Service dogs

[zzzippper]

I respect service animals with all my heart and the disabilities of the ones they assist. But this killed me and never have I been more tempted to slap someone in public.

We went to a local event Saturday. While in line waiting to pay there was a woman in front of us. She had a grungy looking dog on a leash wearing a purple dress and another tiny dog in her purse. The money-taking lady told her that there no dogs allowed. The "disabled" woman pointed to a badge that anyone could have made with a picture of her dog and the words "Daisy, service dog". The woman was let in. If not for my wife pulling on MY leash there would have been an incident.

What a revolting display by a human being!

 

[mjlabs]

I would of had a real hard time keeping my mouth shut on that one.....

Total disrespect to folks who use service dogs, folks who train service dogs and to all service dogs themselves....

 

[yaktamer]

There are basically no rules for what constitutes a service dog. Unfortunately, a lot of folks are taking advantage of threat of suit under the ADA to claim "service dog" status when (a) they don't have any disability and/or (2) the dog is in no way a service dog. I once saw an unruly dachshund "service dog" drop a load in the middle of a courtroom. The judge wasn't exactly thrilled.

 

[zzzippper]

My wife works in the call center for a real estate management company. They charge more for pets but no charge for service animals. It is amazing how many people try to claim that their pet is an emotional needs service dog.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Here's my service dog-he gets my ducks for me.

 

[steveno]

I was under the impression that service dog had to do a lot of training and had a certificate.

 

[therevjay]

I understand about the ADA blah. blah, and I think I like dogs as well as anyone. I still gotta kinda agree with the local pub that put a sign on the door reading, "if you can read this sign....your dog stays outside."

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I once served as the HR manager of a large home improvement box store whose favorite color is orange. We had a "lady" who regularly brought her miniature horses in to visit. She wasn't a customer and she proudly told people she never visited the store to buy anything, but liked walking the large aisles of the air-conditioned store to not only exercise her horses, but to familiarize them to strangers, and to work on house training them which made it easier for her to sell them to others. Who got to clean up after her horses? The newest hired, laborer type of employee. A few of them balked when ordered to clean up the horse's mess, and they were fired for their refusal. These same employees had no problem cleaning up after our human customers, by the way, but management prized the customer much more than the employee. I couldn't stand it and voiced my concerns to management on several occasions and was told that if I didn't like it, I could leave. I did leave the store and took my patronage as well.

I wonder if that "lady" believes in karma? Unless God is a horse, she's gonna have some 'splainin to do.

Regards,

Dave

 

[timn8er]

That's a curious story. I wonder why the store would allow her to walk the horses inside. It sure seems like it would be a health code violation. And especially since the lady doesn't spend any money there. It'll probably take someone slipping in "horse apples" & bringing a big law suit on them to wake them up.

 

[Mule Packer]

Reminds me of the story of the guy who was trying to take his dog on the airplane. Of course, they refused him because it wasn't a service dog and told him the dog had to ride in the cargo hold.

Well, this fellow, all of the sudden, had a great idea. He put on a pair of dark sunglasses and let his dog lead him out onto the tarmac. Thing were going fairly well until one of the TSA guys yelled, "Hey, buddy! Where do you think you're going with that dog?"

The man replied, "He's my seeing eye dog."

"Like heck he is!" replied the security guard. "That's a Chihuahua!"

"WHAT??!!!" the guy exclaimed in amazement. "That's the kind of dog they gave me???"

 

[bullmack]

I'll bet she also has a bogus handicapped tag for her vehicle

 

[ditrina]

I was under the impression that service dog had to do a lot of training and had a certificate.

E bay... papers. certificates.. harnesses.. you name IT

 

[rwsmith]

This has nothing to do with dogs.....

Some people are dyed-in-the-wool jerkholes. Also, there should be a dividing line between a companionship "service dog" and a dog that is trained to perform services for a person that can't perform those services themselves.

 

[steelslaver]

Same kind of people park in handicap parking.

 

[quneur]

When I was at college, a fellow student brought a service dog to class daily. The first time I met them, I bent down to pet the dog. Very mild. The owner explained to me that people aren't suppose to pet or play with the dog when its 'working' They are trained to ignore distractions. Without the harness it becomes a different story; the dog becomes a dog.

One test to see if its a real service dog is to see how it reacts to strangers. The dog is supposed to be well socialized and should stay calm and quiet. If it backs are shows teeth when someone attempts to pet it then the establishment can refuse service.

 

[Brian41]

I'm all in favor of service dogs and had always wanted my handicapped sister-in-law to get one but they're expensive and she owned junk dogs instead.
I've seen people obviously abusing the right to have one and that ticks me off too. I wouldn't like to see proof of certification required though as poor handicapped people may not be able to afford that.
No good answer on the abuse of them and one more thing we're likely to have to live with. I would be hard pressed in the OP's situation not to express my opinion to the lady although.

 

[gm272gs]

There are numerous places on the Internet in which jackwagons can buy bogus "Service Pet" papers and paraphernalia, aimed at being able to take their pets anywhere. All you have to do is say what names you want on the papers, upload a photo of your pet, and pay.

It's sad, but there are a lot of folks out there who think that the rules don't apply to them. These are the same folks who get excited about shopping at Memorial Day "sales", rather than remembering what Memorial Day is about.

But I digress.

 

[sipowicz]

Huge amount of these fakers in West Hollywood..."therapy dogs" they're called.

 

[Arik]

My dog is a therapy dog. Every time I come home and he runs up to greet me with his happy dance my day gets instantly better

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Fishslayer]

Here's my service dog-he gets my ducks for me.

I've heard he will fetch cheese as well...