Service Dogs

[buggyone]

There have been threads about people seeing a person with a dog at a restaurant.

I met a guy at LSL who had a Boston terrier. The dog had a service dog vest it was wearing. The guy said with that vest, he could take the dog into restaurants, movies, airplanes, or any other place.

I asked how he got the certification and he smiled and said he bought it off the Internet and just had to self-certify he needed it and that the dog met the requirements of a service dog.

He said if challenged by a restaurant or anyplace, he had cards that had been sold in the certification kit that basically threatened a suit under the ADA and everyone gave in.

Takes all kinds, I guess.

[kittygilchrist]

I'm going to stay out of this.

[ilovetv]

The fact that he was fine with telling a stranger that, with a wink and a grin, says everything.

Those are the types that ruin public beneficial things for the people who really need them.

[gomoho]

It is kind of sad people are taking advantage of this - my son's girlfriend included - but my understanding is you can't ask what service the dog performs according to the law.
Even if you could ask this guy had fake credentials. Isn't anybody honest anymore??? I just don't know anymore.

[Bucco]

There have been threads about people seeing a person with a dog at a restaurant.

I met a guy at LSL who had a Boston terrier. The dog had a service dog vest it was wearing. The guy said with that vest, he could take the dog into restaurants, movies, airplanes, or any other place.

I asked how he got the certification and he smiled and said he bought it off the Internet and just had to self-certify he needed it and that the dog met the requirements of a service dog.

He said if challenged by a restaurant or anyplace, he had cards that had been sold in the certification kit that basically threatened a suit under the ADA and everyone gave in.

Takes all kinds, I guess.


Not really a shock or anything new......see below but the same thing applies to those handicapped parking tags, which are abused.

Faking a Service Dog (http://chestertownspy.com/2013/02/05/faking-a-service-dog-it-may-not-be-illegal-but-it-is-certainly-unethical/)

Service Dog Certification -- Spotting Fake Certification/Registration/ID | Service Dog Central (http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/509)

The handicapped parking thing is something that as been going on for years. I have heard of doctors actually selling the things.

[ilovetv]

Not really a shock or anything new......see below but the same thing applies to those handicapped parking tags, which are abused.

Faking a Service Dog (http://chestertownspy.com/2013/02/05/faking-a-service-dog-it-may-not-be-illegal-but-it-is-certainly-unethical/)

Service Dog Certification -- Spotting Fake Certification/Registration/ID | Service Dog Central (http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/509)

The handicapped parking thing is something that as been going on for years. I have heard of doctors actually selling the things.

Not to mention a much bigger problem, people having purchased, counterfeit immigration papers with which they get jobs, public assistance, healthcare without paying, etc. etc..

Lots of monitoring needed on many fronts.....

[Bucco]

Not to mention a much bigger problem, people having purchased, counterfeit immigration papers with which they get jobs, public assistance, healthcare without paying, etc. etc..

Lots of monitoring needed on many fronts.....

In Tampa, there are actually scheduled classes, obviously not authorized by any group, that those on the street are well aware of. They get lots of attendees. There are classes that I know of,but not restricted to, on how to get or increase welfare, how to scam the IRS for refunds, and how to conduct auto insurance fraud. These I know of,but got to believe there is more, like the immigration fraud you mention. As we ease these laws, it gets easier and easier, and speaking to police there, very frustrating for police.

[Easyrider]

There have been threads about people seeing a person with a dog at a restaurant.

I met a guy at LSL who had a Boston terrier. The dog had a service dog vest it was wearing. The guy said with that vest, he could take the dog into restaurants, movies, airplanes, or any other place.

I asked how he got the certification and he smiled and said he bought it off the Internet and just had to self-certify he needed it and that the dog met the requirements of a service dog.

He said if challenged by a restaurant or anyplace, he had cards that had been sold in the certification kit that basically threatened a suit under the ADA and everyone gave in.

Takes all kinds, I guess.


Once integrity and honor to tell the truth is gone there is hardly any rule or policy that cannot be beat. Our jails and prisons are full of a lot of the people willing to do this but even so if a person has no honor or respect there's not much that can be done.

A lot of people are aware of these scams already and it is a real disservice to those that truly do have a service dog for assistance.

[lovsthosebigdogs]

There have been threads about people seeing a person with a dog at a restaurant.

I met a guy at LSL who had a Boston terrier. The dog had a service dog vest it was wearing. The guy said with that vest, he could take the dog into restaurants, movies, airplanes, or any other place.

I asked how he got the certification and he smiled and said he bought it off the Internet and just had to self-certify he needed it and that the dog met the requirements of a service dog.

He said if challenged by a restaurant or anyplace, he had cards that had been sold in the certification kit that basically threatened a suit under the ADA and everyone gave in.

Takes all kinds, I guess.

