On our flight home after our preview at TV the middle of October, there was a service dog sitting by us. The young man had the dog because he was a diabetic. He explained the dog can and has saved his life. It's wonderful that dogs can be trained to help in situations that can be life and death. I always wipe down my cart. I've seen where kids put their fingers and then ride in the seat of the cart. They pass germs more than a service dog.

One never knows the animal is a service dog or not. If we at TV had half of the claims for service animals verified, we'd be doing well.
there must be a need for understanding service animals, for allowing beyond question and for allowing with no hassle....I can help make a group come together if we need this to happen.
Kitty

I have 2 relatives that need service dogs. You would not know by looking at them they they had severe disabilities that their dogs could save their lives ! I get very upset when people question service dogs. You can't always tell tell by looking at a person that they have disabilities !!! Just sayin' !!

Bonny, exactly as you say, one never knows by looking. I've been to the training facility outside Gainesville where dogs are trained to relieve vets of PTSD and heard how just touching the dog brought a man into the present moment. He had not been out of the house in four years, but with the dog for therapy came out as a spokesman to the public to say how effective the dog was in helping him.
(Moral of story, I do not know without the whole story, and no one can.)

[QUOTE=duffysmom;775537]Happinow, shopping carts are full of germs. Think about meat and fish pkgs leaking. The other day I noticed a woman putting her unpackaged veggies in her cart before she went to get a plastic bag. YUCK! What about babies in diapers sitting in the cart.:22yikes: The only way to avoid germs be it doggie or human germs is to be in a full body condom.[/

So true! Those carts are nasty!

Happinow - you have been sufficiently beat up on this. I agree with you that if the dog truly was a service dog he would have been trained to walk with the man and able to do his job from ground level - didn't need to be in the cart.

I agree with you as well Happinow. I'm sure we all are in favor of a legitimate service dog being allowed in the grocery store to assist a disabled person. But allowed in the grocery cart where we place food items??? I think not. I can't imagine that would meet state health codes.

Service dogs are amazing, I think we all agree. The trouble lies with those who fake it, which is becoming such a problem that laws are being considered to penalize those who do it. Fakers have caused such skepticism with the general public that real service dog owners are being challenged when they enter a public place.

You are right of course Parker. As are handicap stickers and disabled stickers on the golf course.

It isn't right to take advantage of things like that.

You are correct that carts are full of germs. But, this is something that can be avoided. Pets are not humans and therefore should not be treated as such. I cringe every time I have to put my groceries in the cart and them put them in my fridge/cupboards. I see parents put kids in carts with their shoes on and little baby bottoms sitting where my eggs should go. Short of wiping the entire shopping cart down with a Clorox wipe I guess we have to suck it up. I guess there are a certain amount of germs our bodies can handle. We can't live in a bubble.....oh wait, we already do!

Hi! A store is NOT legally allowed to ask a disabled person to remove their service dog. They are not considered pets and must be given access. While I agree that maybe seeing the dog in the cart was disconcerting, the owner can't leave the dog in his vehicle. 1- he needs the assistance to and from the store 2- it's not safe for the animal. Deaf assistance dogs alert the owner to many things...i.e. cars beeping, forklifts moving, alarms sounding, even someone calling the owner's name. As far as the placement of the dog, that's exactly where poopie diapers would be sitting...hahah! I read that once and have stopped using that area for my groceries. Also, many women put their handbags there, and who knows what floor they may have been sitting on. You know I am a pet lover but still believe animals have their place....except assistance dogs. I marvel at their intelligence and training. Do you know they even have assistance dogs for impending seizures? Remarkable!

You are right there. I took too long to couch my reply. Maybe he thought leaving it on the floor at the end of a leash would be bothersome to other shoppers. I, too, once asked a manager in Publix to oust a dog, but it was clearly a pet, and a big, sloppy looking one, at that!

Was the dog ousted?

Yes!! The woman just cavalierly (sp) walked in with it like she was in a park. Again...I am a true animal lover, but there was no need for that pet to be in the store...near the open vegetables and such.