And a few young"ish" men also. (Perhaps in my mind I'm young anyway)

You did notice in my post that I clearly stated a well-behaved dog or cat versus a crying child.

However, I have never had the opportunity to be seated next to a dog or cat on a plane.

I don't understand who the depressed person would sue? The handicapped parking card application must be completed by a physician and states on it what type of walking restrictions the applicant must have to obtain the card. It may not be a visible handicap but might be a lung or heart condition. I do not think a physician would complete the application for a depressed person.

I don't assume anything but I do try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Yes, there are some who truly don't care if they harm others but I think the vast majority do care. Those who insist on special rights to which they have no entitlement are selfish and egotistical. Their comfort comes before all others. But that doesn't mean they have a clue to the harm done to a person in need of the special services. More than once I've accosted someone parking in a handicapped spot replying they "will only be a few minutes". They don't consider that someone who truly needs that spot might come along in those few minutes. They see no harm in their actions. The same goes for people who think their dog needs to be with them at all times. They know what they are doing is wrong but I doubt they truly understand the issues it causes for those who truly need an ES animal. Regardless, their wants take precedence over the comfort of anyone else. Their actions are wrong and reprehensible.

Every time I go out here, I see more dogs on leashes in stores and restaurants, with no vests/collars that indicate service dog. The one that sticks in my mind right now was at a cashier counter line or counter front (like Bob Evans' cashier counter or Walgreens but it wasn't there), and the fairly large dog was freely sniffing in all the candy bar trays and other packaged snacks there.

The owner was doing the usual, purposeful looking away and across the room, pretending to not know the dog might be slobbering on or grabbing with his mouth a package of snacks.

Plus, he would not have seen if the dog started bothering another customer behind him who was waiting to pay. I'm seeing this more every month, in places where it's not appropriate for animals (unless they're a valid service dog).

The arrogance of such dog owners is disturbing, and it's getting to be more commonplace. They don't seem to care in the least if the dog leaves drool or snot on snack packages that another customer is going to pick up to buy. This disrespect for business owners and other customers is part of the whole trend of disrespect going on in this society and it stinks.

Sunny, I agree with you completely. However, haven't we all seen the exact same thing with toddlers at the candy/snack packages by the cash registers? Do you want to pick up those candies after it has been handled or mouthed by a child whose mother is self absorbed in the tabloids?

I love dogs and kids. Not so much liars and schemers and people out to con anybody.

Of course not. But babies and other unattended kids and parents who do nothing to correct them are there legally according to health and other laws/codes. And humans come before animals, regardless of what the selfish pet owners think.

As with the unruly or unattended pet, it's the parents, not the toddler, who fostered such behavior.

:22yikes: A dog in a store where he isn't allowed eating snacks while the owner ignores the behavior? Leaving snot and drool in the check-out line? We bought in The Villages in 2007 and I've never once seen the type of behavior you describe.

It must just be happening in the new areas --- Don't hurt me --- I'M KIDDING. :duck:

Quote from an article in The New Yorker- by Patricia Marx

"Contrary to what many business managers think, having an emotional-support card merely means that one’s pet is registered in a database of animals whose owners have paid anywhere from seventy to two hundred dollars to one of several organizations, none of which are recognized by the government. (You could register a Beanie Baby, as long as you send a check.) Even with a card, it is against the law and a violation of the city’s health code to take an animal into a restaurant. Nor does an emotional-support card entitle you to bring your pet into a hotel, store, taxi, train, or park.

No such restrictions apply to service dogs, which, like Secret Service agents and Betty White, are allowed to go anywhere. In contrast to an emotional-support animal (E.S.A.), a service dog is trained to perform specific tasks, such as pulling a wheelchair and responding to seizures. The I.R.S. classifies these dogs as a deductible medical expense, whereas an emotional-support animal is more like a blankie. An E.S.A. is defined by the government as an untrained companion of any species that provides solace to someone with a disability, such as anxiety or depression. The rights of anyone who has such an animal are laid out in two laws. The Fair Housing Act says that you and your E.S.A. can live in housing that prohibits pets. The Air Carrier Access Act entitles you to fly with your E.S.A. at no extra charge, although airlines typically require the animal to stay on your lap or under the seat—this rules out emotional-support rhinoceroses. Both acts stipulate that you must have a current, corroborating letter from a mental health professional."

I think I'm going to print this out and tuck it in my purse.

I agree with Barefoot. We have an 11 year old yellow lab who is the center of our universe, however, we would not even consider taking him to a square, Home Depot or much less a restaurant. It is not considerate to those who are not dog lovers who also reside here. The dog can survive for a few hours while the masters are away.

A few weeks ago a friend of mine was visiting us in The Villages, and she brought her German Shepard wearing a "service dog" vest. I know she is in the process of getting him certified as a therapy dog, but as far as I knew, he really wasn't a service dog.

We went to Toojays at Spanish Springs and the Hostess asked for some sort of ID for the dog and when my friend couldn't produce it (saying they didn't need to show anything), the Hostess got the Manager. The Manager very nicely ... insisted that they needed to see some sort of documentation in order to allow the dog into the restaurant.

My friend was very upset, and of course we weren't able to stay there for dinner, but I was glad Toojays asked for ID and then required it in order to bring the dog into the restaurant. I think more stores and restaurants need to do this in since so many people are buying service coats online and fraudulently using them.

For many years I have been involved with a guide dog organization, and I know how difficult these personal dogs trying to pass as service dogs is making it for legitimate working dogs. Hopefully we'll see some sort of legislation to protect the real working dogs in this country.

Given your background you probably know this,but the ID the manager asked for is the key to linking the dog to the owner. He was entirely correct to ask for it. Your friend must be terribly embarrassed, especially since she didn't know the ID is mandatory.

You all cry more than a puppy.

It is the self centered American way of life.