Comments on: Fake Service Dogs – Unethical or Responsible Pet Care? – TheBark

By: Frustrated

Frustrated — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:36:01 +0000

Listening to all of the chatter I can understand some of both sides. I do have a medical disability, Epilepsy. My dog is a sezure alert service dog. He goes every where with me. Because he is small he travels in a bag and is seldom seen or heard. He has been trained and is rarely noticed by most people. It would be both dangerous and humiliating for me and my family and or friends if I didn’t have a little early warning most of the time when a seizure is coming.
He never makes any noise unless he senses a change and then he starts to whine. If he is out of his travel bag he also tries to lick my face. We recently stayed in a resort where “Pets” are not allowed. Since my SD travels in his bag no one even noticed that I had him, subsequently no one asked me about him.When we went walking around we encountered several people walking with dogs claiming to be service dogs. One a Yellow Lab, one a pug, one some sort of Lasa mix.
I know they weren’t a service dogs because we saw them showing them off to other guest and letting them pet and play with them; a no no. The Yellow Lab being passed off as a SD jumped up on people and I actually witnessed the same dog poop on the beautiful lawn and the “disabled” person made no effort to clean up after it.
My little dog goes potty in litter box with puppy pads when inside and if necessary while out I always carry bags for clean up. It infuriates me to see that the real reason the resort doesn’t allow “regular” pets is because of people who have no common sense about respect for others property i.e. not cleaning up after their dog. No one wants to stroll past a heaping, stinking pile of dog poo when they have paid dearly to escape from their everyday woes.

By: Robin B

Robin B — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:09:59 +0000

Oh yeah…Anyone that wants to have my medical condition which is CRPS…look it up…you are welcome to it!! Then you can get a SD and take it everywhere you go..”so you won’t feel left out and not be one of the Priveleged” I will take my good health back and enjoy being FREE and ALIVE again. It is just wrong to go after the disabled…but I guess I should not be surprised some people just don’t have the mental capacity to “get it” SIGH…no more wasted energy on this topic…its pointless

By: Robin B

Robin B — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:59:12 +0000

I loved my PET dogs dearly before someone plowed into the side of my minivan and I became disabled, I love my Service Dog dearly also….HOWEVER, I would gladly give up taking my dog everywhere I go if I could have my health back. I would gladly have a PET dog that I take SOME places and not others. The REALITY with PET dogs is that most are not trained at all or not trained to be in all public area’s. They cause a problem for the disabled and their Service Dogs. Most of the general public does not understand, it is not a PRIVILEGE to have a Service Dog..it is a NECESSITY. The ADA makes it easier for the disabled by using a HIGHLY trained Service Dog to help make a disabled person’s live better. My Service Dog and I have encountered many pet dogs while we have been out, only one dog did nothing, the others have barked, lounged, growled and some small dogs have gone absolutely crazy…none of these owners had control over or could control these dogs. My Service Dog has even been attacked by one of these “well behaved, friendly dogs that wouldn’t hurt a fly” (the owners words not mine) So if you have a pet dog please only take it to pet allowed places AND please get your dog trained…just teaching it to sit isn’t training it. And never approach a Service dog team with your pet dog, NEVER, you could cause injury to the disabled person or SD and this will cost you $$$$.

Just the other day when we went to the grocery store, the clerk was complaining to us that they had a fake service dog they had to remove from the store, after it pooped in the store…So come on, make it a little easier on those of us that HAVE to use a Service Dog…have some empathy, it goes a long way. Thanks

By: SKo

SKo — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 20:38:45 +0000

Personally, I love having my little dog around and would like to take him everywhere I go. I look at my dog as more of a companion/ family member. However, it is hard to bring him to places without being asked to leave. I see babies crying, kids screaming and sticking gum everywhere, spitting, and breaking stuff; and yet I can’t bring my dog. He is very well-behaved, extremely friendly, potty-trained and social to people and other animals. My area used to be a dog-friendly area, but now there are rules and restrictions where dogs are prohibited to even come close to a certain proximity.
I do understand that the people with disabilities and their service dogs are priorities. However, I believe there should be laws/regulations that can allow the rest of us to have our dogs by our sides as well, whether it is having the dogs go through a certification programs to ensure the dogs are well-mannered, obedient, and properly trained. Or maybe if the dogs are brought along with their kennels, our dogs can be allowed to be by our sides at restaurants/malls/ etc.
I believe that it is the irresponsible pet owners’ fault who lack the effort to control/discipline their dog aggressions or pick up after them that cause many places/area to force to banned all pets from being on the property. But to implement some kind of law and regulations that can allow properly trained, mannered dogs to have the same rights/ privileges as service dogs will allow the rest of us to have our beloved pets with us most of the time as long as the pets go through a certification training program and renewal follow-up each year.
I guess I am just so tired of being asked to leave including some outdoor places because my dog is not a SD; and not to mention the embarrassment and humility I felt being followed around by a security to make sure that my dog and I leave the premises. =(

