Posted on 04/03/2016 9:59:59 AM PDT by PROCON
The Saint Bernard was wearing a service vest and tearing into a quadriplegic woman’s golden retriever on the floor of the mall food court. Both dogs were allegedly service animals. But after mall security tore the Saint Bernard off, its owner blamed the other dog owner’s disability.
“He said his dog was startled by her wheelchair,” Angela Eaton, one the golden retriever’s trainers told the Daily Beast. “Well service dogs should be growing up around a wheelchair.”
Service animal fraud is a growing problem in dog-friendly Colorado, says Eaton, who has been training service dogs for 35 years. State legislators agree; the Colorado House unanimously passed a bill on Monday that would make it a crime to misrepresent a pet as a service animal in the state. But vague service dog guidelines and a growing acceptance of “emotional support dogs” have blurred the line between pet and working animal.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
You probably don’t want to know the service the dog provided her.
I would never expect anyone to not defend themselves if attacked, provided the defense is proportional and necessary, in other words I would not give the benefit of doubt to someone shooting a chihuahua, Lord knows I've wanted to but that would be overboard.
Now just the other day there was a guy who after the neighbor's dog went in his yard the guy calmly closed his gate, got his AR- 15 and assassinated a dog that was calm, wagging it's tail and totally non threatening, all on video and only because he was an A-hole.
Service animals are supposed to have a vest on that clearly states the animal is a service animal. Without the vest, the animal is just a pet.
If the owner can’t provide a vest or a letter, the animal isn’t certified. Period.
Service animals have to be trained, but while they are in training, they wear vests, denoting they are in training. And usually, they are trained in the same stores, with the permission of management.
How come the link says dailybeast but goes to msn?
FWIW, the Delta Society gives you an ID with a picture of you and your therapy animal. But therapy animals are not necessarily service animals.
I wish the airlines would. I’ve seen several “emotional support” dogs that passengers use to get to board first. That sucks on Southwest.
The vast majority of men leave restrooms without washing their hands. (I have never made any observations in ladies’ washrooms, but I hear it’s the same.) I believe that the percentage of people who believe in germs is today about what it was in 1700.
It’s the national policy of Home Depot to permit pet dogs. They don’t have to be service or therapy animals. Their owners don’t have to show any certifications. If a customer wants to take ol’ Fuzzy to HD with him, it’s perfectly okay, and he’s not perpetrating some kind of fraud. I believe Lowe’s has the same policy. If you don’t like this policy, try shopping at another chain or at a small local hardware store.
We now require service dog paperwork and proof of rabies shot.
*
4 am
A couple months ago it was all over the news of an Air Line having to allow a turkey on a flight because it was an emotional support animal. Fricking Dr whom signed off on that should have tbeir License pulled.
I am very familiar with Warrior Canine Connection service dog group they do take their dogs to Home Depot and such for training so the dogs get accustomed to crowds, noise etc.
http://warriorcanineconnection.org/
One advantage of service dogs is, I was shopping and there was a lady with a service dog (the need was apparent)a Muslim family turned the corner in the aisle and stopped dead in their tracks, then turned around and went in a different aisle. Send in the dogs.
Listen, I don’t hate dogs. I’m a dog owner myself and have been exposed to dogs all my life. All I merely did was say that sometimes it’s like a pet store and as a result I’ve seen some tense situations arise. Luckily with no one becoming injured. That includes other dogs.
I also didn’t accuse anyone of being a “fraud” for bringing their dogs to Home Depot.
It’s entirely Home Depot’s call to allow dogs/pets into their stores.
I’m sure they’ll revisit it when the first big lawsuit is filed and it costs them some money.
No need to be all defensive about it so get off your high horse.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.