I would like to be a “parking lot” supervisor….just cruising the parking lots of various stores around town, looking for those jerks who illegally use the handicapped parking spaces.
I’m always seeing some teenager using gramdma’s car with a handicap sticker so she can parking 100 feet closer to the store.
And the guy I saw yesterday at Costco parking his big honkin’ truck so crooked that the car next to him couldn’t get out.
Seems the “me” factor is far outweighing common sense.

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Many people with disabilities have a problem admitting they have a problem. I feel the requirements are way too restrictive.

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Carla:

Thank you so much for posting this. I agree that this service dog thing has gotten way out of control. I know there are legitimate uses for service dogs, but when I see an obvious “fakery”, I get quite upset. My daughter raised (I co-raised) two Guide Dog puppies. Socializing and training these puppies was an amazing - and sometimes - exhausting job. We did take the puppies into stores, on trains, even onto an airplane at the airport. We were able to take these dogs where other dogs were not allowed. However, the “jacket” that each dog wore was assigned to them and we had to take papers from the Guide Dog association in San Rafael everywhere we went to prove that the dog was, indeed, a puppy in training. I have noticed in the years since I helped raise Lira (who went on to graduate from formal training and worked as a service dog for a woman going blind from diabetes, before she was retired and came back to live in the North State with good friends), that more and more people carry their dogs around with them in stores, put them in the front baskets of shopping carts or just let them walk around with a leash, and I know these people are not legitimate service dog owners. Just the other day I saw a small dog wrapped in a baby shawl being carried around a local grocery store. The woman was handling her dog and then handling fresh produce - sometimes picking up a potato or tomato and then putting it back if she decided she didn’t want to buy it. When I spoke to an employee about my concerns, I was told that they were no longer allowed to ask for proof that the dog was a service dog. I explained that I would no longer be able to shop at the store. How was I to know that the dog had the necessary vaccinations or perhaps had fleas? The employee was sympathetic and agreed, but said he could do nothing about the situation. It is so frustrating because having worked with true service dog organizations and knowing the hard work that is put into training these dogs and the amazing contributions these dogs can provide along with being such amazing animals, I hate to see these organizations (and the dogs) denigrated by uncaring, selfish and ignorant people.

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Great article, Carla. Thanks for posting it. Who is the pug in the picture?

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Thanks for the story on a interesting issue. I wonder if there aren’t more implications… could snakes, birds, pot-bellied pigs, etc, also be considered service animals, in that they provide companionship and emotional support? I suspect all you would have to do is find the right doctor to provide the note. (Just imagine what meeting that person in the grocery store might be like.)
Also, does a service animal designation allow someone to ignore landlord requirements, like a no-pets rule?
This was an interesting idea to think about. Good work.

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Todd Smith Reply:
November 29th, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Stasia,

The ADA specifically states that animals that provide only emotional support and/or companionship are not designated as “service animals” and the laws that protect legitimate service animal handlers do not apply to handlers of companion or emotional support animals.

As to the “no pets” issue, legitimate service animals are not legally considered “pets”, so all restrictions as to weight, size and “no pet” aspects do not apply.

For more info, see:

http://www.ada.gov/svcanimb.htm
http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm

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Great job, Carla!

I’m old enough to remember when service dogs were a rarity, now it seems that there are so many that store owners have just quit checking. I had a student once who kept bringing in an “unpapered” dog that growled at many people. Half the class had to sit on one side of the room-out of fear, and the dog owner insisted that she needed the dog in class for her emotional well-being. Finally, campus security escorted her and the dog out of the room. The student was indignant, but most of the class breathed a sigh of relief.

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Todd Smith Reply:
November 29th, 2009 at 6:19 pm

Robb,

ANY animal, regardless of “service dog” status or not, can legally be removed from the public venue if it demonstrates behavior as you describe. Any form of aggression or misbehavior on the part of a service dog is grounds to legally eject the dog (but not the person) from any public venue.

