Posted on 01/02/2010 12:46:44 PM PST by SmithL
It is not your imagination. There really are more dogs strolling through public spaces with their owners. Animals are going where they have never gone before.
"In San Francisco, it is just so much more in your face," says Emily Simone, a senior field manager for Guide Dogs for the Blind. "In the '80s and especially in the '90s, I've just seen an explosion. We've become animal obsessed. The East Coast and San Francisco are particular hotbeds for advocacy."
San Francisco has become a city filled with "service animals," meaning the owner has a permit that allows him or her to take their dog, cat, or snake (seriously) into restaurants, libraries, and often even rental properties that don't allow pets. In 2004 the city's Animal Care and Control Department issued 244 permits. In 2008 the number was 500, and interim director Rebecca Katz speculates that 2009 numbers are at least as high.
Unfortunately, the practice of granting service animal permits so generously is undercutting the intent of the law. Permits that allow an animal full access to buses, restaurants and public places should go only to service animals that perform a specific task and it seems too often that's not happening. That needs to change.
A good example of the problem can be seen on Haight Street. Residents complain that many of the street bullies have intimidating dogs, often pit bulls, which they take into restaurants and stores.
"They go into a restaurant, sit down with the dog, and when the owner says he doesn't allow dogs, they show him a service animal tag," says Bill Herndon, who works for the SFPD's Vicious and Dangerous Animals Unit. "The police are called, they see the tag, and that's the end of the discussion."
Actually, Katz says, they don't even need... permit.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
SF stands for sicko freaks.
Real service dogs like Labs and Goldens are wonderful animals who can help people. Pit bulls are not service dogs.
No kidding, my kids middle school has a dog you can pet, to relieve stress.
When I take my dog hiking she carries her own little backpack... people on the trail comment all the time, “Oh, look, a little working dog.” I’ve often wondered how easy it would be to get away with that “service dog” schtick. Not that I would ever try it.
Children substitutes.
I see a lot more young couples out walking 2 or 3 dogs.
Hmmm...just wondering, is there such a thing as a “service gerbil”?
service dogs have evolved into personal assistants.
Send out for pizza, answer the phone, pick up the dry cleaning..
There is no principle, no law, no morality that cannot be shat upon by a progressive.
It’s either soft war now...or a real war shortly.
No alternative.
In San Francisco?
Maybe you should ask Richard Gere, Tom Cruise or George Clooney.
I gotta ask - what’s in doggie’s backpack?
This is what happens when liberal fascism takes over. What is happening in San Francisco will spread to other cities.
When Congress writes all-encompassing laws, there will be those who take advantage of the loop holes created by those laws.
Think about the all-encompassing health care law that is nearly approved. There will be hundreds of loop holes created by Obama care that will make you sick.
I suppose all you have to do is to say that you are nervous and depressed, and your service dog is necessary to comfort you.
Sorry, I can understand a seeing eye dog, which has always been special, but most of the rest of it sounds like a load of bunk.
“seeing eye” dog is a trademarked name for those animals (dogs) trained by The Seeing Eye, in NJ.
The others are guide dogs. :)
Prove it.
I could make the case that a protection dog is a service dog.
Years ago a woman got on a US Airlines cross country flight in Philly. She had a 300 pound pig which she claimed was a ‘service animal’. No documentation, only that it ‘relieved stress’. US Airways put her and the pig in First Class, even though she only had one coach ticket. Lots of people complained, the pig tried to get into the cockpit, (pre 9-11), and went into the galley and wouldn’t get out so the stews couldn’t start the food service. Lots of complaints on the 6 hour flight. I think the woman just wanted to transport her pig cross country for free.
C U at the restaurant!
How about C4 with a remote detonator??
A muzzie suicide dog...
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