Mini-Rant - Service Dog Issue

[phorsenuf]

There damn well should be.

A little common sense goes a long way.

I completely agree. Look at the above poster. She has a junkyard pitbull with no formal training that she takes everywhere and says it's a service dog when it obviously isn't. Sorry, but that's nuts and completely irresponsible.

 

[sunnyday123]

I completely agree. Look at the above poster. She has a junkyard pitbull with no formal training that she takes everywhere and says it's a service dog when it obviously isn't. Sorry, but that's nuts and completely irresponsible.

What post did I miss?

 

[phorsenuf]

What post did I miss?

I put it in red. What being on a list is I have no idea. But to me it seems as if the dog has had no formal training.

But please understand where I'm comming from.Our family is a foster home for rescued -pitbulls-and too see the breed at work has brought alot of joy to my life.I take Zuess,110RedNose Pit everywere I go.When we 1'st got her she was a junkyard dog.Now,after 3months,she is the biggest lap dog you will ever find.She was just dealt the wrong hand since a pup and now she is everyones best friend.She is on the list as a service dog now.

Please eveyone,don't think a dog at a store,restruant or clothes store is out to get ya.They serve a purpose,bieng small or large,for alot of people.

 

[DizBelle]

I'm hoping OP doesn't post the breed or the reason and here's why:
1 - not our business
2 - gives "legitimacy" to people needing an explanation, justification, proof, whatever for something they/we have no right to.

Rock on OP

In our city (not sure if state as well or county) store, restaurant, and business owners are allowed to ask "is that a therapy/guide dog?" and that's it. Don't get to ask for proof, ID, vest on dog/cat/whatever, what it's "for," nothing. As is how it should be

Gee, if she did tell us the breed and service, then more people would be educated on the types of dogs that provide services and what services they can provide, thereby reducing the chance of them approaching someone else doubting that their dog is a service dog or their need for a service dog.

Education is NEVER a bad thing. She's going to rant about someone doubting her dog and her need for it but she won't do anything to educate people about it even when they ask. She can't have it both ways. You can't complain about how stupid someone is and then refuse to educate them when they welcome it.

 

[olwyngdh]

What in the world does a service cat do?

I know two people with service cats. I have no idea what the one is for, but the other is for a severe anxiety disorder. After the woman's divorce, it got to the point she couldn't leave the house or interact with people at all, even a lot of her old friends. Her psychiatrist suggested a service animal, and since she has a fear of dogs, they went with a cat. Not only has it helped in keeping her calm and greatly reduced the panic attacks, it has forced her to interact with people, if only to say, yes, this is a service animal. She is *slowly* getting back to being the person I knew before her life went haywire.

 

[phorsenuf]

Gee, if she did tell us the breed and service, then more people would be educated on the types of dogs that provide services and what services they can provide, thereby reducing the chance of them approaching someone else doubting that their dog is a service dog or their need for a service dog.

Education is NEVER a bad thing. She's going to rant about someone doubting her dog and her need for it but she won't do anything to educate people about it even when they ask. She can't have it both ways. You can't complain about how stupid someone is and then refuse to educate them when they welcome it.

Exactly! look at what the OP even says;

Hi, all!

I just wanted to post about my recent experience at Publix (this morning actually)

We travel with a service dog. She is tagged and wears a vest so that everyone can see that she is NOT a pet. I purposely ensure that she carries more identification than is required by law.

This is the first time in months that anyone has caused an issue with her. The manager came over as I was in the produce isle and said " Ma'am, I am sorry but dogs are not allowed in our store". I said "are you certain that this is your policy? She is a service dog" - He came around in front of me, saw her credentials and immediately apologized. (She is a smaller dog, so it is not like she is a lab or anything so he had not immediately seen her tags and vest) We have been shopping in this store since we moved here - about 3 months.

I though that was the end of it - until I walked down the next isle - a woman came down the isle from the other end - moving very quickly. She looked irked and came up to us. She said "exactly what can she do????" - : Although businesses are allowed to ask what service she provides - and we gladly tell them - we are not accustomed to the general public being entitled to know. I simply said she is a medical assistance dog.
She huffed at me, and said " I HARDLY think so. I had that breed of dog before and she could not do anything"

I should have thought more quickly and had a witty comeback but we simply walked away. It just upsets me when people do not take the time to educate themselves on service dogs but would prefer instead to angrily confront store patrons. It was not like the dog peed on the lady's steak or drooled on her foot or something...