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Carla, as a disabled person that teams with my service dog, Bailey, I
can’t thank you enough for this article. A couple of things I
would like to add:
1) No matter what the reason, passing off any dog that is not
specifically trained as per the Americans with Disability Act, state,
and local laws is illegal (a federal offense) and carries Federal
penalties. I believe the fine is $2,500 but it may have recently
gone up to deal with this problem.
2) A therapy dog, one that does visits to hospitals, schools, etc. Is
NOT a service dog and does not have the same public access rights or
requires anywhere near the same training. While Bailey happens to be
both, the function and focus is totally different.

Bailey is a whippet so people often ask, “Where did you get her
jacket?” Or “I bought or made a service jacket for my dog for those
times I don’t want to leave him at home.” It makes me want to
scream! It certainly makes public access for those of us that
have registered service dogs. If I don’t need to use the scooter
that day, I am stopped more often, because Bailey doesn’t look like
the “typical” service dog.

Any disabled person would trade their challenges in an instant for not
having the “privilege” of having a dog with them 24/7. Remember,
while service animals provide invaluable service, it is also a
tremendous responsibility to make sure the animal is safe, comfortable
and all their needs are met in a bazillion different environments
(loud, quiet, hot, cold, hard floors, stairs raining, long periods at
stay, traffic, distractions, crowded stores, cars, buses, elevators,
etc.)

Thanks again, Carla you don’t realize how much good you did today –
especially in this paragraph;
“If you’re smitten by the sight of someone with a working service dog,
offer the team a smile and keep moving. Play with your own dog and be
thankful you have the luxury of enjoying her as a delightful
companion.”

To Stasia
If snakes, birds, pot-bellied pigs, etc, could be TRAINED to perform
TASKS for the person that mitigates their disability, they could be a
service animal. They would have to follow all the same rules.

Companion/emotional support animals are NOT service dogs.
ADA and Fair Housing ensures that a disabled person is not
discriminated against because they need a service animal.

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stasia Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 7:23 pm

Darcie: Thanks for the reply.
So the critical issue is performing tasks? I say this because I remember reading a story about a boy with autism (and I might/probably have the details wrong) who had a dog that his family considered pivotal to the improvements in his social interaction. But it sounds to me that the dog was merely a calming influence. Would this dog be allowed on a city bus, a grocery store and school?
Again, I think this is a fascinating topic. And by the way, I have a terrier adopted from the shelter who has no function other than to sleep on the couch and bark at the occasional cat.

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Darcie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

Yes, it is the TASKS they perform, Check out this site for more info on service dogs for those with autism.

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Darcie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

argh, try this
http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/node/233

Carla Jackson Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 9:34 pm

Darce, it appears we were responding to Stasia’s question at the same time! I like your link better - thanks.

Carla Jackson Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 9:21 pm

Hi, Stasia,
Dogs for the Deaf has just recently expanded its training program to include Autism Assistance Dogs for children and families living with autism. It’s a very new program and while it’s true the dogs do provide comfort and a feeling of safety, they too, are highly trained to perform specific tasks. Here’s a link to the Autism Program page on the Dogs for the Deaf website: http://www.dogsforthedeaf.org/autism_assist_dogs.php
Thanks for reading!
Carla

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Carla Jackson Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 9:26 pm

Oops, I forgot the other part of your question! Yes, the dog would be allowed on buses and in grocery stores IF he/she had been certified for public access.

stasia Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 8:09 am

Darcie and Carla: Thanks for the thoughtful replies. For some reason this topic just got me thinking. Apparently I need some distraction from housecleaning before Thanksgiving. Have a wonderful holiday. (By the way, those are some darn cute pugs.) Stasia

Sue Reply:
November 28th, 2009 at 10:02 am

Hi Darcie,

Re your comment “1) No matter what the reason, passing off any dog that is not
specifically trained as per the Americans with Disability Act, state,
and local laws is illegal (a federal offense) and carries Federal
penalties. I believe the fine is $2,500 but it may have recently
gone up to deal with this problem.”

