Posted on 08/09/2013 7:19:14 AM PDT by george76
Public confusion, legal loopholes and shady Internet businesses have led to an "epidemic" of fake service-dog certificates, vests and harnesses for use on ordinary pets. And advocates for the disabled say the issue is creating big headaches for those who truly need the canines' assistance.
The problem has gotten so bad that Canine Companions for Independence — the nation's largest breeding and training service-dog program — launched an online petition this week asking the U.S. Department of Justice to take action.
"Unfortunately, people are trading on the fact these harnesses and vests have become distinguishing marks of service dogs, so now you find unscrupulous businesses who sell these things to people who want to take their dogs into the store or restaurant or in the passenger cabin of the plane," said Paul Mundell, national director of canine programs for CCI. "It happens all the time."
On a recent flight to Orlando, where CCI has its regional headquarters, Mundell said he watched a man with a toy breed of dog walk off their flight to the baggage area, remove the dog's "service animal" vest and leave the airport. "It was quite clear that he was simply using the vest to get cabin privileges," Mundell said.
(Excerpt) Read more at southflorida.com ...
Me too, nothing like a dog in a restaurant to make you think HOW CLEAN!
Or so they claim. Personally I consider this to be complete bullsh!t and just another way of abusing the system. Whatever did people do without crystal ball dogs.
They stayed home, where you didn’t have to look at them. People just aren’t that considerate anymore.
It’s not my fault if some people are ophidiophobes.
From the link mentioned in reply #14:
Happy to see that last sentence in the regulation.
I guess your sarcastic reply might make me cry if I didn’t have my emotional support dog
good to know, but abused anyway. I was at an outdoor event in Palm Beach County where there was a sign service animals only. I saw one woman get out of her car (she was driving) get her dog, clip a harness on it with a handle like a blind person would have and proceed into the event.
Your emotional support dog is not a service animal.
Actually, some states do have regulations regarding service animals. Mine does. I was quite surprised to learn that small horses can qualify as a service animal.
What I did have problems with however, was in learning how and where a person can train his/her animal for service, and what the qualifications are. I’d like to train my pup for low blood sugar detection, especially through the night when I’m asleep.
Prior to this, I had a dog who detected infections in other people, and who would posture to prevent me from contact with sick people. He did it on his own. My new pup goes nuts over my socks and I’m told that there is a certain scent given off by the feet when a person has a dangerous sugar drop, so she’s exhibiting signs of detection on her own.
I think there needs to be some sort of numbered registry system for service animals with the number and state seal clearly displayed on the animal’s jacket, along with a phone number an inquiring person could call to verify the validity of said service animal, or something along that line.
Also in my state, an animal is not considered a service animal if it’s need is for emotional calming. Federal laws may differ, and my state’s laws may be invalid since states aren’t supposed to over trump federal laws, but those laws do exist and can be researched on line.
I'm sure that's what the Shih Tzu in a purse was. ;)
Quite possibly. Service dogs don’t have to be large, or the center of attention. Sometimes they ride quietly in a pet carrier, without being noticed by most people. They allow their owners to go about their lives without the whole focus of their lives being about the dog, and educating the public. Sometimes disabled people just want to run errands, like anyone else, without having to explain themselves two or three times at every stop.
I had a dog that could detect food on your plate.
Is Stormfront down today?
It is becoming a HUGE problem for the Airlines, as people use it as a way to get around the fees for carriage of animals.
That and now it’s “Comfort animals”, too.
Sometimes scammers just want to run errands, like anyone else, without having to explain themselves two or three times at every stop.
And, there's the rub.
But, you are right. There is no reliable way for anyone to know if someone really needs these animals under their table in a restaurant or not.
Use this power wisely.
These people get the vest,I.D. tags and official looking papers from sites like this. Note on the application form you can self train your “service dog”.
http://www.affluent.net/sara/sara2.htm
Well, that’s what this petition is about. Canine Companions for Independence charges a lot of money to breed and train service dogs. The ADA allows people to train their own service dogs. The dogs aren’t required to wear a vest or patch, but some people use these things anyway. Canine Companions for Independence doesn’t want people to be able to identify their service dogs as service dogs without paying breeder/trainers like them. If this was really about eliminating fraud, they would be asking for people to prove their dogs are service animals and face consequences of committing fraud. They’re not. They’re asking for a law that would cause people to either do business with them, or not be allowed in public with their service animals.
Agree.
But there still is the 'problem' of increasing numbers of folks bringing dogs into public places. I'm not anti-dog. I have two myself. But, I don't let them near the table while I'm eating.
I understand that some folks may need their service animal and I am all for accommodation for those folks.
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