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 ...
Identity Theft Doggie ping
I see a tax on white Americans as being the most obvious solution to this problem. But I'll wait for Eric Holder to weigh in with his opinion on this important matter.
Maybe I'm not crazy. I've seen a huge increase in 'service dogs' in public places. Many (or most) don't look able to provide any kind of service.
oh no! they are on to my “smelling nose” dog...
Folks quickly realize that when a hotel refuses their pet, all they need to do is say the magic words “it is a service animal.” You are not allowed to challenge it’s authenticity.
I’m still waiting for someone to show up with a service horse. Yep, whe I read that in the training materials I was truly amazed.
Oh, come on, the liberals who feed the nanny state machine with votes and taxes are almost always the ones who are committing these acts of fraud. Certainly they deserve to continue to abuse the practice since they’re the ones who continually push for the laws to enable such access in the first place, right?
ADA and other legislation are unconstitutional infringements on property rights and personal rights. No law should force any business to accept the presence of animals with or without a vest. This should be the choice of a business, and if they wish to not enable someone who needs such assistance in their business, well, guess they are tossing away business that another will likely pick up through modifying their own rules.
Disabled people should stop trying to bite the hand that feeds their laws, and allow these liberals to continue to abuse the practice by vesting their favorite dogs.
Is there no depth to which people will not sink for their own convenience at the expense of others? Reminds me of my SIL, who keeps trying to convince me that the handicapped placard that her MIL had in her car when SIL bought it “came with the car, so I can use it”. She’s not handicapped, she’s just fat.
Argh.
Exactly.
In the instructions for airlines, it specifically said “No snakes.” Those of us who have snakes for our emotional comfort were miffed.
If they had to wake up early, work in the field, collect food all day and run away from wild animals trying to kill them, they would not have the time to worry about if somebody brings a dog into a business.
There are too many busybodies in this world trying to run everybody else’s life.
Um, no, a crocodile is not a service animal. If you have a pet that you like to hug, that is not a service animal. The ADA does specify what a service animal is. All you have to do is read it. http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm .
Naturally, the flight originated in California and, just as naturally, the airline didn't want to deal with the potential legal hassle involved by refusing to board a service animal.
That’s it. My orange tabby is coming with me to work as a service pet from now on.
Okay, crocodiles are out, but I get to take my Shetland pony!
When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.
So, to get this straight: only dogs can qualify as service animals, but any dog can pretend to be one.
Not all services are obvious to the casual observer. Some service dogs react to a change in the person's chemical balance to detect an iminent seizure or stress/panic attack and alert the person. There are several other legitimate services provided by service dogs other than guiding people with blindness or other visually obvious physical handicaps.
I am tired of these m*****f***** snakes on this m*****f***** plane!
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