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Seriously folks, if you are so incapacitated that you need a therapy dog to go everywhere, refrain from eating at restaurants. Please.
I admire those who went to war and the only charities that I give to are veteran groups, but leave the dogs at home.
It's time people realize that there is a difference between service dog and therapy dog. I have no problem with folks needing a service dog, which provides a specific task to help them function. I do have a problem with folks that bring a therapy dog into a public place that would otherwise not allow them. That type of animal is NOT allowed, and by bringing the dog in anyway, they are breaking the law.
I am a HUGE animal lover. I train dogs as a serious hobby, and compete in dog sports. I would love to take my dogs everywhere I go. But I would never pass them off as a service dog by either pretending they are one, or registering them through one of those fake online places that gives you a patch and a wink and nod to bring them into public places. It's not only wrong, but also a slap in the face to every person that truly needs a service dog. These pretend service dogs are untrained and are a huge liability. One of these days something horrible will happen, and legit service dogs will pay the price. The newest scam is to register your dog through one of these places, so you can fly with your dog on the seat (not in a carrier under the seat) and for free. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
One of the reasons that folks think they can get away with it because they mistakenly believe you can't ask them to prove they need their dog. They are wrong. You can not ask them what handicap they have, but you CAN ask them to show you what specific task their dog performs for them, in their role as a service dog. And being a "comfort" is not a legit task.
That makes zero sense.
Restaurants do cater to special needs, but opening the doors to everyone with dogs is a health code violation.
Would you be comfortable eating in a restaurant with animals on the loose? It's unsanitary.
Service animals are not " on the loose". If the owner cannot control the service animal or if the service animal is not housebroken, accommodation can be denied.
One of the reasons that folks think they can get away with it because they mistakenly believe you can't ask them to prove they need their dog. They are wrong. You can not ask them what handicap they have, but you CAN ask them to show you what specific task their dog performs for them, in their role as a service dog. And being a "comfort" is not a legit task.
There are only two questions that can be asked.
1. Is the animal required because of a disability, and/ or
2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform.
My wife works in a hospital- it is becoming like a Dog Kennel. They have to let the dogs into the operating room! How sanitary is that?
Anyone can get therapy dog status now for their dog.
The law needs revision.
My local hospital does not allow service animals in operating rooms. The federal law requires accommodation in areas with public access. The public does not have access to operating rooms and therefore service animals are routinely denied access to sterile environments.
States and municipalities are free to define service animals and/ or access more broadly than federal law.
There is no such thing as official therapy dog status.
Dogs whose purpose is to provide emotional or therapeutic support are not service animals and are specifically excluded from the ADA. Perhaps some states or municipalities within states have a broader definition.
It's time people realize that there is a difference between service dog and therapy dog. I have no problem with folks needing a service dog, which provides a specific task to help them function. I do have a problem with folks that bring a therapy dog into a public place that would otherwise not allow them. That type of animal is NOT allowed, and by bringing the dog in anyway, they are breaking the law.
I am a HUGE animal lover. I train dogs as a serious hobby, and compete in dog sports. I would love to take my dogs everywhere I go. But I would never pass them off as a service dog by either pretending they are one, or registering them through one of those fake online places that gives you a patch and a wink and nod to bring them into public places. It's not only wrong, but also a slap in the face to every person that truly needs a service dog. These pretend service dogs are untrained and are a huge liability. One of these days something horrible will happen, and legit service dogs will pay the price. The newest scam is to register your dog through one of these places, so you can fly with your dog on the seat (not in a carrier under the seat) and for free. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
One of the reasons that folks think they can get away with it because they mistakenly believe you can't ask them to prove they need their dog. They are wrong. You can not ask them what handicap they have, but you CAN ask them to show you what specific task their dog performs for them, in their role as a service dog. And being a "comfort" is not a legit task.
This^^^^^^^^
We love our dogs, and if we happen to have them with us when we go to town, will frequent places that do cater to dogs. There are several. But using the often made-up excuse of "service" or "therapy" dogs to bring their pets into restaurants or grocery stores that otherwise ban them for sanitation, or any other reason, is wrong. The people that abuse the rights of those with real needs for "service" dogs (the blind in particular) to bring their little pet with them are contemptible.
How would one ask for a demonstration of a dog that is train4ed to alert on a pending epileptic seizure?
Actually, the answer to the issue of what is and is not a real "service dog" is quite simple: require a doctor's prescription showing that the need for the animal is real. Issue an ID card (free, of course. The doctor can increase fees 0.5% on all patients to cover the cost) that has the name of the owner, the name of the dog, the purpose of the dog, the name of the doctor, the prescription number, and the expiration date.
No ID card? Leave your dog at home!
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