Fake service dogs
 

I just read this, and in my opinion it's about time.

A bill has been filed in the Massachusetts State House that would ban passing off a pet dog as a service dog. The bill would make it a civil infraction to knowingly misrepresent a dog as a service dog or service dog in training "for the purpose of obtaining any rights or privileges afforded to a person with a disability requiring the assistance of a trained service dog."

Violators would be subject to a fine of up to $500, 30 hours of community service at an organization servicing people with disabilities, or both, for a first offense. The penalty would increase for subsequent offenses.

As a dog owner myself, who has a brother who is legally blind and requires the assistance of a highly trained service dog, I think this is a great idea. And as a homeowner in the Villages, I hope this type of bill is also introduced in Florida where I see an unusually high amount of fake service dogs.

I 100% agree. The fake service dogs are a big problem. People have been bitten on planes, dogs unruly in restaurants and riding in the carriages in the supermarket. It goes on and on. I own 2 dogs and previously owned a dog business. One of my instructor's had a service dog and it was amazing what that dog could do. The "service dogs" I see around TV are untrained!

100% on target tophcfa from a big animal lover. It needs to be controlled.

I agree with the law, but, I read the law, and it looks to me like it is pretty much unenforceable. First of all, the violator must have a dog with a vest or other item identifying the dog as a service animal. If so, then they can be charged with fraud, if the identifying item is a fake. However, the Federal ADA law does not even require a service animal to have anything that identifies it as a service animal. And, no one is allowed to ask for proof that the animal is a service animal. So, it appears that all someone needs to do to avoid prosecution is to not have a vest or identifying item on the dog, and claim that it is a service animal.

It's the ADA requirements that need to be changed in order to strengthen them. It's too easy for fraud to occur. There needs to be some registration and certificate issued for service dogs that without one, the dog doesn't qualify.

The other day I went to a Pulmonologist Office in Leesburg. Everything was going fine. Checked in first at 12.40 for a 1 PM appointment paid my Co-Pay everything was Beautiful. Within minutes there were 10 Patients and about 16 people in total.

The last two people came in with what could have been beautiful little Ankle Biter Pups :doggie: who hadn't seen a groomer in quite some time. I don't know it was Phycological or real but I watched the majority of the Crew Bail Out because of these Dogs. The people were gasping for their next breath. I hung in there and made it thru my entire appointment including a Stress Test. I actually passed the test. A Miracle. When I came out over an hour later there was a big showdown going on over the dogs. They did have little vests on that said Service Dog but to my untrained eye, the vests didn't look very official. Anyway, the Sheriffs that were there were trying to make sense of a very Heated Situation which in my opinion shouldn't have occurred. Wouldn't a person at a breathing Doctors Office trump the comfort of a persons comfort pet? I don't question the persons need for the pet just the common sense of making another arrangement for this particular office visit.

I've been watching the newspaper and haven't seen anything about the story so I guess they worked it out. Those Sherriffs must really see it all. They were very sensitive to everyone involved while we were there. Can't we all just get along! :doggie:

You can blame Congress. Those people were in full compliance with Federal law, even without the "unofficial" looking vests.

This to will go the same lack of enforcement route as handicap stickers.

I agree with both of the above posts, but trying to undo this scam has to start somewhere. Once the snowball starts rolling downhill it keeps getting bigger. Hopefully more states will try to address the problem and eventually the Federal laws will catch on?

"Comfort animals" are not service dogs. If they say that they are comfort animals, then you're within your rights to make them leave any place that doesn't allow pets because that designation is not protected under any law at all. If they say they are service dogs, there are two questions a business owner/staff are allowed to ask:

1: is that a service animal, required due to a disability?
2: what type of work or tasks has this animal been trained to do?

They can't ask about the person's disability, and they can't challenge the claim that it's a service animal. Guide dogs for the blind have special harnesses, but other than that, there's no special "official" clothing or vest for service animals.

Also, owners/businesses are still within their rights to require certain standards: if it's an allergy doctor, he can ABSOLUTELY forbid ANY furred animals in his office. Any. Even service animals. If it's a dog that grows fur, it can be barred from entry, because of the nature of the business. They can also demand that the animal be controlled at all times, and keep "4 on the floor." They are absolutely allowed to forbid ANY animal being in a shopping cart, or carried, or on a retractable leash, or no leash at all. They can absolutely kick out anyone with an animal, even a service dog, if the animal behaves aggressively to someone, or poops on the carpet, or tries eating food off a supermarket shelf, and so on and so forth.

