Posted on 02/16/2012 8:07:59 AM PST by SmithL
There are Labradoodles in the produce aisle. There's a little Australian terrier sniffing the potato chips. Yes, there are dogs in the supermarket, particularly in San Francisco.
And God help us, one of these days there may be a miniature pony in the checkout line. Seriously.
And it's all perfectly legal. Or imperfectly legal, depending on whom you ask.
Technically, these are service animals. But the technicality is starting to drive customers, supermarket owners and animal control officials around the bend.
"This service animal thing is getting a little out of control," said Vicky Guldbech, captain of San Francisco's Department of Animal Care and Control. "Even my staff is saying, 'Wait a minute, that's a service animal?' "
Let's face it, everything from an iguana to a chicken has been called a service animal in the city.
But enough is enough, and some Safeway stores started posting notices saying that dog owners who fraudulently claim their dog is a service animal are subject to California Penal Code 365.7, which could result in "imprisonment in the county jail" and/or a fine that could run to $1,000.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, when a supermarket operator finds a dog in his store he can only ask two questions:
"Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?"
So, says Susan Houghton, director of public affairs for Safeway in Northern California, if the owner says the dog is required and it is needed for "physical, sensory, psychological or mental" assistance, the dog stays.
"You can't say, 'Prove it,' " Houghton says. "If the customer learns to answer the questions in the right way there is nothing we can do."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I am sure these pets are kept extremely clean/bathed.
I have been around folks in the supermarket who smell as if they haven’t bathed in a month.
I will take a wonderful pet any day over a human smelly dirt bag.
Oh by the way, these smelly dirt bags pee anywhere they want in public and otherwise.
The woman is apparently able to hold the leash--she can't pick up the can and, if there's a cart behind her, give it to the dog to put it in there?
Gross! Dog slobber on the other product surrounding the product he chooses.”
On the contrary. He hasn’t spent his time picking his nose.
Hmmmm...no mention of service gerbils. Did the kill them all?
Hmmmm...no mention of service gerbils. Did the kill them all?
“There was a girl in front of me with a little dog strapped to her chest.”
Those little dogs make for excellent airbag substitutes in case you fall or have a car accident.
“Seeing Eye Horse” I have a chewing mouth bulldog.
No, he was probably licking his privates.
So, you could have a bad tempered pit bull as long as it provided a service, for instance personal protection.
My 100 lb. Great Dane would provide far more emotional support.
I forget - does that mean "forbidden", or "delicious" ?
So, I guess a Muslim can bring his “service” goat along.
The ability to hold the leash does not mean she has the range of motion to reach or even grasp the can.
I’ve seen service animals in action and they are pretty dang awesome. The change from being in work and at rest is also quite remarkable to observe. A true service animal has an impressive amount of training.
Now, your possum make a right good service animal. When I get to the checkout stand, I just put my possum Old Pete up on the counter and the checker run off screaming and I save my grocery money to buy more shine. Old Pete, he like his shine too, but then he can’t drive. But, boy can he sing.....sound just like Barry Marshamallow or whatever. Kinda short to be a good dancer, though he do try. The possum polka is a sight to behold.
The service dogs in our area do a great job visiting schools & nursing homes. Amazing that some schools teach the children to read by having them read to the dog - who sits patiently & listens.
The joy on the faces of the elderly patients in the nursing homes is something to see!! Some never have any visitors at all. They love to pet & talk to the dogs & the dogs give them lots of love in return.
Animals are a great comfort to humans. They are wonderful, loving companions without asking much in return.
“My 100 lb. Great Dane would provide far more emotional support.”
If you are going on a trip, your dog is big enough to carry the bags, thus providing physical as well as emotional support!
He’s only a year old and has a lot of growing left to do. His mommy is 120 lb. and his daddy is 150 lb. He and my 85 lb. Pitador eat about 12 cups of dog food per day and drink about 1 gallon of water in the same time. The Pitador also tries to push me out of bed every night. Neither is spoiled. Pray for me.
I think that you’re going to need to get a part-time job just to feed them.
As far as the bed goes, do what my wife and I did when our border collie was hogging the whole thing... get a bigger bed.
She’s not spoiled either....the dog I mean..
Sharp this Izzy Dunne is....
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