Newsflash! Your dog doesn't have to go EVERYWHERE with you!

[FireDancer]

I totally agree with you about the folks who feel they "need' Muffin with them for emotional assistance.

It is a bit scary how many people around us have such a loose grip on their sanity, isn't it? The day I need anything around me to keep me sane I don't want an "emotional support" animal, I want two to the back of the head.

 

[Mermaid02]

It is a bit scary how many people around us have such a loose grip on their sanity, isn't it? The day I need anything around me to keep me sane I don't want an "emotional support" animal, I want two to the back of the head.

What happens when the emotional support animal kicks it? I'm a nervous wreck thinking of my dog heading for the rainbow bridge- can't imagine how those folks cope....

 

[MakiraMarlena]

That is absolutely horrible that people would choose to save their dog over the neighbor's child. I love my dogs, but to sacrifice a child for a dog

Whether any specific individual would consider that right or wrong, it just goes to show that to these folks the dog WAS family on a par with all their other family members and they would die themselves before they would abandon it for any reason. It's about the level of attachment, which is equivalent to the animal as it is to the people.

 

[FireDancer]

What happens when the emotional support animal kicks it? I'm a nervous wreck thinking of my dog heading for the rainbow bridge- can't imagine how those folks cope....

I am not the person to ask. I had a dog growing up but I never loved it. I only love other humans and won't ever love an animal (though I do love how some taste). I think people that do are a bit weird.

 

[bettymae1121]

I love dogs, and this trend has me scratching my head too. If the store management is okay with it, then I don't have an opinion one way or the other, but just because you can doesn't mean you should. And if store management isn't okay with it, then you and your pup should be tossed out.

 

[goofy!]

Ya know, if the dogs had been walking on a leash or in someone's lap who was in a wheelchair I would have rolled my eyes and moved on..... but THERE WAS DOG BUTT IN THE GROCERY CART (along with a skeevy blanket) and that is just not right. One of the little dogs was lying down and the other was standing on his hind legs with his front paws on the edge of the cart. If those dogs had worms and there was fecal matter on their fur....... think about it....... or don't, it's close to dinner time.

Although the farthest thing from a germaphobe, that is why I always take advantage of the antibacterial wipes my grocery store keeps by the carts. The handle and the seat always get wiped down. Kid's leaky diapers, toddlers sneezing - you never know what was in that cart. Dog's butts are probably some of the more sanitary things that end up in a cart seat.

 

[Mermaid02]

Although the farthest thing from a germaphobe, that is why I always take advantage of the antibacterial wipes my grocery store keeps by the carts. The handle and the seat always get wiped down. Kid's leaky diapers, toddlers sneezing - you never know what was in that cart. Dog's butts are probably some of the more sanitary things that end up in a cart seat.

I agree- but you never think you have to wipe down the entire cart.

 

[goofy!]

It is a bit scary how many people around us have such a loose grip on their sanity, isn't it? The day I need anything around me to keep me sane I don't want an "emotional support" animal, I want two to the back of the head.

Be careful what you wish for. Unless you have walked in these people's shoes, I wouldn't be so cavalier about it. Mental illness is as real a disease as cancer, but so much more devastating because people often mock it like above.

I would never presume to question a person's need for an emotional support animal.

Although, I do think that it is being horribly abused by a small amount of people and is making a mockery of the people that really need service or therapy animals.

 

[CathrynRose]

But would he enjoy sitting in a dressing room while you tried on clothes?

He's a male. I can't bring him in.

Hazel on the other hand.......

Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Just because you can fit a dog (not yours) into a purse and sneak it around doesn't mean you should either I just do not get this bring your dog everywhere with you trend

I don't understand why you're arguing something with me, that I never said I was going to do?

This is what I said:

Originally Posted by CathrynRose View Post
(bolded) Exactly. Doesn't matter if we go to the park, or if I wandered into the Gap with him. He'd like it, which I would like - KWIM?

That's all.

Again - I'm not planning on bringing the 80 pounder anywhere not dog-friendly. I was just saying I think it would be great.

I can't sneak an 80 pound dog in my purse. A rolling suit case? Perhaps.

Like I said, I think 3 times in this thread - I just think it would be great. I'd love to live in an area (Seattle I think was mentioned, San Francisco if I'm not mistaken is really dog friendly) where it was accepted, and no big deal. I think it's awesome.

 

[walden]

Here is a link to Commonly Asked Questions About Service Animals In Places Of Business... http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm

Here is a link clarifying that Emotional Support Dogs are not Service Dogs and are not protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990... http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/74

Wait a tiny moment!!! This is sooo freaking misleading! The link above refers to the difference between Service dogs and Therapy Dogs. Definitely two different animals.

A Therapy Dog is not a Service Dog. I know. I own, train and volunteer with my Therapy Dogs. They are well trained, certified and insured pets who provide emotional support on a volunteer basis. I do not pass them off as Service dogs. Ever. We never go anywhere we are not invited, don't go where service dogs can go, and provide documentation on request. Why? Because we are just a Therapy Dog Team.

