Hey Lovelies!
Here is another informative read.
This one is long over due. I have been researching Service Dogs for over 7 years.
Why? Because as a person with multiple disabilities as well as a hearing disability, I feel I will benefit from one. It hasn't happened yet but it will soon.
So what is a Service dog?
SERVICE DOGS, are working animals that have been trained to perform tasks that assist disabled people. Service animals may also be referred to as assistance animals, assist animals, or helper animals depending on the country and the animal's function. (Only Dogs and Miniture horses can be services animals, not birds or cats!)
THERE IS NO OFFICIAL PAPERWORK, IDs, OR CERTIFICATION FOR REAL SERVICE DOGS!!! I will repeat that, NO PAPERWORK,CERTIFICATION or ID's. Any website that states otherwise are fake and are just trying to take your money. The only Service dog that needs any type of paperwork is for a psychiatric service dog, and it needs to be from a LICENSED medical (mental health) professional, stating that you need one for your mental disability!
(You can have paperwork from your medical professional for your landlord if you live in apartments, to inform them on why you have a dog)
Service dogs are trained to mitigate their DISABLED handlers disabilities, and have to have basic obedience and public access training before being allowed in public. How do you know if you see a REAL Service dog at work?
Well lots of people like to try and fake Service animals by placing vests on them, having the aforementioned fake id/certificate, but you can always tell a REAL Service dog by the dog's behavior and temperament.
A FAKE "service dog" will, pull on the leash (not walk by their persons' side), they won't be potty trained, they will bark or show signs of aggression toward other dogs or people, and they just plain don't listen! These are not the characteristics of a True Service dog, Service dogs must stay under control at all times while working in public!
Now this is where I really get miffed, people who don't know the laws and facts about service dogs or the differences between ESA's (not a service dog), Therapy dogs (not a service dog) and Service dogs.
So often times fakers will say "Oh my dog is an ESA" (Emotional support animal), then turn around in the same sentence and claim them to be a service dog, because they want to take their pet somewhere with them.
ESA's are just pets, they have no public access rights. They are not trained to help with a disability, they have no training for public access, they are only allowed on planes and in no pet housing. An ESA is just a pet that gives you emotional relief, they make you feel better just by being in your presence (not the same as a psychiatric service dog).
ESA's ARE NOT SERVICE DOGS! THEY ARE NOT COVERED UNDER ADA LAW AND HAVE
NO PUBLIC ACCESS RIGHTS.
THERAPY Dogs, Therapy dogs are also trained, but have a completely different type of job from Service dogs. Therapy dogs are allowed in hospitals, clinics, hospice, courtrooms (also known as Courthouse facility dogs) to aid in comforting people other than their handlers. Therapy dogs offer physiological and psychological comfort. They have to have a calm stable temperament and easy going personality.
They are allowed only in the aforementioned type of locations.
Service Dogs can be of any breed and any size, from GreatDane to Chihuahua.
Don't judge or call out a Service dog as a fake solely based on breed or size.
Please read and learn the ADA laws and also the laws of your home state.
Also learn the laws in place for Airlines as they have their own laws that are different from the ADA.
Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA).
Service dogs can be worked naked (with no gear, or offleash if it interfers with the handlers disability) but more often than not they're in gear because it is safer to have the dog properly identified as a working Service dog.
IT IS NEVER OK TO PET A WORKING DOG OR TAKE PICTURES WITHOUT PERMISSION!
Why? Because if you make noises at, try to call or pet the dog or use flash photography, you can starttle or distract the dog from their handler and that could make them miss an alert. That can be the difference between LIFE or DEATH for their handler!
You never know what the person is dealing with, what kind of disability they have, so ALWAYS ask for permission first and don't be rude or get mad if the person refuses.
This goes without saying but with the numbers of fakers, liars, and the disrespect on the rise,
NEVER FAKE SERVICE ANIMALS, it hurts disabled people like me, who really need them for our independence and safety! And also can really hurt our dogs if the fake service dog attacks our actual service dog!, Faking isn't good for anyone's safety!
**Once I get my Service dog I will document the journey, so stay tuned for that!
To learn more about the ADA Law for Service dogs go here_ https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
To learn more about the ACAA for Service dogs go here_
_Stay Lovely_