Posted on 10/31/2017 8:04:33 AM PDT by rktman
A growing number of pet owners are trying to pass off their furry friends as service animals designed to help those with disabilities, and some states are trying to stop the practice.
Nineteen states are cracking down on people who try to use their pets as service animals when they do not have a medical condition that warrants one, USA Today reports.
The trend began over the past few years in state legislatures amid growing calls to regulate how to define a service animal that is allowed to be brought into certain public places where animals are usually banned.
Virginia’s state legislature passed a law in July 2016 that makes it illegal for dog owners to fit their pet with harnesses commonly used by service dogs for people with disabilities. Those who violate the law face a $250 fine.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
If I had to live in certain kinds of neighborhoods, I would consider my German Shepard a kind of service dog that I would always want with me!
Personally, I think it’s quite a sham. I’m starting to see this in many public places, where people are bringing dogs into restaurants and bars under the guise of them somehow being a “service” animal of some kind. And while I’ve not seen any huge issues with it yet, I don’t care for dogs—even well-behaved ones—being freely brought onto airplanes.
I saw a woman shopping with a huge parrot on her shoulder
The staff was afraid to challenge her
Good. I’m sick of people bringing their mutts into restaurants, stores and airplanes.
If you can’t stand to be without fluffy for a couple hours, stay home.
Real service animals undergo months of difficult training, not a quick stop at Amazon for a new vest.
They actually perform a visible function. Just because fluffy makes you feel good when you snuggle is not a legitimate reason for you to drag your dog everywhere.
A teddy bear will perform the same function
She erupted when I told her to put her pets away, raged even more when I drove off to get another patient while she was on the phone with insurance quoting her registration numbers which are absolutely meaningless.
Got a thank you from the doctor's office who was absolutely sick and tired of babysitting her ‘babies’ while she was in appointments.
I HATE people who abuse the service animal laws. You want your pet with you always, stay where pets are allowed. Pets aren't allowed in my car; they don't pay me enough to clean up after them.
I don’t buy into the whole service animal thing, other than for the blind. If your animal help sooth you, great, take advantage of that. But no other person or business should have a legal obligation to accommodate or allow the animal.
There are stores around here that have signs about only real “SERVICE ANIMALS” being allowed, but you see people with their dogs in shopping carts...everyone is AFRAID to challenge them. I guess they don’t want to make the “customer” mad??? But, I, too, am tired of people dragging their pets everywhere. Leave them home! Maybe we other customers should start making scenes and help out the owners?
I agree. I know woman who has fitted out her two small dogs (Pomeranians, I think) as service dogs in order to travel with them. She doesn’t have a physical or mental problem which requires animal helpers while she’s in her hometown. And if she or her husband travels alone, the dogs stay home with the one staying behind.
Ninety nine percent of the time it is patently obvious that these are not trained service dogs by their behavior, but nothing can be done and the owners have no shame whatsoever.
A Teddy Bear is a Real ‘Fake’ Service animal
Pet Privilege?
I’ve met quite a few real service animals in my job (the PTSD dogs are.. Well, they’re amazing in how serious they are trained to protect their charges.) Real working dogs are always on a different level than pets. And there’s just no faking it.
Service animals are not allowed in shopping carts; ever. Trust me that the store is more afraid of the health department shutting them down than threats by people lavishing their pets.
Good. The whole “pets being treated like people” phenomena is WAY past time for some SANITY.
Hey, in the interim, make any dog on a plane or restaurant, etc., have a muzzle and diaper. Yep, like to see you little yapper dogs muzzled.
I believe that the problem is that if an establishment does not permit the service dog then they are guilty of violating the ADA for not allowing the accommodation and can be sued. Business are afraid of being sued under the ADA so do not challenge a person with a “service animal.” Since anything that impairs a life function is a disability, saying you have fear of going out in public without Fluffy can be a disability. Someone feel free to correct me if they have more knowledge of the issue.
Well...here you see them in shopping carts everywhere. This past weekend two women had three (3) pugs in their shopping cart in a store we were in...I think it was at Walmart
"My service animal is a Glock."
My favorite service weapon is a snake. Specifically, a python. His name is “Colt”.
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