bostonservicedog:There are quite a few problems that this could cause, and in fact has been causin

bostonservicedog: There are quite a few problems that this could cause, and in fact has been causing for people who use legit service animals! It is in fact one of the biggest problems that people with service dogs are worried about today, because of the dire consequences it has had over the last several years. The first problem stems from the existence of fake online “registration”, “certification” and “identification” of service dogs: USA federal law states that a person with a disability must be allowed to bring their trained dog into places where “no pets” policies are upheld. This is a civil rights law meant to protect people who use service dogs from discrimination. See, I am a person who uses a service dog no matter where I am. Sienna is still a service dog at home, walking down the street, at the dog park, in the car, in the restaurant, etc. The reason this law exists is because I don’t stop being diabetic the minute I walk into a restaurant or mall! The law as it is written today is excellent, as it allows a disabled person using a service animal to be treated like any other patron in an establishment. It is not, however, a “special dog” access law. There is no all access badge or paper or letter of honor that instantly makes a dog a service dog. Heck, even if I handed my service dog to my mom and said “bring this dog into the store”, she is still not protected by the law because that dog was not trained for her use. It’s like this: Badges, id, and registration that say “this dog is a service dog” have about as much legal standing as a t-shirt that says “official bikini inspector” The problem is, there has been a myth going around that service dogs have special paperwork, or a special badge or id card like a drivers license. How does this hurt disabled people with legit service dogs? The more people that walk around flashing “ID” or “registration papers” every time they enter Walmart with Scruffy the pet, the more they are perpetuating the myth that these cards and papers are legitimate! So Scruffy goes into the store with his magic all access pass. Later, I go into the same Walmart with Sienna and the guy at the front of the store says “hey, where’s that dog’s paperwork!? The last person in here had papers for their dog! No papers, no entry!!” Many people with legit service dogs have found themselves being kicked out of establishments or not served because they refused to show “paperwork”, despite it being their civil right to not have to provide papers. A lot of people with pet dogs don’t understand that service dogs handlers are just going about their daily lives. Bringing a dog along isn’t fun or a treat for them. It’s just how they get around. Just like someone traveling in a wheelchair. So it doesn’t feel like a big offense to a person with a fake dog to sling out an ID. But imagine trying to go shopping and every single store you stop in to, someone stops you and says “hmm, brown hair eh? Lets see your official brown hair card. No card? Well then you can’t shop here.” Segregating people with disabilities and making them show paperwork at the door is cruel and discriminatory. It’s illegal for a reason! But so many people have been using these scam registration websites to buy cards or vests that say “service dog” that it has begun legitimately impacting the civil rights of disabled people. The second problem stems from the fact that fake service dogs haven’t been trained how to act properly in public: My dog was evaluated at a very young age to see if she had the proper temperament to work in public as a service dog. After a year of very careful training she was evaluated again, half a year of more extensive training, and she was evaluated once more. After that, I was evaluated as a candidate for working with a service dog through an extensive application. After that, I went into training to learn how to handle a dog in public. From this, I have a dog that can pass inconspicuously through a restaurant full of sizzling food. A dog who sits quietly through meetings, movies, plays. A dog who fits underneath an airplane seat and will not move during a 5 hour flight. A dog who has been to hotels, museums, zoos and theme parks. A dog who will not under any circumstances pee or poop indoors, a dog who will not steal food. A dog that will not suddenly jump at a person, lick or bark. What I have is a dog that can be trusted. When a person brings a dog into a store, claims that it is a service dog, but the dog has gone through none of the training? There is a risk that the dog is going to act, well, like a dog! Imagine a dog in a museum that hasn’t been trained: barking during performances. Scratching, sniffing, or heaven forbid, peeing on a work of art! Tripping people and jumping on them while they’re trying to go about their business. “But Boston Service Dog lady! My dog is so well trained they would never be able to tell the difference!” A person might say. Sure, you know how your dog acts at home or on a walk. What you don’t know is how your dog will act if their get hurt by someone, tugged on by a child, yelled at by a scary hobo, frightened during a firework display, getting their tail a.) stomped on or b.) SET ON FIRE. (both of these things have happened to my dog, quite by accident! Sienna’s reaction was to calmly let me rectify the situation.) My point is crazy stuff happens and being a service dog is a really hard job with a lot of surprise situations that an untrained dog, or a trained dog with the wrong temperament, is not prepared to deal with. So you bring your pet into a store and have it jump around and act ridiculous, breaking merchandise and annoying other patrons. Then you leave, and I try to enter the store. “NO DOGS.” The store owner says. “Last time I let a service dog in here, he peed all over my meat display!” Then he refuses to let me in, refuses to take my money or, if he does eventually let me in, I get watched or even followed through the store like a criminal. The “registration” situation is really a troublesome one. I think the worst thing is that a lot of people don’t even know that there are consequences to using fake ID! Some don’t even know it’s illegal! I hope you are able to educate your friend, and that anyone else who reads this post will understand the harmful effects this is having on the rights of people who already have to go through a lot of hardship to get through their daily lives. -- source link
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