This kind of thing really upsets me. ALL of my dogs are Therapy dogs- with certification but they are not legally able to go in restaurants or in public buildings unless other dogs are allowed and I don't take them there unless I ask and I am told it's ok to bring them inside. When my dogs are in training it is important that they are exposed to many places, meet many different kinds of people and have all sorts of different experiences so that they are comfortable and confident in any situation they encounter in their role as Therapy dogs. I work very hard to find legitimate places to take them, but I do NOT abuse their training, nor do I purchase a bogus vest for them even though in the end it would help me in training. I don't believe the ends justify the means. When people do this it hurts everyone with a legitimate service dog. I can only hope his dog was well trained enough to LOOK like a service dog and in that case he should at least try to get the dog tested and perhaps actually legally certified. You think he would have enough sense to keep this deception to himself instead of bragging about it.

[Barefoot]

It's a shame. You wonder how liars and cheats can look at themselves in the mirror. Thank goodness most of us are honest people and respectful of others.

[ewstanley]

My neighbor and I were walking our leashed dogs (carrying waste bags) at the Lake Miona trail and a dog jumped from a golf cart and ran across several parking spots to see our dogs. The Yorkie was friendly and not aggressive but clearly could have used a leash. The man got out of his golf cart and showed us a card that said his dog was a service dog. We voiced our concern that his dog wasn't leashed and wasn't wearing a vest. This little guy could have been easily killed if someone was trying to park and didn't notice the little Yorkie. The owner didn't say a word and picked up the dog and went inside the pool area and sat down. Perhaps the owner is deaf or has some medical condition and needs the animal, I don't know. We were just concerned about the safety of the dog. This happened about two weeks ago.

[graciegirl]

It's a shame. You wonder how liars and cheats can look at themselves in the mirror. Thank goodness most of us are honest people and respectful of others.

I agree with every post on this thread so far and am proud to read them and know in my heart that most of us do the right thing.

I love dogs, even though we don't own one, and I enjoy most people. And I believe that the age of people who live in this beautiful place, this group are mostly honest and ethical.

This is a very sad thing to hear.

[karostay]

It's sad business owners are not allowed to challenge someone who is abusing the status of a service dog.
Revised ADA Requirements: Service Animals (http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm)

[Wiserbud47]

I feel a person who would "brag" about how they cheated to get a service dog vest wants people to be impressed by how he beat the system. The best way to response is to ridicule him and say that you aren't impressed and that he is hurting the people who really do have service dogs.

[asianthree]

i would get service papers for our cat...she comes when called, sits by the door and growles when someone is coming and brings us small gifts...sadly she hates a teather, and will not dress up in a vest

[perrjojo]

It's a shame. You wonder how liars and cheats can look at themselves in the mirror. Thank goodness most of us are honest people and respectful of others.

I will admit that I bought the vest and papers for our dog. I took him out once and felt sooooooooo guilty that I NEVER did it again. It seemed like a good idea at the time but the guilt was too much. I too wonder how anyone can do and then brag about the deception.

[TheVillageChicken]

My dog, Bruce, is sort of a service dog. He performs the service of fighting extreme evil doers. He doesn't wear a vest...I mean who wears a vest and a cape at the same time?

http://www.dirtybutton.com/media/db2162-batman-dog.jpg

[ilovetv]

Not only are these jerks cheating and lying about the service dog certification, but they are also lying impostors about being disabled/handicapped.

They could well be ripping off public disability income and disability Medicare with their lying and faking, too.

There should be a way to report them.

[buggyone]

One big reason that people buy the fake service dog certifications is that airlines cannot charge a fee for the dogs to fly with their owners. The dog does not even have to be crated but sits on the seat.

I hope this does not spark anyone to get the idea to fly their dog like this.

[ilovetv]

One big reason that people buy the fake service dog certifications is that airlines cannot charge a fee for the dogs to fly with their owners. The dog does not even have to be crated but sits on the seat.

I hope this does not spark anyone to get the idea to fly their dog like this.

Not sure they sit on the seat. A couple of months ago when leaving Orlando Int. Airport, I was talking to a young guy with a service dog (or so we think). The dog had almost a human face with these amber eyes. The man said the dog would just get on and lie under the seat the whole flight, and that's what he did (dog was about 40 pounds, about 2.5 ft. tall).

The man (about age 35) didn't look disabled, but who knows?

[buggyone]

Not sure they sit on the seat. A couple of months ago when leaving Orlando Int. Airport, I was talking to a young guy with a service dog (or so we think). The dog had almost a human face with these amber eyes. The man said the dog would just get on and lie under the seat the whole flight, and that's what he did (dog was about 40 pounds, about 2.5 ft. tall).

The man (about age 35) didn't look disabled, but who knows?

You are right. Not on the seat.

Some are "emotional support dogs" and you have to have a current letter from a psychiatrist saying the dog is needed. They are different from a service dog which provides a service. Very complicated.

Still, lots of fraudulent certification goes on which is totally wrong.