Which is why the law is absolutely ridiculous and needs to be rewritten. I would suggest that a business owner not only may, but be required to be shown proof that it is indeed a service animal. No "emotional support" animals. If you need rover to be with you at all times, you need to be in a psychiatrist's office, not a restaurant. When this came up about 15 years ago, I absolutely refused to give any patient a letter certifying they need an "emotional support" pet. I told them that if their separation anxiety rose to the level of needing to have their pet everywhere they go, they need to see a mental health professional and I'd be glad to make the referral. Not one ever took me up on it nor mentioned it again. I came to the conclusion that 90%+ of these requests were bogus. It was basically on par with requests for a handicapped sticker when the patient had no handicap that I was aware of. Nobody could give a legitimate reason, but I often heard "Dr. XYZ" just gives them out without asking. Great---go see him!

I'd love to see that "documentation". I'd also dispute that doctors make 4x more than veterinarians---average doctor income---$224,000, average vet salary----$136,000, so 65% more, NOT 400% more. I wish I made 4x what my vet did. The funny part----every time I brought my dog to my vet, it was $200-$400 for the visit. When my vet came to see me, the charge was $90

Ain't that the truth. But then again, I just took those papers in my right hand, transferred them to my left hand and threw them in the trash. My usual response to anyone who questioned that action was "The day I need to rely on your google search to do my job is the day you need to RUN, not WALK, away from me"

Absolutetly! A minimum of 100 hours/ year in New York.

Equal trade one office visit for one vet visit.

Well, I'm licensed in MD, DC and FL, and they have those requirements.

Some of the specifics of the hours may be different from state to state (for example, FL has an opiate CME requirement due to the previous problems with "Pill Mills", and DC has an LBGTQ CME requirement), but as far as I know, pretty much every state has the 50 hr/every 2 years requirement...

Yup...

When my youngest daughter was in HS, she was thinking about being a vet. She would always come with me or my wife to bring the dog for checkups and shots...

One time, as we were checking out, the receptionist told me that "today's charges are 200 and something $$$". I gave her a credit card and commented, "And THAT is why you should be a vet"...

The receptionist chuckled and nodded in agreement... People will automatically pay their veterinarian, but they'll argue all day long if their insurance benefits leave them with any co-pay or balance to their doctors...

Yep---another nail hit on the head.

I used to think it was somewhat low class for obstetricians to demand all their fee up front before the baby's delivery. But in reality, if they didn't, they would be below last on the list of people to get paid-----crib, stroller, play pen, diapers, food, bottle, cute little fuzzy animal and mobiles, VCR to record the baby, etc all come first.

I don't know about you, JM, but I never turned a patient away because they owed money. I doubt the same can be said about most vets.

Never did... Wound up giving away $40-50K in free care every year...

I figured, with me being such an AH, I needed all the Karma I could get! :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

I believe in actuality they're considered 'emotional support dogs'

Two people that belong to the church I attend actually bring them into the church on Sunday

Sad...

Can not imagine to many untrained dogs are happy to be there with their owners.