Unfortunately, this is not accurate. The ADA does not provide penalties for people who would fraudulently claim that their pet is a service animal. You’re welcome to call the ADA Hotline and verify this (yes I have). I personally believe that there *should* be such penalties, because the prospect of getting hit hard in the pocketbook might dissuade some pretenders. A few states have passed statutes that do provide such penalties.

In response to Carla’s original post:

A few comments….

I have been partnered with mobility service dogs for about 10 years now. My current SD is the grandson of my first, and I am currently training two of his offspring as service dogs. In your list of people that SDs provide assistance to, one notable exception was people who aren’t in wheelchairs, but still need assistance with mobility. This might be due to arthritis, cardiac or respiratory issues, balance problems, MS or Parkinsons, etc. The help these dogs provide is a real key to keeping these people OUT of a chair, helping them avoid injuries, and extending their independence as much as possible.

You described people with service dogs who are willing to talk to strangers about their dogs as’ “vesters,” who seem to crave the attention generated by being in public with their pets.’ While this could be true in some cases, I think it’s counterproductive to make such broad statements. I most always will take the time to stop and answer questions for people. I consider it part of paying what I call my “civic rent.” I can explain why some people have service animals, talk about the responsibilities of having a SD, and explain why they should ignore the dog so he can do his job without interference. I can also bring up the requirements that the ADA has established for SD use. When people ask me where they can get a vest, we chat a bit, and if it’s a case of “I just want to take my doggie with me” then I can explain why they cannot and should not do that.

It just makes sense to me that those of us who are most affected by the proliferation of pets being passed off as service animals need to be involved in the solution.

I run into “vesters” now and then, usually identifying them because the dogs’ behavior makes lack of training only too apparent. The most recent was a small Shih Tzu sort of dog, wearing a vest and riding in the child seat of a shopping cart. As I came out of an aisle with my SD, the dog in the cart started yapping and growling. The owner’s reaction was to baby talk to the dog, “Now honey you know you should not talk like that,” which had the predictable effect of just escalating the behavior. I turned into another aisle to give her an opportunity to get her dog under control, but when I came back around, there the pair was again, and the growling and barking began all over again. At that point I spoke to the woman and suggested she remove her dog from the store until he had been trained to behave appropriately. She seemed embarrassed and left the store.

I also make it a point to help business owners and employees understand that while they are required to provide access for PWDs who are accompanied by service animals, they can also require the PWD to remove a dog who is menacing, growling, soiling, or being destructive.

I agree… it’s the “me-ism” or sense of entitlement that seems to be driving the problem of people taking pets into places where they should not by claiming their pets are SDs, but I really believe that instituting penalties for such behavior would make people think twice about it.

Thanks for bringing it up Carla.

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Chere McMillan, CPDT-KA Reply:
November 28th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

Hi Sue,

I think that Carla’s use of the term “vesters” is referring only to the people who use a counterfeit SD vest, blanket, backpack, collar, harness, etc.

I do agree with some of your comments, especially “It just makes sense to me that those of us who are most affected by the proliferation of pets being passed off as service animals need to be involved in the solution.” That is an excellent idea.

While the ADA might not assess fines or punishment for people misrepresenting themselves and their dogs, individual states can. Following is the regulation for the state of California:
CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE
PART 1 CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT
365.7. Guide Dog–Fraudulent Representation as Misdemeanor.
(a) Any person who knowingly and fraudulently represents himself or herself, through verbal or written notice, to be the owner or trainer of any canine licensed as, to be qualified as, or identified as, a guide, signal, or service dog, as defined in subdivisions (d), (e), and (f) of Section 365.5 and paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 54.1 of the Civil Code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(b) As used in this section, “owner” means any person who owns a guide, signal, or service dog, or who is authorized by the owner to use the guide, signal, or service dog.

I have observed several people (vesters) who obviously did not have a real service dog basking in the attention they received – negative or positive. It is unfortunate that some people take advantage of an absolutely necessary and wonderful program and use animals in the process.

