[nagdu] Fake Service Dogs

[Larry D. Keeler]

Yah, that's my pet peeve!  I could stand on this soapbox all day!  Of 
course, the point is that those who don't have service dogs shouldn't be 
taking advantage of these businesses.  Nor, should they be demanding money. 
I guess if they can control there dog it might not be such a probblem but if 
they can't and it gets into things or becomes really noisy, well then kick 
them out!  I always tell business owners that if my dog acts up and I can't 
control her they can ask me to leave.  If she ever did act up, I would leave 
voluntarily.  Just like when my kids act up!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ginger Kutsch" <GingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 9:37 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Fake Service Dogs


> Fake Service Dogs
>
> Reported by: Chris Womack Email: cwomak at cbs42.com
>
> Published: 11/02
>
>
>
> BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)- People with disabilities often rely on service 
> dogs
> to help them go about their daily lives; but, not all service dogs are 
> what
> they appear to be.
>
>
>
> Janet Skotnicki uses her service dog Splash to help her walk.  An 
> autoimmune
> disorder causes Janet trouble maintaining her balance.  Enter Splash, a
> Great Dane, who wears a harness and acts like a mobile handrail.  "He's
> given me my freedom back, which means the world to me.  He's a great
> blessing," she says.
>
>
>
> It takes serious training for a new-born puppy to mature into a service 
> dog.
> Hickory Nut Kennels in Cullman trains service dogs, with canines all over
> the southeast assisting those with disabilities.  "It starts from the time
> they're born, [with] the socialization.  Then we go through the puppy
> training, the basic obedience, and then after 6 to 8 months of age they go
> into the specific task training.  That's whatever they have to do for 
> their
> person," says Liz Walls, part-owner of the kennel.
>
>
>
> All people love their dogs.  People who use service dogs, however, depend 
> on
> them.  Because of that dependence, they're allowed to take their dogs into
> restaurants and other businesses that other animals are not allowed. 
> Across
> the country, however, people are dressing their dogs up as service animals
> to get them access into these places.  "I speak to people, almost on a 
> daily
> basis, business owners who are having problems with this, other service 
> dog
> users and so forth," says Andi Krusoe with Guide Dogs of America.
>
>
>
> The dastardly deed goes almost uncontested.  Because of ADA guidelines,
> business owners are back into  a corner.  Krusoe says it can be tough to
> detirmine a real service dog because they are not required to wear a
> harness, jacket, or any other form of identification.  It puts restaurant
> owners like Andrea Snyder, who founded Urban Cookhouse in downtown 
> Homewood,
> in a bind.  "We will ask them, 'Is your dog a service dog?'  They aren't
> required to show us an ID.  As long as they tell us, 'Yes it is,' they're
> allowed.  Non-service dogs are not allowed," she says.
>
>
>
> It doesn't stop there.  Some owners are being ransomed like they're in an
> old western film.  "We've had situations where people bring their dogs in
> and they'll be told to take their dogs outside, and  they'll say, 'No, 
> this
> is my service dog and if you don't give me this amount of money, I'm going
> to sue you.'"  And they end up making a deal and giving them money," says
> Krusoe.
>
>
>
> The only defense a business owner has, is if the dog misbehaves.  "We call
> them bomb-proof, because they have to be out in the public, and on buses,
> and in malls, stores, resaurants, and they have to be extremely well
> behaved," says Krusoe.  If the dog does not behave this way, then the 
> owner
> can ask the person to take their dog outside.  Until then, the only resort
> for legitimate service dog users like Janet Skotnicki, is to plead with
> these atrocious abusers.  "You need to stop doing that because you're 
> going
> to make it more difficult for other people."
>
>
>
> Source:
>
> http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/Fake-Service-Dogs/68a13VVlkEia_
> MHIEjH2SA.cspx
>
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