feelings about dogs and wanting them to be safe, there are legal avenues for you to pursue rights for pets. But service dogs are not pets, and a single bad experience in a business with a fake service dog can do irreparable harm to the next service dog team that enters that business.
EVERY service dog team represents the whole community, and as more real disabled people, vets, etc depend on these animals for mitigating a real disability, the more vital it is that the community shows its proper face: well trained animals, careful and considerate handlers, and a respect for the ADA that does not include those that would park in a handicapped stall with their grandmother’s placard or accept disability checks that were mistakenly mailed to them.
Bottom line is that it’s disrespectful to the disabled to fake a service dog, and what could be more pathetic than being thoughtless to disabled persons?
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