[Flagdu] FW: [nagdu] A CCB resolution on changes to havecertification for service dogs
Patricia A. Lipovsky
plipovsky at cfl.rr.com
Thu Apr 3 15:32:17 UTC 2014
Hi guys.
I, like many others, am very disturbed about this growing trend taking
place throughout the United States concerning service animals and our guides
dogs. I just got back from the American Guide dog Conference in St. Louis,
where I heard some horror stories of Guide dogs being attacked by pets being
passed off as service animals in public, so don't kid yourself, this is
definitely a serious problem and needs to be dealt with. I don't know that
there is any one clear cut solution to this problem, but here is a
suggestion that I think may be one step in the beginning of trying to
resolve this. Of course, we all know, that whatever the decision, there is
always going to be some folks that are not happy, but that goes without
saying!!
First of all, let me say I personally do not have a problem showing proof
that my dog is a legitimately trained guide dog, but that's just me. I kind
of view it as showing my ID when I cash a check, check into a hotel, or
sometimes even wen I use my credit card. Its just no big deal!!
With a self-trained service animal, once it is fully trained, if goes
through a testing by someone who is certified. This person then puts the
dog through the appropriate tests, insuring safety, as well as performance
of the tasks it is required to do. The dog is then issued a certificate, or
ID, stating it is a legitimately trained service animal. Kind of like
people who drive and are required to get their drivers' license. Its really
no different then that . They are tested, and then issued a drivers'
license if they pass the test. This will also eliminate confusion and
questions arising from any business establishment, airline, hospital, that
our dog are legit. I through in the hospital because recently I heard of
someone taking a Pit Bull into one, and the dog got loose and terrised quite
a few people in that hospital. Also, I personally feel, as a business
owner, if I felt suspicious of an animal and it's legitimacy, I certainly
would want to know that this animal was properly trained, as I am ultimately
responsible for the safety of everyone who walks through my door.
If a person is caught passing their pet off as a service animal, there
should be a serious consequence such as a $500 fine for example, or
something to that effect. Whatever the consequence, it should be of
serious magnitude and strictly enforced. I can guarantee after word gets
around, and it may take while to catch on, will deter the majority of folks
committing fraud.
Of course, there will always be that small percentage of people who will
still continue to choose to be deceptive, but that is true in in just about
anything that is governed. It may take a while, but I truly think
eventually if a consequence is enforced, you will see a drop in this
fraudulent behavior, and it will work.
Just my two sense.!!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jody W Ianuzzi" <jody at thewhitehats.com>
To: "Florida Association of Guide Dog Users" <flagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 9:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Flagdu] FW: [nagdu] A CCB resolution on changes to
havecertification for service dogs
>I am an owner trainer. My guide dog is better behaved then some school
>dogs. How is a certification going to insure a dog is OK in public?
>
> How is an ID card going to prove anything?
>
> I can make a harness so how is restricting sales going to stop anyone.
>
> Like all similar ideas, these ideas will only hurt legitimate handlers.
>
> We don't need new laws, just follow the existing requirements that a dog
> be trained for a task and not just to bring joy to everyone.
>
>
> JODY
>
> "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance!" Thomas Jefferson
>
> On Apr 2, 2014, at 4:58 PM, "Sherrill O'Brien"
> <Sherrill.obrien at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I wanted to pass along this email from the nagdu list which of course is
>> getting a flurry of responses.
>> The following resolution is from the California Council of the Blind, to
>> be
>> presented at their state convention. I'd love to hear your thoughts. How
>> big
>> a problem is this really, and how can we help businesses to deal with
>> this
>> challenge?
>> Sherrill
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of L Gwizdak
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 2:45 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: [nagdu] A CCB resolution on changes to have certification for
>> service dogs
>>
>> Whereas: Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act defines the
>> rights
>> of people with disabilities to access places of public accommodation, and
>>
>> Whereas: These access rights are extended to service animal handlers as
>> defined in the 2011 ADA Accessibility Guidelines, and
>>
>> Whereas: These service animal access rights are also guaranteed by
>> numerous
>> state and local statutes, and
>>
>> Whereas, Due to weaknesses in the relevant legislation and the general
>> ignorance that exists about the legal definition of service animals and
>> of
>> their access rights, there exists an epidemic of persons fraudulently
>> bringing their pets into places of public accommodation under the pretext
>> that they are service animals, and
>>
>> Whereas, The presence and bad behavior of fake service animals in places
>> of
>> public accommodation places the access rights of legitimate service
>> animal
>> handlers at risk, Therefore be it
>>
>> Resolved by Guide Dog Users of California meeting at the Arden West
>> Hilton
>> Hotel in Sacramento, California on April 12, 2014 that this organization
>> shall strive to put an end to service animal fraud by actively
>> participating in a coalition of like-minded groups to advocate for the
>> following changes in law and to engage in other related activities.
>>
>> 1. The coalition shall seek changes to ADA regulations and to other
>> relevant
>> federal statutes and regulations as follows.
>>
>> 1.1. The ADA regulations must be amended to permit providers of public
>> accommodations to require service animal handlers to show documentation
>> to
>> verify the status of their animals as a condition for extending their
>> accommodation rights to their animals.
>>
>> 1.2. Federal law must permit states and local governments to enact
>> service
>> animal licensure requirements to make it easier for providers of public
>> accommodations to distinguish service animals from pets, provided that
>> such
>> licensure requirements do not impede the access rights of service animal
>> handlers and that the licensure requirements are no more costly than
>> those
>> imposed on pet owners..
>>
>> 1.3. Federal law must restrict the interstate sale of service animal
>> identification products to legitimate service animal training programs
>> and
>> to individuals who can provide proof of the status of their service
>> animals.
>> Vendors who fail to follow these requirements must be subject to fines
>> large
>> enough to discourage the traffic in fake service animal products.
>>
>> 2. The coalition must develop model state laws and regulations as
>> described
>> below and then advocate throughout the nation for the enactment of these
>> statutes.
>>
>> 2.1. States must implement service animal license laws compliant with
>> item
>> 1.2 above. These laws must provide for the licensing of animals issued
>> through recognized training programs and also provide for the licensing
>> of
>> self-trained service animals.
>>
>> 2.2. States must enact prohibitions on the intrastate sale of fraudulent
>> service animal identification products that are comparable to the
>> prohibitions described in item 1.3.
>>
>> 3. The Coalition shall develop and execute an education campaign to
>> inform
>> the public about the definition of a service animal, about the access
>> rights
>> of service animal handlers and about the negative consequences of and the
>> legal penalties for service animal fraud.
>>
>>
>> Frank Welte
>> _______________________________________________
>> Gduc-l mailing list
>> Gduc-l at ccbnet.org
>> http://ccbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gduc-l_ccbnet.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Lyn and Landon
>> "Asking who's the man and who's the woman in an LGBT relationship is like
>> asking which chopstick is the fork" - Unknown
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mardi Hadfield" <wolfsinger.lakota at gmail.com>
>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 7:48 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] It's a go
>>
>>
>>> Jewel, good luck in your class.Hope you get that special dog and have
>>> many
>>> years of partnership.I hope you won't get rained on to much,lol.Have a
>>> great time in class. Mardi and Shaman and Neechee.
>>>
>>> --
>>> http://wolfsinger-lakota.blogspot.com/
>>> http://wolfsinger2-thegoldendragon.blogspot.com
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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>>
>>
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>
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