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Carla Jackson Reply:
November 28th, 2009 at 3:12 pm

Hi, Sue,

Thank you for your comment. I hope you will read my paragraph again:

“Those relying on service dogs for their freedom often find themselves forced to run the gauntlet of curious strangers every time they leave the house. As a side note, while many people with disabilities find constant overtures exhausting, the opposite may be true of “vesters,” who seem to crave the attention generated by being in public with their pets.”

To clarify: “Vesters” are NOT people with legitimate service dogs who are willing to chat with the public. Vesters, by my definition are the fakers – those without disabilities who attempt to pass off their pets as service dogs. They either make their vests at home or purchase them from fraudulent sources.

I realize many people with authentic, trained service dogs are happy to play the role of Service Animal Ambassador to the public. Dogs4Diabetics, for example, encourages people partnering with their dogs to educate others whenever possible…and that’s wonderful. However, I look forward to the day when legitimate service dog teams are afforded the privacy and public acceptance to go about their day-to-day activities unmolested and free from the undermining effect of imposters.

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Carla,
This is an excellent and very timely article. You surely did manage to pack a lot of interesting and useful information into this column! I seem to get more than the usual amount of calls lately asking where is the “service dog vest store.”
Unfortunately, businesses are confronted by rude people with untrained “service dogs” who insist on entering an establishment. This can be a health issue especially in markets and restaurants. Public safety can certainly be compromised if the dogs are not clean, not well socialized and untrained. And yes, there are circumstances when a dog and its handler can be asked to leave.
I am afraid these inconsiderate people will make it more difficult for certified service dogs and their partners. The service animal program has come so far and overcome so many obstacles, it’s disheartening to think there are those who seek to defraud and take advantage of the public access allowed legitimate service dogs.
It is my hope that something can be done to protect these valuable animals from becoming collateral damage from the actions of a few disrespectful people. Protecting the service dog programs that have made such an important contribution in the lives of those with disabilities is of utmost importance.
As a dedicated, obsessive animal advocate, I am appalled when I see a dog being dragged around town and put in situations that he or she is not familiar with, trained for or comfortable with in the name of “service.”
Thank you, thank you, Carla, for all you do for the dogs, and their people, in our community. Very well done!

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If you are so worried about germs maybe babies and small children with runny noses should be banned from grocery stores and restaurants. Hey, I’m only partly kidding!!

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My wife gets the “Oh, it must be so nice to be able to take your dog friend everywhere with you” bit when she is out with her Guide all the time.
Her reply:
“I would give up my dog in a hot minute if doing so meant that my eyes would be able to work normally like yours do. Want to trade places now?”
She is usually met with stunned silence. They just dont get it.

The “normal” public just never will understand that it is not all about “taking their furry friend with them”, it is about having the dog do something that the disabled person cannot do for and by themselves so that a better level of independence is achieved. But this simple concept is never realized by those who have not been challenged in the area of living with a disability.

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Very interesting article. About a week ago, while at Disney World, I met a man and his family with their seizure response dog (the man is epileptic). Additionally, I was told the dog watches out for the family’s 2 daughters who are deathly allergic to peanuts. If the dog smells a peanut near one of the girls, he removes it. I noticed the dog was hand-signal trained and the man told me he’s also verbally trained and in time he will be further trained in two more languages — one for each of his daughters so no one can confuse the dog when he’s with the girls. He will only respond to them in the language he’s been taught to respond to for them. It was fascinating to watch the dog. He was not interested in me, or anyone else — he only had eyes for his family. What a comfort he must be to that family!

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Chere McMillan, CPDT-KA Reply:
November 26th, 2009 at 10:23 am

Judy, Thank You so much for sharing a first hand account of what these wonderful dog can do for their people. Observing a service dog “in action” is amazing.

