[nagdu] What's Putting These Dogs In Danger?

Ginger Kutsch gingerKutsch at yahoo.com
Thu Apr 28 13:37:40 UTC 2011


What's Putting These Dogs In Danger?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
 
 
DETROIT -- Service dogs spend their lives helping humans, but now
more and more humans are pulling a scam online that is putting
these dogs in danger.
 
Decades have been spent fighting for service dogs to be allowed
in restaurants, businesses and airplanes. Now, some say that hard
work is in jeopardy.
 
Watch video: What's Putting These Dogs In Danger 
http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/27697008/index.html
 
Rod Haneline is the chief program and service officer at Leader
Dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills. He said there's a new scam
popping up where people are are buying service dog ID badges and
harnesses for their own household pets, instead of for a trained
and certified dog.
 
"We're really getting to an area that's not only dangerous for
the general public, but it's dangerous for the people making use
of those dogs," he said.
 
Leader Dogs for the Blind has been in business since 1939, and
has been providing trained dogs, free of charge, to those who
utilize them.
 
The dogs must complete a 16- to 18- week course. Haneline said
about 40 percent of dogs pass the necessary requirements to
become service dogs.
 
He said the dogs handlers are trained just as rigorous.
 
"That instructor serves a three-year apprenticeship. And, once
again, they have to meet all IGDF standards throughout that
apprenticeship," Haneline said.
 
Richard Michael is a class coordinator for the company.
 
"If we allow every dog access, or every animal access, then you
will never see a service dog in an aircraft or restaurant," he
said.
 
With hundreds of hours spent on each dog's training, Michael said
it's just not right for someone to be able to pay money and
receive a badge saying their pet is certified.
 
"The pet is there and we can all enjoy companionship, the service
dog has a specific role to play," he said.
 
He warned that the dogs with the fake badges could be dangerous
and act out in a public setting. He said all it takes is once
incident involving an unruly animal to tarnish the work of real
service dogs.
 
Under the law, a business does have the right to ensure that the
dog being brought into the establishment is clean and under
control. They cannot ask what the disability is but can ask what
assistance the dog is providing.
 
 



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