So why not educate? Here's a great opportunity.

 

[lillygator]

still no breed huh? figures.

 

[just4today]

I completely agree. Look at the above poster. She has a junkyard pitbull with no formal training that she takes everywhere and says it's a service dog when it obviously isn't. Sorry, but that's nuts and completely irresponsible.

Agreed. I feel for the store owners in those types of cases. They are put into the position of having to make a decision about whether or not to allow these animals. What happens if that sweet, lap dog pitbull bites somebody in the store? Not only is the dog owner going to be liable, so would the store owner. I know if I was shopping and had something like that happen, I would sue. I don't expect to have to protect myself from animals when I'm in the grocery store.

 

[NonScents]

If cats become prevalent in public, the howls will really be loud. There are a lot of people who are quite allergic to cats. People have been pretty much ignoring those with dog allergies so it'll be interesting to see if those with cats allergies are treated in the same manner.

I am severely allergic to fragrances, (and there are many others who are too) but no one in Publix seems too concerned about that. I have no problem with service animals. Unless they wear perfume.

 

[ms.yt]

Monique,please don't get me wrong.This is not what I wanted at all.You have disabilties alot more then mine,for sure.I really think dogs have a sixth sence that Dr's still don't understand.That is all I'm trying too say.You are a strong person dealing with what god dealt you!

But please understand where I'm comming from.Our family is a foster home for rescued -pitbulls-and too see the breed at work has brought alot of joy to my life.I take Zuess,110RedNose Pit everywere I go.When we 1'st got her she was a junkyard dog.Now,after 3months,she is the biggest lap dog you will ever find.She was just dealt the wrong hand since a pup and now she is everyones best friend.She is on the list as a service dog now.

Please eveyone,don't think a dog at a store,restruant or clothes store is out to get ya.They serve a purpose,bieng small or large,for alot of people!

Are you really saying that you take a pit bull that was raised in bad circumstances around in public and call it a service dog?

Yeah, that's never going to be a problem.

 

[momrek06]

Hey everyone, jsut stopping in to see if we got a "breed" yet ... hmmm, guess not! I'll stop back later on! Have a good day!

 

[lillygator]

I think the op has several dogs....(IIRC from other posts one is a mini doxie)

 

[donaldduck352]

Are you really saying that you take a pit bull that was raised in bad circumstances around in public and call it a service dog?

Yeah, that's never going to be a problem.

No.What I meant was I foster these dogs till they get placed in a permanent home.But with dog I got now has the potential to become a service dog.They are non-profit organizations that I deal with that want to start training her for this.I'm not qualified to do this.

As far as taking this dog everywhere,I mean by socializing her around other dogs and people.I have brought her to nursing homes,pet stores and dog parks.

It realy makes me angry on the way people misunderstand the breed.I try to show them the real side to them.

 

[EMom]

No.What I meant was I foster these dogs till they get placed in a permanent home.But with dog I got now has the potential to become a service dog.They are non-profit organizations that I deal with that want to start training her for this.I'm not qualified to do this.

As far as taking this dog everywhere,I mean by socializing her around other dogs and people.I have brought her to nursing homes,pet stores and dog parks.

It realy makes me angry on the way people misunderstand the breed.I try to show them the real side to them.

Misunderstand? Seriously? The "real" side is that they are unpredictable, especially if you don't know what their background is. THAT is the real side. I guess all those people who have been mistaken for appetizers by pit bulls just didn't understand them. Having been much too close to a pit bull mauling, they are the one breed I have a steadfast reasonable fear of.

I'd make a ladder out of old people to get away from one, especially in a closed-in setting such as a store. You can yak all you want about "it's the owners, not the animals" but that's a bunch of b.s. It's the animal, period. Some owners may make it worse, but the problem is in the dog. Half the time, when you hear of a pit bull attack, the owner swears it was a lovable housepet who was just a sweet cuddly lap dog and never hurt a flea. And it probably was......Until it snapped. It's the snapping that scares me. Rightly so.

A pit bull as a service dog? Especially when it has a dodgy background? Asking for trouble. Just begging.