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Great article Carla!
We recently saw a woman at Costco pretending to be visually impaired. She didn’t have a service vest on the dog (not even a fake one). Her modus operandi was simply to walk arm in arm with her male companion, wearing dark sunglasses, with her “guide dog” next to her (on a regular leash). It’s funny to see what lengths people will go to just to take their dog into a store with them. It definitely casts a bad light on legitimate service dogs.
The thing that REALLY grosses me out, however, is when people take birds into stores with them (fortunately not very common). I don’t care how cute they are, birds don’t control their bowels and carry disease. Is there even such a thing as a service bird?

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Todd Smith Reply:
November 28th, 2009 at 4:32 pm

I have actually had folks who complained about me having the Guide dog pup we are raising in stores, because, as they said referring to me………” he aint blind”.
The pup is identified with the bright green vest issued by the organization we raise for, and we are always in the company of my wife, who has been a Guide user for 10 years (from the same organization). And even she has been questioned about her using her Guide because she doesnt fit the “profile” of how the general public thinks a blind person should behave…….. she isnt helpless, clumsy or incompetent, doesnt wear dark glasses, does have some usable vision, and can hear just fine.

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There was a question about fines here is some additional information:

The ADA protects INDIVIDUALS with Disabilities – not the animal. There are other governing bodies at work here – including the Department of Justice, Penal Codes, and local laws.

People often think thee ADA is the last word, not so. If State or local laws provide MORE protection, then laws are the level to enforce.

For example, “Section 365.7 of the California Penal Code prohibits any person to knowingly and fraudulently representing himself or herself, through verbal or written notice, to be the owner or trainer of any canine licensed as, to be qualified as, or identified as, a guide dog, signal dog, or service dog, as defined in subdivisions (d), (e) and (f) respectively, of Section 365.5 of the Penal Code and paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 54.1 of the Civil Code, and that a violation of Section 365.7 of the Penal Code is a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both(For the FIRST offense).

The $2,500 figure I quoted was the Federal fine (DOJ) for public access denial - sorry for the confusion.

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Redding in general has a dog problem! I mean, even at the Turkey Trot, people brought tiny dogs, huge dogs on leashes. What is the thought process there: hmmm, how can I possible add to the chaos of thousands of runners, kids and strollers? I know! I’ll bring Fluffy!!!! If we’re lucky he’ll do a cute little doody!

I am all for dogs running with the master, but…really?

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My mother-in-law has a service dog. This dog is a chihuaha and weighs 10 pounds. I have no idea what this dog does for her, except that she insists on being the center of attention wherever she goes and I think the dog does that for her. She takes this dog to the grocery and it sits in the cart where babies sit. This is a dog that walks on the ground in its bare feet and probably steps in things that you and I don’t want to think about. Thank god my grocery has those disinfectant wipes available as one comes in the store.

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This is excellent dialog and information. Thanks, Carla!

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Any suggestions on where to find a fairly cheap vest? My dog is not a service dog, but I would like a vest for her (not labeled as a service dog) because she was poorly socialized by her breeder and we work every day to make her more comfortable with people, but it would be a huge help to have a sign on her that says “DO NOT PET”, to help ensure that if I turn my head for a second, some well-meaning person won’t try and push her and either undo the work we’ve been doing or have her snap in fear.

A lot of the “do not pet” patches say “service dog”. Would it be acceptable to blacken out that part? Or cover it? Or should I stick to the patches that don’t say anything about service dogs? I don’t want to violate any etiquette about it.

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Darcie Reply:
December 17th, 2009 at 6:01 pm

Sorry, but if your gol is to socialize your pet, you do not need a vest to do that.

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SOC Reply:
December 17th, 2009 at 8:06 pm

The goal is to socialize my dog, safely. To do so, we take her out in public and to dog parks frequently and of course monitor her. But, it is difficult to catch every single person who thinks “Oh, well I’m a dog person, even though the dog is cowering away and baring her teeth, she wants to be petted.” Her fur is long, meaning I can’t just put “Do Not Pet” patches on her collar. Because her fur is long, I would prefer to not have a true coat that I can get at the pet store, because especially when it’s warm, she risks overheating. Hence, why a lightweight vest or something which will allow me to label her a non-approachable dog would be ideal, until she improves. If you have other suggestions for how to label her, I would love to hear them!