So while yes, Fido might be just a pet and not really a service animal, and no, you can't challenge the owner even if you know that he knows that you know damned well it's just his pet, you can expect that dog to be walking, on a short non-retractable leash, well-heeled, well-behaved, from the moment he walks in til the moment he leaves again.

Taking pets, specifically dogs, into public places is so disrespectful & rude. Inconsiderate people are doing so as they know that no one will question it or tell them to leave.
I went to a drs appt at Santa Barbara & there sat a guy with his dog that plainly you could tell this was not a guide dog. The guy sat in plain sight & then proceeded to the area of the lab. The guy left the building & got into a sports car that ironically did not have handicap license plate. How can this continue to be allowed? Maybe I’ll start wearing my cologne to my Dr appts
Yes I placed a call to the office manager & explained my entire observation.

I agree that the ADA requirements and rules for a number of things need to be changed. I think they are abusing their power. We have a loved family member who is disabled so I am not uninformed.

Every time we pass a law, it does a lot of things and some are not good. AND more and more and more people in today's society ignore, or try to circumvent laws.

That said. I love dogs. I sometimes do not love the people who own them. P.S. I love cats too.

It is what it is..No laws will be enforced..Non compliant Villagers will remain smug.While abusing the ADDA guidelines for their NON SERVICE ANIMALS

You're right on re: this. We have a friend whose disabled, in a wheelchair, who has a registered service dog. Our friend's dog is trained specifically for her needs. Once you've met a registered service dog then see the fake ones you will KNOW the difference. It's amazing what lengths "some" people go to, pushing the limits. IF one of those fakes happen to poop/pee inside a building OR worse yet, bite another---I would think they could be arrested and asked to leave. Why the people in that dr's office didn't leave BEFORE having the sheriff show up is beyond me. I'd be embarrased to have all that "attention". How sad our culture has gotten with such selfish behavior.

It never ends. The Scammers are always thinking up new angles. I am sure the pet industry is behind a lot this is "comfort dog "BS. I love dogs, and have had several over my life time, but I never would think about taking the liberties that many owners think they are entitled to today. Once again, I will tell you about the large lab who entered BBandBeyond on a leash, and proceeded to take a dump right on the floor inside the front door. We all complained to the manager, while the owner walked out. Seriously. When is the madness going to stop?

We had to get a new harness for our dog, and the color options for the one we liked were either black or red. I though the black one would be too hot, so chose the red one. Now, people think ours is a service dog! Doh! I didn’t think this through! Now I don’t want to use the new harness. Am thinking about finding a new one, but hate to waste the money.

Keep the red one. As I said - service animals do NOT have any kind of official garments, or leashes. And ANYONE can buy a dog vest or leash with the words "Service Animal" written on them.

Consider this a learning opportunity for anyone who tries to treat your animal like a service animal. You can explain actual facts, and it'll be one less person who doesn't know any better in the world.

There is really no such thing as a fake service dog. Service dogs do not need to be registered anywhere by any organization. Service dogs do not need to be trained by any professional trainer. Any dog can be called a service dog. You can personally designate your dog as a service dog, "train" it yourself, and gain access to most public facilities and businesses with your dog. The dog doesn't need to have anything on it to identify it as a service dog. As stated in a prior post, the only two things someone can ask you about is whether the dog is a service dog, and what service does the dog perform for you. If they ask you anything else, they could be violating Federal law.

You can't ask what service the dog performs for you. You can ask what the dog is trained to do. If it's trained to do 6 dozen things, and only is required to do 5 things for you, specifically, it's no one's business, and they aren't allowed to get that information.

You can offer it, but you're not required to tell them what it does "for you." You're only required to tell them what it was trained to do, for anyone.

The way that the one lady cared for the dog she had with her way touching. No matter what the official qualification or lack of qualification of that dog was it was just easier for me to sit quietly and wait my turn instead of upsetting the Applecart. I had a bandana to cover my nose. I'm sure she was doing her best with the little pup that her world revolved around, don't bust my chops about coming to that conclusion in a short period of time but that's the way I felt. The other one was just out there and probably a phoney, but who knows maybe I'm wrong again, could happen.

Question: Who will ever stop this kind of action with Dogs, People Checking for Illegal stuff in the front of someone else's House, Smoking, Vaping, people rushing around stores like they are important and the Grandaddy of them all Road Rage? The answer is Nobody, Never, Ever, Forget it. The Dingleberries and Dingbats are here to stay. You can either let them aggravate you or take it all as free entertainment. I make the best of each situation most of the time, I lose my S&!) sometimes but I'm a Juman Bean just like the Dopey Dog Owner and the others I mentioned.

Then there was the horse on the airplane ,,,,,

Not a horse, a "miniature" horse, which qualifies as a service animal under the ADA.