 

[donaldduck352]

Misunderstand? Seriously? The "real" side is that they are unpredictable, especially if you don't know what their background is. THAT is the real side. I guess all those people who have been mistaken for appetizers by pit bulls just didn't understand them. Having been much too close to a pit bull mauling, they are the one breed I have a steadfast reasonable fear of.

I'd make a ladder out of old people to get away from one, especially in a closed-in setting such as a store. You can yak all you want about "it's the owners, not the animals" but that's a bunch of b.s. It's the animal, period. Some owners may make it worse, but the problem is in the dog. Half the time, when you hear of a pit bull attack, the owner swears it was a lovable housepet who was just a sweet cuddly lap dog and never hurt a flea. And it probably was......Until it snapped. It's the snapping that scares me. Rightly so.

A pit bull as a service dog? Especially when it has a dodgy background? Asking for trouble. Just begging.

I bet you feel the same way about Dobermans,German Shepards or any large breed.The media and people like you are the ones that give them the bad rap.ANY dog can SNAP.But from what your saying only pitbulls.You never hear from the media the good side of the breed which far out wieghs the bad.So keep your blinders on.Tho's of us that know the breed know better!!!

 

[LiberalPrincess]

I'd make a ladder out of old people to get away from one, especially in a closed-in setting such as a store.

Respectfully, snipped. I just know I shouldn't laugh at this, but I almost spit up.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Wow, this thread really went off topic...regardless, at some point there will be a set regulating agency that can ensure that the only dogs being labeled as service dogs are truly service dogs. It makes it more difficult for the legitimate ones to go into places dogs are usually not welcome and that is a disservice to the population of people who have mobility issues or who have impaired vision. The breed doesn't matter but the certification should.

 

[ginna74]

your right in a vent like this the breed does NOT need to be disclosed to make the vent "true". As someone said above, just people trying to find ways to make ops vent not valid.

 

[lillygator]

Hi, all!

I just wanted to post about my recent experience at Publix (this morning actually)

We travel with a service dog. She is tagged and wears a vest so that everyone can see that she is NOT a pet. I purposely ensure that she carries more identification than is required by law.

This is the first time in months that anyone has caused an issue with her. The manager came over as I was in the produce isle and said " Ma'am, I am sorry but dogs are not allowed in our store". I said "are you certain that this is your policy? She is a service dog" - He came around in front of me, saw her credentials and immediately apologized. (She is a smaller dog, so it is not like she is a lab or anything so he had not immediately seen her tags and vest) We have been shopping in this store since we moved here - about 3 months.

I though that was the end of it - until I walked down the next isle - a woman came down the isle from the other end - moving very quickly. She looked irked and came up to us. She said "exactly what can she do????" - : Although businesses are allowed to ask what service she provides - and we gladly tell them - we are not accustomed to the general public being entitled to know. I simply said she is a medical assistance dog.
She huffed at me, and said " I HARDLY think so. I had that breed of dog before and she could not do anything" I should have thought more quickly and had a witty comeback but we simply walked away. It just upsets me when people do not take the time to educate themselves on service dogs but would prefer instead to angrily confront store patrons. It was not like the dog peed on the lady's steak or drooled on her foot or something...

your right in a vent like this the breed does NOT need to be disclosed to make the vent "true". As someone said above, just people trying to find ways to make ops vent not valid.

she specifically mentioned that the person commented on the breed.....

 

[ms.yt]

I bet you feel the same way about Dobermans,German Shepards or any large breed.The media and people like you are the ones that give them the bad rap.ANY dog can SNAP.But from what your saying only pitbulls.You never hear from the media the good side of the breed which far out wieghs the bad.So keep your blinders on.Tho's of us that know the breed know better!!!

Of course any breed can snap, but pit bulls seem to do it an awful lot. Especially ones that have been abused in the past, and these are the very types of these dogs that you think will be good service dogs. That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Although I do think that pit bulls do have more of a tendency to be aggressive, I also think that a big part of the problem with pit bulls is the type of people who want to own them. A lot of them are the kind of people who want to make a dog mean and aggressive. If these types of people were attracted to chihuahuas it could lead to the breed getting a bad rep, but it would be doubtful that many people's lives would be in jeopardy because of it.