Service dog my arse

[TheBeachHouse]

Incoming guest calls to make sure it's ok if he brings his service dog. DH says, of course.
So the guy comes. Single guy renting for one night to go to a wedding. No dog. DH says, "where's your dog?" "Oh, he's in the car."
Huh?
Later, I see the guy bringing in a Frisbee and a container of dog food. I think to myself, "service dog my sweet youknowwhat!"
End of story. We never heard, saw, smelled or found any evidence of the dog. So no harm done, but still.

 

[Generic]

Around here, we are allowed to ask for paperwork. But I think in the US you are allowed to ask if the dog is required because of a disability and if so, what the dog is trained to do. You can't ask about the human's disability and can't demand paperwork, but the dog doesn't have a right to privacy, so you can ask what it is trained for.
State by state laws are located at http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/51
Thankfully we can require accreditation. And it is an actual crime here to claim that a dog is a service dog when it is not. The service dog people take that seriously because it is fraud in their name.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

Correct. We looked it up to make sure and DH was ready to ask what tasks the dog performed, but we never saw the guy or his dog again.

 

[Copperhead]

Jon, in the US there is no accreditation to present. No special license, no special permit.
For those who think they will be asked for accreditation, they have gotten them online for the asking (and fee). REAL service animals in the US will not have accreditation.
I prefer to only use official government sites for this type of info. The latest federal revision can be found http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
Note: they have clearly stated the definition of 'service animal'
State laws can be MORE strict but not less strict than federal laws, yet the info provided for my state from the site you provided only speaks of physical, sight & deaf disabilities. Bet this has been revised to include seizure service dogs, but did not take the time to look it up in the my state gov. website.

 

[undersea]

My readings on the subject indicate that:
comfort/support/therapy animals are not covered. They are pets.
even if for disability, ONLY dogs are service animals. In other words, no monkeys, ponies or others are included.
Disabled people are also disgruntled by people pretending
If they made it a federal misdemeanor to misrepresent an animal as a service animals, this problem would go away.

 

[Generic]

Jon, in the US there is no accreditation to present. No special license, no special permit.
For those who think they will be asked for accreditation, they have gotten them online for the asking (and fee). REAL service animals in the US will not have accreditation.
I prefer to only use official government sites for this type of info. The latest federal revision can be found http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
Note: they have clearly stated the definition of 'service animal'
State laws can be MORE strict but not less strict than federal laws, yet the info provided for my state from the site you provided only speaks of physical, sight & deaf disabilities. Bet this has been revised to include seizure service dogs, but did not take the time to look it up in the my state gov. website..

I realize that, but here we have a right to demand to see accreditation if they don't posses the legal collar. The dog can wear a harness from Mira, the Lions Foundation, PACCK foundation or the dog owner has a letter or card issued by a recognized dog training organization.
We have seen at least one time where the owner faked a Mira harness. At that point, you can call the police and let them do the verification.
But I realize that you don't have the same rights in the US. But you can ask about what the dogs does.

 

[user 26]

Not very nice to leave a dog in the car overnight. Why didn't he book at a pet friendly hotel? Maybe there aren't any in the area?

 

[Copperhead]

I realize that, but here we have a right to demand to see accreditation if they don't posses the legal collar.

I wish our laws required accreditation & proof. It would make doing business so much easier. I also think it would make life easier on owners of true service dogs!

If they made it a federal misdemeanor to misrepresent an animal as a service animals, this problem would go away.

Or something substantial! I saw that one state had a $25 fine for misrepresenting a pet for a service animal. It cost the state more to collect the fine than the fine itself.

 

[undersea]

I realize that, but here we have a right to demand to see accreditation if they don't posses the legal collar.

I wish our laws required accreditation & proof. It would make doing business so much easier. I also think it would make life easier on owners of true service dogs!

If they made it a federal misdemeanor to misrepresent an animal as a service animals, this problem would go away.

Or something substantial! I saw that one state had a $25 fine for misrepresenting a pet for a service animal. It cost the state more to collect the fine than the fine itself..

If they made it a federal misdemeanor to misrepresent an animal as a service animals, this problem would go away.
Or something substantial! I saw that one state had a $25 fine for misrepresenting a pet for a service animal. It cost the state more to collect the fine than the fine itself.

Only the government can create a program, allow people to freely cheat, and leave it up to business owners to play twenty questions, with substantial fines for asking the wrong question.
Reminds me - years ago, the date rape drug GHB was made illegal. It also happened to be an excellent insomnia drug (Xyrem) for narcolepsy. So of course the govt solution? They assigned one pharma company, Jazz, the rights to make it. So Jazz took a drug that could be made for $2, and now charge somewhere around $1000 for a month's supply (it was going up around 15% a year when I last checked). So the people who it does help can't get coverage, and cannot afford it. The govt did the right thing by making it hard to get, but the wrong thing by allowing a private company a monopoly on it..