I rate this right up there with handicapped stickers that are passed out like candy. IMO if you’re not in wheel chair, limbs missing, or have to have walker you don’t need handicapped sticker. All entitled programs are abused, it the American way. :popcorn:

And another thing only blind people should have service dogs ������

There are people with all kinds of disabilities, and not all of them are visible to other people. Anyone with rheumatism or suffering from emphysema can explain better than I. They don't all need walkers. But they do need to be closer to the entrance than other people. A woman who is recovering from a c-section might need a temporary sticker.

When I broke my leg, arm, collarbone, three ribs, and had multiple contusions, it was definitely obvious for the first two months that I needed someone to drive me around. After that, it wasn't obvious that I had a steel rod in my leg, two steel plates in my forearm, and my chest was still taped every day so the ribs would finish healing while I went to school. I didn't have crutches, my cast was removable, and I was on mandatory intensive physical therapy four days every week for six months.

You can bet your bippie I used my temporary handicap sticker for the entire 6 months it was valid.

There are people with balance problems - caused by inner ear infections and traumatic brain injury - who cannot walk long distances without risking a fall. They don't have canes, or walkers, or wheelchairs. They just need to be closer to the entry than other people.

As for service dogs, be very grateful you don't have any condition that can be triggered suddenly, and can cause death by not acting quickly. There are service dogs that can sense the onset of "episodes" and nudge their owners to a sitting position, or bring them their medicines, or even press a life-alert button for them.

So a miniature horse is not a horse?

It’s hard to get a full size horse into a plane, or a restaurant.

There are many kind of handicaps, but you have to draw the line somewhere, like with the person trying to bring their comfort peacock on the plane, or their comfort alligator.

Years ago ( late 50's) had a neighbor who was, to put it mildly, was an enthusiastic drinker. He could be seen taking his dog for a walk every evenening just as the pub used to open.
Closing time the landlord used to put the dogs lead into neighbors hand and say to the dog, " Take him home boy." and the old mutt got him home safely for years.
Even the coppers (remember when they used to patrol on foot!!) new him and the dog, and never bothered them as he staggered home.
An early example of a well trained Service Dog!

Well stated...unless the person walks in the shoes of the person, then don't criticize. Many issues are un-seen that require the placard. I'm glad you addressed ALL of these Jazuela..where is the "like" button???

Dogs in restaurants has really made me cut down on eating out. I don't like them in grocery stores either. I feel there should be special stores and restaurants for dogs. Oh, I do have a dog and he is just as special as anyone else's.

Completely agree.

“More and more people in today’s society ignore or try to circumvent laws”. I see this with “service dogs” and handicap stickers and plates on cars and golf carts. It’s amazing what a few people will do. Really sad.

If you are so insecure that you need to fake that your dog is a service dog, there is something wrong with you. Just like the people that park in a handicapped spot that aren't handicapped. Owners of businesses are scared to death trying prosecute because of the ADA lobby or simply to not offend. This is a symptom of today's society. Just pick the law that you want to follow. JMHO

I don't think it's insecurity. I think is a sense of entitlement coupled with arrogance. People want to take their dogs with them everywhere, including on an airplane. They are the kind of people who what want they want, when they want it, and will step over other people to get it. They take pride in beating the system.

Nothing will change these types of people. The law needs to be strengthened.

You can buy fake service dog vests. I think many people do. I'm all for "real" service dogs, but IMO 90% are fakers who have to bring their puppy everywhere.

You can buy a service dog vest from several companies online. But, apparently, none of them are "fake" because there is no special qualification information required. You just add the vest to your online shopping cart and enter your credit card number and they send you the vest. So, where would you buy a vest that is a fake vest?

If a person is just buying the vest just because they want to bring their doggy just about everywhere and they use the vest to keep from being challenged the vest is fake.

I would think that is why everyone buys a vest for their dog, whether they need a service dog or not. They don't want to be challenged. My point is that there are no such things as "official" and "fake" vests. The ADA does not require a vest at all. So, it is the owner and the dog that are fake, not the vest.

You Win.

Tickets
 

During the Holidays in Illinois a “sting operation” was implemented at a large Regional Mall with huge results. During a three day period before the Holidays over a hundred tickets were issued for improper parking in handicap spaces, fake handicap placards, and the illegal use of handicap placards by unauthorized persons, etc. Of course, this didn’t fix the obvious abuse problem but for a little while it increased awareness that it was best to leave handicap spaces for the handicap. Perhaps, something similar could be duplicated here. For Service dogs, it may require legislation and a process of certification in order to stem the tide of pets being used for service dogs without being trained for the task.