However, Service/Assistance dogs can and are allowable for psychiatric, anxiety, ADHD, seizure, diabetic, and other disorders. Do not jump to the conclusion that it is not a real need, if the disability is not visable, and is not covered by the ADA, because, in your opinion, they may be providing *only* emotional support.

Challenge at your own risk. Yes, it is complicated.

 

[HelenePA]

He's a male. I can't bring him in.

Hazel on the other hand.......




I don't understand why you're arguing something with me, that I never said I was going to do?

This is what I said:



I can't sneak an 80 pound dog in my purse. A rolling suit case? Perhaps.

Like I said, I think 3 times in this thread - I just think it would be great. I'd love to live in an area (Seattle I think was mentioned, San Francisco if I'm not mistaken is really dog friendly) where it was accepted, and no big deal. I think it's awesome.

you said if you could you would.. it still doesn't mean you should

 

[Scurvy]

Wait a tiny moment!!! This is sooo freaking misleading! The link above refers to the difference between Service dogs and Therapy Dogs. Definitely two different animals.

A Therapy Dog is not a Service Dog. I know. I own, train and volunteer with my Therapy Dogs. They are well trained, certified and insured pets who provide emotional support on a volunteer basis. I do not pass them off as Service dogs. Ever. We never go anywhere we are not invited, don't go where service dogs can go, and provide documentation on request. Why? Because we are just a Therapy Dog Team.

However, Service/Assistance dogs can and are allowable for psychiatric, anxiety, ADHD, and other disorders. Do not jump to the conclusion that it is not a real need and covered by the ADA, because they may be providing *only* emotional support.

Challenge at your own risk. Yes, it is complicated.

The beginning of that link refers to therapy dogs. However, the next bit says this: "The Department is proposing new regulatory text in § 35.104 to formalize its position on emotional support or comfort animals, which is that ‘‘[a]nimals whose sole function is to provide emotional support, comfort, therapy, companionship, therapeutic benefits, or promote emotional wellbeing are not service animals.’’ The Department wishes to underscore that the exclusion of emotional support animals from ADA coverage does not mean that persons with psychiatric, cognitive, or mental disabilities cannot use service animals. The Department proposes specific regulatory text in § 35.104 to make this clear: ‘‘[t]he term service animal includes individually trained animals that do work or perform tasks for the benefit of individuals with disabilities, including psychiatric, cognitive, and mental disabilities.’’ This language simply clarifies the Department’s longstanding position."

 

[cm8]

wow, So what is the verdict? Will they be labeled SD or just therapy dogs that provide a service in the time of need? I have lung issues and one of the things I have to avoid is any pet, and pollen, and all that good stuff so some days I have to stay home when the weather is bad, turning bad or going to be bad, Love animals, but can't have them. I am not saying one trumps the other but who in the end decides whose disability is "more important" when you have one disabled person who requires a service animal and one who being exposed to any animal will trigger life threatening issues?:

 

[VillageMama]

Walden, I have a great deal of respect for therapy dogs. We had the pleasure of one visiting my son when he was in the hospital for six weeks with a ruptured appendix.

I train service dog puppies until they go off to Service Dog College. Sometimes therapy pups join our obedience classes and it's always a treat to see all of the dogs learning valuable skills.

But the link I posted is not misleading if you carefully read the entire page, which is what Scurvy did. Everyone in the industry acknowledges that not all disabilities are visible and that legitimate service dogs help with a variety of conditions. There is a difference, however, between service dogs and emotional assistance dogs. Emotional assistance dogs do not enjoy the same level of access that service dogs do.

Cm8, I don't know what the solution is for the conflict between people who need service dogs and people who are seriously allergic to dogs. Personally, that's one of the reasons why I think service dogs ought to be strictly regulated... then you're less likely to come across one. If everyone and their brother brings their dogs to human places, you are much more likely to encounter allergens.

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

I agree- but you never think you have to wipe down the entire cart.

I agree. I actually seen a man stand outside his truck and PEE on a shopping cart! EWWWWWW!!!! I've seen kids vomit in them and poop and pee in carts. People pick their nose and then touch the handle.

If a dog is well groomed and clean it wouldn't bother me, but to see a nasty dirty flea infested dog in a grocery store would really bother me. YUCK! But on the other hand, I get sick seeing some of the weird nasty people who come into stores and wish they could be banned.

 

[LisaR]

However, Service/Assistance dogs can and are allowable for psychiatric, anxiety, ADHD, seizure, diabetic, and other disorders. Do not jump to the conclusion that it is not a real need, if the disability is not visable, and is not covered by the ADA, because, in your opinion, they may be providing *only* emotional support.

Challenge at your own risk. Yes, it is complicated.

You can get a service dog if you are ADHD? Wow! Learn something new everyday.

