Why do people bring their dogs into stores? (allergy, statistics)

[elchevere]

I see very healthy looking millennials walking into Tender Greens restaurant downtown to pick up to go orders with their dogs on a leash because they are too lazy to tie their pet to a railing out front. This happens very frequently. Maybe service animals applies to the mentally handicapped as well?

[LamarOdomsDealer]

Originally Posted by elchevere

I see very healthy looking millennials walking into Tender Greens restaurant downtown to pick up to go orders with their dogs on a leash because they are too lazy to tie their pet to a railing out front. This happens very frequently. Maybe service animals applies to the mentally handicapped as well?

I know you are being sarcastic but it sometimes does.

The more I read CityData and especially this forum, the more I realize how much people hate dogs and expect them just to be unseen.

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by elchevere

I see very healthy looking millennials walking into Tender Greens restaurant downtown to pick up to go orders with their dogs on a leash because they are too lazy to tie their pet to a railing out front. This happens very frequently. Maybe service animals applies to the mentally handicapped as well?

Originally Posted by tickyul

Why do so many people bring dogs into stores............because THEY CAN, every dog can be a SERVICE-ANIMAL!!!!!!!!

I realize you think your cracks about service animals for the mentally ill and "every dog can be a service animal" are humorous. They're not. Yes, there are service dog functions for mental disorders. The "healthy looking millennials" you cite are almost certainly whole and without need of service animals. But your comments are a good opportunity to make a point:

There are lots of visually hidden disabilities served by dogs. Examples include: diabetes, epilepsy, deafness, PTSD, severe agoraphobia, several types of intellectual disabilities, and yes, some kinds of severe allergies, and more.

[LamarOdomsDealer]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

I realize you think your cracks about service animals for the mentally ill and "every dog can be a service animal" are humorous. They're not. Yes, there are service dog functions for mental disorders. The "healthy looking millennials" you cite are almost certainly whole and without need of service animals. But your comments are a good opportunity to make a point:

There are lots of visually unapparent disabilities served by dogs. Examples include: diabetes, epilepsy, deafness, PTSD, severe agoraphobia, several types of intellectual disabilities, and yes, some kinds of severe allergies, and more.

I think in general most people are ignorant about "invisible disabilities", and it's easier just to say someone is inconsiderate of others by judging them on how they look or carry themselves. I had a coworker who has a service dog. She has diabetes and the dog helps her. Very few people at my last job knew that about her (I just knew because I mentioned something about my mom having a special form of diabetes and she chimed in). I'm sure many of her coworkers must think she is selfish and inconsiderate of others due to having a dog not knowing the reason why (she isn't overweight either). I have a document emotional support dog which yes, is not the same as a service dog since my dog didn't undergo a special type of training. Citydata constantly ridicules people who have emotional support animals having their minds made up that people like me are cheating the system to just avoid pet rent and that the rules don't apply to us. As someone with 2 invisible disabilities, it's rather insulting and I should stop being so sensitive to it and just realize most of the world consists of judgmental jerks.

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by LamarOdomsDealer

. . . I have a document emotional support dog which yes, is not the same as a service dog since my dog didn't undergo a special type of training. Citydata constantly ridicules people who have emotional support animals having their minds made up that people like me are cheating the system to just avoid pet rent and that the rules don't apply to us. As someone with 2 invisible disabilities, it's rather insulting and I should stop being so sensitive to it and just realize most of the world consists of judgmental jerks.

That special type of training includes not being a nuisance to other people. What causes the problem with emotional support dogs who don't get special training is owners who don't train them well enough.

And yeah, sadly, there are too many judgmental jerks in the world.

[Ragnar]

I'm glad this thread got revived with more angles on the conversation. This is vintage SD C-D conversation happening live, right here. D-O-Double G, ya see!

[LamarOdomsDealer]

Originally Posted by oddstray

That special type of training includes not being a nuisance to other people. What causes the problem with emotional support dogs who don't get special training is owners who don't train them well enough.

And yeah, sadly, there are too many judgmental jerks in the world.

That could also be with any dog not just an emotional support dog.

[snpdragr]

I don't think anybody has a problem with service dogs. And many of the posters complaining here are actual dog owners (i'm a former owner).

The issue is one of food safety competing with accessibility. Food safety is an obvious concern due to contamination by dog drool, urine, feces, etc. And of course regular safety concerns like allergies, slipping on pee, etc. We make exceptions for service dogs because the increase in risk for everyone is minimal and it has a large impact on quality of life for the disabled. The number of service dogs is small in number and they are usually very well trained.

However if everyone brought their pet dog into a store, the impact wouldn't be minimal anymore.

Also service dog fraud is very troublesome. I think it's very common here in SD but I don't have stats to back it up. In addition to the concerns above, it creates a backlash for people who are not obviously disabled but have a disability where they require a service dog.

I'm undecided about emotional support animals. Currently they don't receive any special protection under the ADA (afaik). I can see how they can be truly helpful but they are a category that's ripe for abuse.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Pardon my ignorance but what service does a dog provide for diabetes?

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

Pardon my ignorance but what service does a dog provide for diabetes?

They are trained to smell when a diabetic's blood sugar goes into imbalance - and they prompt the person to check levels and administer insulin. Dogs are actually VERY good at diabetes work.