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Darcie Reply:
December 17th, 2009 at 10:03 pm

Trust me, a vest will not help you socialize your dog - it would actually encorage more human interaction. The people that don’t pick up on your dogs cues, won’t read a patch.

From your description, I might consider a muzzle for safety.
“the dog is cowering away and baring her teeth…”

Training and socializing is more in Carla and Chere expertise. Good Luck.

Carla Jackson Reply:
December 17th, 2009 at 10:50 pm

I strongly urge you to seek the help of a professional dog trainer who specializes in positive reinforcement techniques for shy, unsocialized dogs. The goal is to change how your dog feels about strangers. Sadly, there is no vest or patch or label on the planet that will do that for you.

Helping a shy, fearful dog develop confidence can be a slow process and requires patience, excellent timing and never, ever pushing the dog past her comfort zone. Once she’s crossed the threshold into cower and snarl mode, her opinion that people are terrifying is actually reinforced and perpetuated.

I recommend an excellent booklet called “The Cautious Canine” by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D. which offers a step-by-step training program to help dogs overcome their fears.

Good luck.

SOC Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 2:41 pm

I am working with a wonderful animal trainer and behaviorist. They have recommended non muzzling her because of the stress and short periods of time to safely wear it for a dog her size, additionally, it places more negative aspects to being around people.

They also thought that labeling her on a vest/coat would be a good thing. Their suggestion was iron on transfers, but there’s already patches with a hand circled and crossed out, which works as a good visual cue to people to try and prevent the lunge towards her (which stresses her).

I have a couple other books on the subject, but had not heard of that particular one. I’ll check it out.

I will say she has made amazing progress - when we got her, she wouldn’t even take a treat from a stranger. She will now, as long as the person ignores her, sniff them and their hands.

You have written a fabulous column touching on a “pet” peeve of mine as a flight attendant.
Yes, little kids in grocery stores have runny noses and the like. But really…a dog is a creature that will eat its own feces and then lick its own bottom! I don’t want someone’s dog sitting in the child seat of a grocery store cart!
I sort of resent the constant comparison of kids to pets. Pets behave better than kids do, generally. They’re supposed to. They’re PETS! The fact that they’re better behaved than many people (children and adults alike) doesn’t mean that they ARE people or should be treated AS people. Don’t tell me your pet is “like” your child or, worse, “is” your child. My son is my child. Your pet is a pet. Boundaries, please, people.
I thought you made a very good point when you noted that those with legitimate service animals generally want to remain low-profile; those with fraudulent ones want all the attention they can get.
I would say that the VAST majority of “emotional support animals” (and they are very, very differently defined than “service animals”) I see on board airplanes are completely bogus, and I say so because so many of their owners are more than happy to shamelessly tell me that they got their next-door-neighbor-the-school-guidance-counselor, their brother-in-law-the-chiropractor, or their MD (intimidated by the thought of losing an HMO’s monthly patient fee to another doctor on the same plan) write a note for them saying that they’re loony enough to need the dog on board!
I’ve even had people tell me, “I’m not crazy, I just got a note for Rover so I don’t have to pay the fee and he doesn’t have to stay in his carrier. He doesn’t like it. Can you believe some people are crazy enough to actually need a dog to get on an airplane?” In other words, they actually pervert/subvert a law designed to help people with real problems, and then MOCK those same people!
I’ve NEVER seen the rape victim who can sit next to a stranger on a plane only with her kitty in her lap, the autistic kid who can remain calm enough to travel when he can see the puppy in its carrier, the veteran who copes with PTSD with his dog at his feet….NEVER. Never seen ANYONE like that. I see a lot of neurotic attention-seekers with their dogs on board, and they’re happy to tell me how smart they are to get themselves and their dog so labeled to avoid a pet fee and to be excused from having to follow the rules about pets on planes (mainly, having to keep the dog inside a carrier under the seat in front of them). Forget other people who have allergies, phobias or just a dislike of being confined in close quarters for hours on end with an animal they don’t know and whose behavior in unusual circumstances often can’t be predicted, not even by an owner.
I am waiting for the day when someone with an ESA that’s a white mouse gets seated next to someone with an ESA that’s a snake. And yes, ANY animal can be called an ESA. ANY. It sort of all begs the question….where does it end? Let’s say my husband is anxious w/o me on board with him…..Do I then fly free in the seat next to him? What if a passenger needs emotional support tequila? What if my phobia means that I require an empty seat next to me, gratis? Should a person who cannot fly without an animal in their lap be on an airplane at all? What about someone anti-social enough to inflict their animal on their seatmates for the sake of extra attention, or to intimidate?
If your animal is your connection to sanity, why on earth would you insist on having it lose on your lap on a moving aircraft, which is very risky for the animal? Why would you risk your own mental health, not to mention your animal’s safety, if that were the case?
I’ve also seen a lot of “service dogs” and “ESA’s” used as a way to get early boarding, preferential seat choice, and as an excuse to carry on way more baggage than is otherwise allowed. Somehow the people with the bogus animal don’t have a need for the animal in the terminal….they’ll leave it w/their travel companions or even ask the agents to watch it while they shop, eat, drink, etc. I’ve seen this happen, and then, at the end of the flight, the person hops up, grabs their bags, shoves what is actually a pet into the arms of their travel companions and dances off the plane. Having been pre-boarded and given lots of extra attention and perks has CURED their “disability.”

