[nagdu] A Man Walks into a Bar

[Marion Gwizdala]

    A man walks into a bar with a dog. The bartender sees them and shouts, "Hey! You can't bring that pig in here!"
   
"This isn't a pig," the man replies, "it's a dog!"

"I was talking to the dog!"

    Well, as of July 1, 2012, you will find it easier to bring that pig into a bar in the state of Florida. Today, with the unanimous vote of the Florida senate, state law has been amended to provide that a service animal means "any domesticated animal that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability". In spite of the fact that the United States Department of Justice, due to numerous abuses of the law by those who claimed that their exotic or unusual pet was a service animal, implemented new regulations that took effect on March 15, 2011 that redefines a service animal as only a dog or, in some cases, a miniature horse, the Florida legislature has open the doors so widely that a standard horse could walk through! Interestingly, because of the same abuses the DOJ attempted to resolve, the Florida senate also voted to impose criminal penalties for those who fraudulently misrepresent their pets as service animals. 
    As we consider Florida's new definition of a service animal, we must define what is a domesticated animal, a task that is not easily done.  The Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th edition (1990) says, "The fundamental distinction of domesticated animals and plants from their wild ancestors is that they are created by human labour to meet specific requirements or whims and are adapted to the conditions of continuous care and solicitude people maintain for them." Another definition from Answers.com  states that a domesticated animal is "any animal that depends on a human for food, water and shelter. This includes farm animals such as cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, goats, dogs and cats. There are also a couple of species of insect (e.g. the silk worm) that are classified as domesticated. Certain birds (besides chickens) and fish are also considered domestic, even a species of reptile and amphibian or two."  

    So, the next time you hear the  bartender yelling, ":You can't bring that pig in here!" you will likely hear the dog reply, "He's my service pig!" Or maybe a service silkworm!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
813-626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG
HTTP://WWW.NAGDU.ORG