 

[GoodScout]

Paperwork on this matter means little. You can buy documents on the internet saying you dog is a "support dog." They even sell little vests stating the fact.
The two key questions you are allowed to ask, when the aid the service dog provides isn't evident:

• "Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? (Note you cannot ask what the disability is). If the answer is no, you may exclude.
• "What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?" If they cannot answer this, you can exclude.

An "emotional support dog" is not covered under the ADA. The exception to this is a dog that is trained to calm someone with PTSD.
Even if a dog is a valid service dog under the ADA definitions, you do have the right to exclude the dog under two circumstances:
1) The dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it or
(2) The dog is not housebroken.

 

[Lee2014]

From the other side...I raised/trained dogs for a guide dog place. Wherever I went with the dog I was required by them to carry my and the dog's IDs. By law I was not to be denied when the dog was wearing his coat (but he had to past strict tests for that privilege of wearing the coat.)...but the place made us call ahead of time and ask if we could come. If they said no we can't come, I was to thank them politely and leave it be. If they said yes, I was to say what day to expect us and between these times....Before going I had to shower and groom, have our IDs, and a baggie into my pocket. The dog had to be brushed down, nails done, a walk before to calm his spirits, and then we could present ourselves at the place we were visiting. I showed our IDs and asked the store to announce over the loud speaker that we were there and for the customers to ask to greet the dog before coming up to us. The place was more interested in having good relations with the public then having their dogs free to come and go wherever.
Want to know if the dog is a REAL service dog? Easy test. Run up to it and start petting and talking with it. If you are strongly rebuked, it's the real thing!

 

[Iris]

From the other side...I raised/trained dogs for a guide dog place. Wherever I went with the dog I was required by them to carry my and the dog's IDs. By law I was not to be denied when the dog was wearing his coat (but he had to past strict tests for that privilege of wearing the coat.)...but the place made us call ahead of time and ask if we could come. If they said no we can't come, I was to thank them politely and leave it be. If they said yes, I was to say what day to expect us and between these times....Before going I had to shower and groom, have our IDs, and a baggie into my pocket. The dog had to be brushed down, nails done, a walk before to calm his spirits, and then we could present ourselves at the place we were visiting. I showed our IDs and asked the store to announce over the loud speaker that we were there and for the customers to ask to greet the dog before coming up to us. The place was more interested in having good relations with the public then having their dogs free to come and go wherever.
Want to know if the dog is a REAL service dog? Easy test. Run up to it and start petting and talking with it. If you are strongly rebuked, it's the real thing!.

From the other side...I raised/trained dogs for a guide dog place. Wherever I went with the dog I was required by them to carry my and the dog's IDs. By law I was not to be denied when the dog was wearing his coat (but he had to past strict tests for that privilege of wearing the coat.)...but the place made us call ahead of time and ask if we could come. If they said no we can't come, I was to thank them politely and leave it be. If they said yes, I was to say what day to expect us and between these times....Before going I had to shower and groom, have our IDs, and a baggie into my pocket. The dog had to be brushed down, nails done, a walk before to calm his spirits, and then we could present ourselves at the place we were visiting. I showed our IDs and asked the store to announce over the loud speaker that we were there and for the customers to ask to greet the dog before coming up to us. The place was more interested in having good relations with the public then having their dogs free to come and go wherever.
Want to know if the dog is a REAL service dog? Easy test. Run up to it and start petting and talking with it. If you are strongly rebuked, it's the real thing!

The problem with all of that is, anyone can make reservations and tell us they have service dog. By law, at least here in Michigan, we are not allowed to ask for papers or proof that the dog is indeed a service dog.
I have the paper here somewhere, but I can't scan right now, my scanner is not cooperating

 

[Lee2014]

From the other side...I raised/trained dogs for a guide dog place. Wherever I went with the dog I was required by them to carry my and the dog's IDs. By law I was not to be denied when the dog was wearing his coat (but he had to past strict tests for that privilege of wearing the coat.)...but the place made us call ahead of time and ask if we could come. If they said no we can't come, I was to thank them politely and leave it be. If they said yes, I was to say what day to expect us and between these times....Before going I had to shower and groom, have our IDs, and a baggie into my pocket. The dog had to be brushed down, nails done, a walk before to calm his spirits, and then we could present ourselves at the place we were visiting. I showed our IDs and asked the store to announce over the loud speaker that we were there and for the customers to ask to greet the dog before coming up to us. The place was more interested in having good relations with the public then having their dogs free to come and go wherever.
Want to know if the dog is a REAL service dog? Easy test. Run up to it and start petting and talking with it. If you are strongly rebuked, it's the real thing!.