 

[Mermaid02]

You can get a service dog if you are ADHD? Wow! Learn something new everyday.

My son has adhd (quite a good case of it too) and I can't for the life of me think of any reason he would need a service dog

I think MORE THAN A FEW people are taking advantage of the situation. I would bet better than 85% of the dogs we see in inappropriate settings (restaurants, grocery stores etc) are NOT service dogs.

 

[Heidict]

Well I am disabled, and I am getting a service dog, and I would ABSOLUTELY be offended if I had to prove to every person who was nosy that I really needed the dog! If my dog was not bothering anyone, why would I need to prove I needed it?

Also, there are no "papers" to prove you need a service dog. Some training agencies give papers, but you are allowed to train your own service animal, which is especially useful for people who are low income or who have complex and specific needs. It costs about $10,000 to get a service dog from an agency, so a lot of people just cannot afford it.

In a similar way, I refuse to prove I need my wheelchair. It does not affect anyone else, so I will not give my personal information to every nosy person out there.

Store managers ARE allowed to ask if a dog is a service dog, but if the answer is YES, then there is little they can do, unless the dog is creating a disturbance.

Since you are in a wheelchair, I assume you use handicap parking and have a handicap place card to hang from your rearview window? Did you not have to get a doctors note in order to get that handicap parking place card? My DSis, who used a wheelchair, had to see a doctor and had to get something from him prior to the DMV issuing her a place card. This would be no different. A "license", from an agency, showing that you are in fact using a service animal instead of just somebody who can't leave Fido at home because he might, or you might get lonely. There is nothing insulting about it. If you have objections to one, then you should have objections to both.

Why is this different? No one is asking what your medical condition is. No one is saying that you are lying and no one is questioning whether or not you need a wheelchair. (Not sure why that got into the conversation.)

A doctor can just as easily validate a persons need for a service dog just as he can validate your need for handicap parking.

I recall reading about Hurricane Katrina and there were persons who died there because they refused to evacuate the flood zone without their pets. So now the government has been working on ways to allow pets to be evacuated in a disaster WITH the owners (or guardians if you are in Boulder, personally I refuse to say "parents"). Possibly without regard to whether anyone else being evacuated is allergic - if rescuers are told they have to take the pets, what can they do?

There was also a radio talk show right after the hurricane that asked the question "if you could bring your dog or have room in the rescue boat for the neighbor's child what would you do?" Fully half said they'd save the dog.

Legally it's a dog, it's not your child (unless you live in Boulder where you are its guardian) but I guess you can't fight the emotional attachment people have to their animals, which in some cases is much greater than the attachment they have to any other persons.

I agree that animals should be allowed to be evacuated with their owners in these types of situation, however, the fact that people would willingly see a child die to save a dog or other animals life? That is just sick and disgusting. How they could live with themselves, I will never know. They might as well jump out of the boat and drown the child themselves.

I agree. I actually seen a man stand outside his truck and PEE on a shopping cart! EWWWWWW!!!! I've seen kids vomit in them and poop and pee in carts. People pick their nose and then touch the handle.

Where the heck do you shop? OMG, I think I would find a new store to go to.

Thankfully, I have never seen anything that has been described on this thread, with the exception of people with their "designer" dogs. My niece has one of those and he drives me absolutely crazy. He is a jittery and jumpy dog and I'm always worried that he is going to bite one of us. Heck, I feel safer around their huge rottie then I do around her little dog.

 

[Motherofboys]

Absolutely. Just because you don't understand it, doesn't make it wrong.

Animals are clearly better than most people!

I wonder if you really mean that? If yes, then I am sorry that all of the people in your life have failed you to the point where you feel like animals are better than human beings.

I hope things get better for you and that you get back some of your faith in humankind.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Well, our dog passed away so I can say for sure that in 10 years of taking her with us she never bit anyone. At 115 lbs we were not toting her around in a purse or trying to sneak her in anywhere obviously.

Most places we took her had water bowls set up and treats for the dogs, so obviously the stores and restaurants were fine with them being there.

It's common in my neighborhood, it's not really up to you to decide whether or not my dog enjoyed going on a stroll with us and making some stops. We knew she enjoyed it, since she was always happy as long as we were there. Her enjoyment came from just being around us. (well, mostly dh, she was insanely attached to him) We didn't allow her to go up to people, she stayed right by our side, didn't bark and never had an accident. Again, she has passed away so I can say for sure that she never bit anyone or had an accident.

We did not sneak her inside. The stores allow it, even encourage it by providing for them. My bank has dog treats right up on the counter and water bowls as well. Why should we have left her at home when we were not doing anything wrong? If the mere sight of her across the store may have upset a person here or there, or they did not understand why we would bring her, that's really their issue. Lots of people would come up to her and pet her and chat with us, so there are people out there not bothered by it. Anyone that didn't like her was free to ignore her, why should we not do something that is permitted for a few people that don't agree?

I make no claims of having a service dog, she was just our pet.