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Yes, Toni, there are many that abuse (any) system. You raise some good questions. Please don’t let it harden your heart for those that truely need the service animal. Remember you cannot tell the challenges a person faces by looking at them. I often hear, things like “oh sure, that is a service dog!” or some such comment from strangers. I look “normal” and my dog is a whippet. They have no idea - I have to remind myself they are just ignorant.

Vesters are a problem that is difficult to correct. Many disabled people object to their personal medical information being shared with clerks, receptionists and yes even flighht attendants. If you have to ”prove” your disablityy dozens of times a day, you really don’t have the same access as others to be able to shop, fly or use public transportation. Personally, I would support a uniform ID issued after documentation has been verified ofthe animal’s training, mastery of tasks and the persons disabilty. After all, that would certainly make it easier for MEy, but I have to respect medical privacy of ALL people.

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Chere McMillan, CPDT-KA Reply:
December 19th, 2009 at 11:53 pm

Hi Darcie, I agree 100% with your suggestion of having a uniform registration for service dogs and their handlers. Unfortunately, the actions of a minority (hopefully) affect everyone and make something like this necessary. People with handicapped tags/hangers for their vehicles don’t have to explain their disability to anyone in a parking lot - neither would a person with an identifiable registered service animal.

As you said, such a program would make life for people and their certified service animal companions much easier. I am appalled when I see a vester taking advantage of a business, other patrons and their animal by abusing the “system.” It surely would help business owners also!

I am amazed at the comments and firsthand accounts about this issue - very interesting. I felt this was a bigger issue than most people are aware of and that seems to be true. A registration program will not stop all people who abuse the service dog/animal program but it certainly would help.

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Two more book suggestions for SOC:
“Help for Your Fearful Dog” by Nicole Wilde, CPDT
“Scaredy Dog!” by Ali Brown, M.Ed., CPDT

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I enjoyed reading this. I had a Yorkie that was a service dog she alerted help for me many times during a fall or seizure. She passed away Dec 3 and I am so lost without her. But many times we had problems due to people abusing the vest. I had a script from my dr, her ID card and Vet report that she was a trained service dog. There will be another assistance dog in my life but will be a large dog to help me better with walking. I wish people selling the vest and patches would be more careful on who they sell them too as to sell to those who just want their pet with them is an insult to those of us who are disabled and need the help of our canine friends

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