From the other side...I raised/trained dogs for a guide dog place. Wherever I went with the dog I was required by them to carry my and the dog's IDs. By law I was not to be denied when the dog was wearing his coat (but he had to past strict tests for that privilege of wearing the coat.)...but the place made us call ahead of time and ask if we could come. If they said no we can't come, I was to thank them politely and leave it be. If they said yes, I was to say what day to expect us and between these times....Before going I had to shower and groom, have our IDs, and a baggie into my pocket. The dog had to be brushed down, nails done, a walk before to calm his spirits, and then we could present ourselves at the place we were visiting. I showed our IDs and asked the store to announce over the loud speaker that we were there and for the customers to ask to greet the dog before coming up to us. The place was more interested in having good relations with the public then having their dogs free to come and go wherever.
Want to know if the dog is a REAL service dog? Easy test. Run up to it and start petting and talking with it. If you are strongly rebuked, it's the real thing!

The problem with all of that is, anyone can make reservations and tell us they have service dog. By law, at least here in Michigan, we are not allowed to ask for papers or proof that the dog is indeed a service dog.
I have the paper here somewhere, but I can't scan right now, my scanner is not cooperating
.

Yes, I know about that....I'm just saying how interesting it is since we have to go through all that and others can just buy a coat to go anywhere no questions asked....and put a stain on all service dogs.

 

[user 26]

I had a few guests with service dogs over the years. Only a few. No pretenders as far as I could tell. I was worried before the first one because we were a 'no pet' place, but the dogs never barked, made no messes, all were extremely clean, quiet and well groomed, they were no trouble. Just to reassure those who are concerned about how this will go if you get a guest with a true service dog, I wouldn't have known a dog had been there.

 

[Lee2014]

I had a few guests with service dogs over the years. Only a few. No pretenders as far as I could tell. I was worried before the first one because we were a 'no pet' place, but the dogs never barked, made no messes, all were extremely clean, quiet and well groomed, they were no trouble. Just to reassure those who are concerned about how this will go if you get a guest with a true service dog, I wouldn't have known a dog had been there..

Guide dogs are trained from day one not to bark, (no bad language), to do "their business" on command and to hold it until then. No, a true service dog will be "invisible", silently doing its job, but alert to everything around it.

 

[Joey Camb]

From the other side...I raised/trained dogs for a guide dog place. Wherever I went with the dog I was required by them to carry my and the dog's IDs. By law I was not to be denied when the dog was wearing his coat (but he had to past strict tests for that privilege of wearing the coat.)...but the place made us call ahead of time and ask if we could come. If they said no we can't come, I was to thank them politely and leave it be. If they said yes, I was to say what day to expect us and between these times....Before going I had to shower and groom, have our IDs, and a baggie into my pocket. The dog had to be brushed down, nails done, a walk before to calm his spirits, and then we could present ourselves at the place we were visiting. I showed our IDs and asked the store to announce over the loud speaker that we were there and for the customers to ask to greet the dog before coming up to us. The place was more interested in having good relations with the public then having their dogs free to come and go wherever.
Want to know if the dog is a REAL service dog? Easy test. Run up to it and start petting and talking with it. If you are strongly rebuked, it's the real thing!.

we have a couple who train guide dogs and they are one of the few we make exceptions for (we are a no pets place) as I feel the work is very important and I know the dog will be Very well behaved
They bring them as their final test to a very large agricultural show and if they can make it through that they are good to go - ie massive crowds (approx. 134,000 over 3 days) and a whole ton of animals large and small - best test I can think of!

 

[Landmark]

Husband came to the office to let us know that his wife has a ser vice dog. He then told me they love to ride bicycles all over. I asked how the dog rides with them. He said that no they leave the dog in the room and also when they go out to dinner? Hmmm
A while back we had a couple with a service animal that rode in a pack on the Harley with them. The ser vice an imal was there to alert her for seizures. Hmmm

 

[undersea]

Husband came to the office to let us know that his wife has a ser vice dog. He then told me they love to ride bicycles all over. I asked how the dog rides with them. He said that no they leave the dog in the room and also when they go out to dinner? Hmmm
A while back we had a couple with a service animal that rode in a pack on the Harley with them. The ser vice an imal was there to alert her for seizures. Hmmm.

Dogs for seizures I believe is true

 

[Joey Camb]

Husband came to the office to let us know that his wife has a ser vice dog. He then told me they love to ride bicycles all over. I asked how the dog rides with them. He said that no they leave the dog in the room and also when they go out to dinner? Hmmm
A while back we had a couple with a service animal that rode in a pack on the Harley with them. The ser vice an imal was there to alert her for seizures. Hmmm.

Dogs for seizures I believe is true
.

in the UK we have dogs for seizures and diabetics - apparently you smell different and they can tell - but doesn't work if you don't have it with you is the point.

 

[Copperhead]

Husband came to the office to let us know that his wife has a ser vice dog. He then told me they love to ride bicycles all over. I asked how the dog rides with them. He said that no they leave the dog in the room and also when they go out to dinner? Hmmm
A while back we had a couple with a service animal that rode in a pack on the Harley with them. The ser vice an imal was there to alert her for seizures. Hmmm.

Dogs for seizures I believe is true
.

Undersea, I believe what Landmark was pointing out is that if the dog was for that purpose, the dog should be with them at all times.

Same with the other stay. A service dog should be with their person at all times. At dinner, etc.