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 05:35:24 +0000

Fake service dogs are an issue for those of us needing a real one. Mine is a balance dog, while I can get by without him my chances of falling are much greater and I have to walk “differntly” to try and not fall. By the end of the day my back and neck hurt.

However, my dog has had a couple of bad experiences with other dogs (like they let their dog in mines face even as I tried to stop them). He was also attacked by another dog. Now he does not like other dogs. This could have probably been prevented if others respected the service dog and the space around him when working.

Now I have to be on the look out for other dogs and try to keep our distance. The trainer and I have been working on the issue, but she is thinking that he may always be reactive now.

Not fair given my need for him and the amount of work, time and cost that goes into training a service dog.

By: Yorkie Whisperer

Yorkie Whisperer — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:03:18 +0000

This is BS!

They allow screaming, screeching, vomiting, drooling, peeing, pooping, sticky germ infested kids in airplanes, hotels, public places, beaches and parks but they dont allow dogs?

All this moral and ethical crap really ticks me off. Our culture has so undermined animals and nature on EVERY level, it is so appauling and to cooperate in spirit with the limitations of allowing animal companions in our world ? Insane.

In my estimation, everyone should have a ‘service dog in their home and workplace’. The world would be a better place.

Our culture has relegated it such that the ONLY way we can have animlas with us is if they are ‘of service’ – that alone is kind of ridiculous.

First we outlaw ALL animals and THEN we turn around and allow them in IF they perform a function that grants them further ‘service’ . As if they have to join the elite club. Thats BS.

As if its not enough that we have hidden them away and prevented them from living in our world almost 98 % of places we live…
as if its not enough that we control every thing about them…
we should also not ever see them or let them accompany us unless they qualify to be ‘in service’?

This is the last great accepted SLAVERY of our culture…
disgusting – that disabled people feel they alone can ‘own’ this and act and speck as if their service animal is a machine.

And what about disability? Everyone has some kind of physical or mental disability to some degree. Everyone has had some sort of trauma in their lives and would benefit greatly to have a Emotional Support Canine by there side.

Who is so pompous to think they could judge a person’s needs? Its nuts.
Shame on them.

And THIS is why people obtain false IDs. Because they have no other choice. So instead of shaking your finger at that, change the system.

By: Robin B.

Robin B. — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:11:27 +0000

Comfort animals/dogs or Emotional support (ESA) animals/dogs are not covered under the ADA LAW and do not have the same access rights as a Service dog under the LAW. Yes, there are SPECIFIC laws regarding service dogs. In California for fake service dogs it is Penal code 365.7 it is up to 6 months in jail , $1000 fine or both. Fake service dogs can and do attack real service dogs. And if they are aggressive or out of control in a store they can make REAL service dog teams look bad and cause access problems. Here is another Penal code 600.2 if a fake service dog or any dog attacks a service dog the person that owns said dog is ordered to pay for all vet bills and if the Service dog is killed or no longer able to work that person is also responsible for replacement cost $15,000 to $20,000 not to mention the law suit to follow. SO–yes there are laws regarding service dogs and pet dogs need to stay at home. And NO not all people meet the QUALIFICATION for disabled under the ADA, having just a doctors note isn’t enough–most Dr’s don’t even know the law.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:30:31 +0000

By the way people, keep in mind that everyone has some kind of disability.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:28:49 +0000

You people remind me of a bunch of old women with nothing more to do than complain.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:27:07 +0000

God Damn people, there are no specific laws regulating service dogs. Right now its very gray and no one is going to do any jail time because any dog can qualify as a service dog if it is doing service for its owner. Service can be as simple as companionship.