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 ...
I think he did CAT scans...
If the Dog is a Labrador he does Lab Work.
I know, old joke...
Yeah, I almost stuck that in, but since it was a _Schnauzer_, well...
Turns out BykrBayb posted the joke at #51... An oldy, but a goody...
:-)
believe that do you?
You got a problem with that?
He probably just thought they were break dancing. Some people are oblivious to the people around them, and really don’t care about the needs of others. If somebody has a visible disability, their solution is to lock them away from the public until they have enough consideration to drop dead. It’s all about them and their right not to see things they consider unpleasant. When they become disabled themselves, they always change their tune.
Just an imbecilic pompous cretin......have dealt with them all life long.
Where can I get a service dog trained to warn me about the impending approach of imbecilic pompous cretins? Is there a patch for that?
Where can I get a service dog trained to warn me about the impending approach of imbecilic pompous cretins? Is there a patch for that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Check with FR’s own Salamander for such a service dog.......believe she is on the right track. I just assume 10% of the population is so afflicted and keep a weathered eye as defense. Patches and apps are too complicated for daily use.
There are people who truly need help. Whats your beef?
My beef? In your case it would be making issues racial when they clearly aren’t.
i have a problem with the tail wagging the dog, and belligerant douchebags too to name just a couple of thing I have problems with
Where can I get a service dog trained to warn me about the impending approach of imbecilic pompous cretins? Is there a patch for that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Check with FR’s own Salamander for such a service dog.......believe she is on the right track. I just assume 10% of the population is so afflicted and keep a weathered eye as defense. Patches and apps are too complicated for daily use.
(Salamander-—courtesy ping) :)
Good God, what planet are you from? I happen to know a WHITE couple who are both disabled and trying to live on $900 a month. I help them asmuch as I can. They dont get obama phones or food stamps and the welfare pukes tell them it would be best for them regarding aid if they split up.
Whites ARE the new negroes. And you can take your holier-than-thou Stormfront comment and shove it.
About a year ago on a flight to Fairbanks I sat next to a gal with s Shih Tzu "service" dog. He wandered over to my lap a couple of times.
I have anosmia.
I would *love* to have a “smelling nose” dog.
As it is, mine do let me know if there’s smoke or something else mutually deadly around but as far as food, perfumes, etc, I’m on my own.
Doesn’t sound like much of a “problem” but not being able to smell is a dangerous life.
Mine serves as scum repellant.
It’s funny how “good” people don’t fear approaching him.
I assume the consciences of scum prevents them since they know the dog knows what they are.
I’ve only had one scum actually try to get near me...and the dog wanted to eat his entrails.
:)
Unfortunately social phobias are epidemic.
It might be that those afflicted are finally getting the help they need to leave their houses that makes it seem more common.
For people with panic/anxiety disorders and agoraphobia, emotional support dogs are a Godsend.
Just ask the veterans who using them.
OTOH, I know of people who are abusing the ‘service’ dog angle.
Mine is not a service dog.
He is a support dog.
The training is less rigorous but his “rights” are more restrictive.
He can’t go everywhere that a service animal can go.
Be that as it may, I rarely take him anywhere dogs aren’t allowed anyway.
I will not “abuse the system” just because I potentially can.
He’s there if I need him.
Thank God I haven’t, so far.
This is a tenuous situation.
If scrutiny increases, the odds of people who truly need help getting it are reduced even as the ‘frauds’ are stopped.
Not everyone can afford professionally trained service animals.
Personally, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for imprisoning social phobics in their homes again just to weed out the abusers.
Technically, a support animal needs to be “prescribed” by your attending physician for a legitimate reason.
People who have legitimate support animals, under ADA laws do not have to show “proof” but they *do* possess it.
The ones just buying stuff off the internet do not.
They train miniature horse as seeing eye animals because the horse’s vision is far more acute than any dog and their life span is much, much longer.
That makes sense although personally, the logistics of having even a very small horse in one’s house must be...”interesting”.
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